Atlanta Beltline’s Lantern Parade Returns to Illuminate the Southwest Trail for its 15th Anniversary Celebration

WHO:

• Atlanta Beltline Art, Atlanta Beltline's arts and culture program

• Lantern Parade Creator, Curator and Orchestrator Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons

• Presenting Sponsor: Lee + White, Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners

WHAT: Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade

• The beloved annual tradition will lead giant puppets, marching bands and fellow Atlantans on a one-mile parade along the Beltline’s Southwest Trail.

• Five marching bands will accompany the Krewe: Atlanta Drum Academy, Atlanta Freedom Band, Black Sheep Ensemble, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective, Seed & Feed Marching Abominables and Grammy-Award winning artist Kebbi Williams and the Wolfpack.

• The general public is also invited to bring their own lanterns and walk in the parade. In 2024, the parade attracted thousands of participants and spectators.

• Post-Parade “All-Band-Puppet-Jam:” Immediately following the parade, all are welcome to join the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, the bands and parade-goers at the official after-party in the Lee + White Food Hall parking lot. A unique opportunity to interact with the Krewe's giant puppets and all of the participating bands.

WHERE: Atlanta Beltline's Southwest Trail

• Parade Start: Adair Park I - Catherine St SW

• Parade End: Lee + White - 1070 White St SW

WHEN: Saturday, May 3:

• 7:35 p.m.: Line-up begins for the parade in Adair Park I

• 8:35 p.m.: Parade steps off and onto the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail

• 9:15-10:00 p.m.: All-band giant puppet jam and parade finale

PRE-EVENT MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Lantern Parade founder Chantelle Rytter will be available for interviews Thursday, May 1 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at her Lee + White Lantern Parade studio, located at 1070 White St. The Krewe's giant puppets will be on display.

WHY: To celebrate creativity, community and light through the historic neighborhoods of southwest Atlanta. In the words of Chantelle Rytter: “I believe we have a common calling to delight one another. To see the people we share a community with as playful volumes of light, and to be witnessed as such, does a body good. It is restorative. It is collective joy, and we need it. Your creative play is a gift to our city.”

• The Lantern Parade is one of Atlanta Beltline’s longest-running events.

• Debuted in 2010 with a few hundred people and continues to grow to include tens of thousands of lantern enthusiasts.

• Community members join Chantelle and the Krewe annually to help build and operate the 100+ lantern puppets that are presented in the parade.

ADDITIONAL EVENT-DAY DETAILS AND PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES:

• Getting There - Recommended Transportation: Alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged, such as taking MARTA to the West End station, utilizing a ride-share service, or biking. Train and bus schedule information can be found on itsmarta.com.

• Limited Parking: Limited parking will be available in the adjacent neighborhoods and 1200 White Street. Event sponsor Ackerman & Co. will also provide complimentary shuttle service to and from Lee + White and the 1200 White Street parking lot. Parking will also be available at the Herman J. Russell West End Academy.

• Participation Guidelines: While everyone is invited and encouraged to join in the celebration, there are a few guidelines. Participants must have a lantern to walk in the parade. No bikes or pets on the route. Pedestrian traffic on the trail during the parade must flow in the same direction to the northwest. Flying lanterns are prohibited.

Stay abreast of Atlanta Beltline Art announcements and events at Beltline.org/art, or follow on social media @atlantabeltline and with #BeltlineArt.

The 2025 Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is presented by Lee + White, Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners and supported by the following Atlanta Beltline Art sponsors: Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Kaiser Permanente and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; and Cox Enterprises and Ponce City Market at the Bronze level.

This program is also supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

About the Atlanta Beltline
Atlanta Beltline, Inc.’s vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, and public spaces for all. For more information on the Atlanta Beltline, please visit www.Beltline.org.

About Atlanta Beltline Art
Atlanta Beltline Art is the largest temporary public art exhibition in the history of Atlanta. It showcases the work of hundreds of visual artists, performers, and musicians along the Atlanta Beltline corridor. This dynamic project places working professionals alongside emerging artists, and draws residents and visitors into some of the most unique public spaces in the City of Atlanta, providing powerful new perspectives on the city and its vibrant neighborhoods. The exhibition showcases how art strengthens and beautifies current and former industrial areas and creates signature spaces exemplifying the transformation of the city through the Atlanta Beltline. Atlanta Beltline Art touches almost 20 intown communities.

About Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons
Chantelle Rytter is a parade artist best known for founding the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade with the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, of which she is the proud captain. Chantelle has created a family of annual lantern parades based in community participation over the last fourteen years in Decatur, Sandy Springs, Midtown, and Hilton Head Island. Chantelle grew up in Baltimore and studied integrative arts at Penn State University. She lived in New Orleans for ten years and fell under the spell of parade culture and the notion that creative play can be a civic gift.

About Lee + White
Reimagining the West End’s former “Warehouse Row,” the 442,562-square-foot Lee + White is Atlanta’s next trendsetting adaptive re-use project. The newest phase of development at Lee + White by co-owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners is bringing creative offices, a food hall, unique retail and expanded Beltline access, adding to the established businesses that made Lee + White a go-to destination for foodies and beer lovers in the first phase of the development.

This transformation continues in a spirit that recognizes the West End’s rich history, while creating a gathering place for the community and a hub for business. The growing roster at Lee + White includes ASW Exchange, Best End Brewing, Beya Salon Studios, Boxcar, Carbice, A Chiropractic Hub, Cultured South, Doux South Pickles, Grady Health System, Honeysuckle Gelato (production), Hop City, JTEC Energy, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools, Mac Stadium, Monday Night Garage, The Overlook Boulder + Fitness, Plywood People, Team Rehab, Triumph Motorcycles, Utility Energy Services, Westside Dental and Wild Heaven Beer. Eateries at the Lee + White food hall showcase a mix of local favorites and regional and national concepts. For more information, visit www.leeandwhiteatl.com.

Media Contacts:
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Office of Communications and Media Relations
100 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303

Keona Swindler, Communications & Media Relations Manager  
(404) 477-3550, kswindler@atlbeltline.org

Sigele Winbush, PR Consultant
(404) 862-2081, sigele@sigelewinbush.com