The first-ever Sandy Springs Lantern Parade will take place next month with participants lighting up the sky as they parade from Roswell Road to Morgan Falls Overlook Park.
The “Take it to the River” lantern parade will take place at 9 p.m. June 18. Starting at North Springs United Methodist Church (7770 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs) and will travel just over 1 mile down the hill to Morgan Falls Overlook Park. Due to road closures, participants must be in place by 8:30 p.m.
After arriving at the park, at about 9:30 p.m., High Country Outfitter paddlers will escort Alice, a 25-foot albino alligator lantern, and illuminated turtles and lilies to the river for a floating parade. With a dark sky aglow with floating lanterns, attendees can also enjoy live music.
Everyone is invited to participate in this free event. All you need is a lantern, or bring a flashlight to watch the parade.
Shuttle sponsors — Atlanta Movie Tours and Sandy Springs Recreation & Parks — will be on hand to give participants a ride back to North Springs United Methodist Church after the event. As an alternative, participants can park at Morgan Falls Overlook Park prior to the parade (carpooling is recommended) and head home from there.
There's still plenty of time to make your own lantern, and if you need some help, Chantelle Rytter, producer of the Sandy Springs Lantern Parade, and creator of the wildly popular Beltline, Grant Park and Decatur Lantern Parades, will hold several lantern workshops at North Springs United Methodist Church during the coming weeks to help people make their very own lantern.
The cost of workshops range between $25-$35 per person and cover the costs of materials. Those signing up can expect to walk away from a workshop with an illuminated lantern – everything from turtles and lilies, bamboo fish, hats, parasols, and paper globes.
Workshops are scheduled for May 26, June 7, 8, 9 and 11.
To sign up for workshops, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ga—atlanta/lantern-parade/?mode=search
For more information about the lantern parade, go to
Or to the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/215669622134662/
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