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Enjoy the Parade

Lanterns glowing in the Lantern Parade

 

In the Lantern Parade features hundreds of creative, glowing lanterns. For the most fun experience, bring your own lantern and join our parade! If you'd prefer to be a spectator, you can bring folding chairs or blankets. (Spectators should remain on the sidewalk, do not climb on the retaining walls) 

🏮 Bringing Light to Life - Attendees make their own lanterns, so each one is a unique, personal creation. Lanterns fill the street with dancing lights & colors! 

🦆 Giant Puppets - Artist Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of Grateful Gluttons brings their giant, whimsical puppets! See your favorite creations, like the Indigo & Cornflower the Great Blue Herons, and discover new favorites, like the BB & Bessie the Catfish. You can visit the puppets at Overlook Park after the parade. 

🐷 Lead the Parade - Sanderson the Flying Pig leads the parade! Make a Flying Pig lantern and march at the front with Sanderson.  

🎺Marching Band - Black Sheep Ensemble brings their high-energy brass and percussion sound, acting as a New Orleans-inspired Second Line. 

🐠 Swimming Lanterns - The parade ends at Overlook Park, where the beauty of the Chattahoochee River meets the glow of hand-crafted lanterns. Enjoy a view of River Lanterns floating peacefully on the river, pulled by kayakers from Murph's Surf. (Please remain at the top of the hill in Overlook Park, do not climb over the fence.)

 

A flying pig lantern leads the Sandy Springs Lantern Parade
The Flying Pig lanterns are inspired by the city's effort to incorporate in 2005, when some people said, "Sandy Springs will become a city -- when pigs fly!” All photos on this page are by Steve Eberhardt.

 

Know Before You Go 

🚗 Parking - For everyone's safety, cars are NOT allowed near the parade route. Park at 7840 Roswell Rd, then shuttle or walk to the Pre-Parade Party (0.4 miles, or a 10 minute walk). 

🗺️ Parade Route - Parade steps-off at the Pre-Parade Party (Sandy Springs Municipal Complex), walks along Morgan Falls Rd, and ends at Morgan Falls Overlook Park. The parade route is 1 mile, downhill. 

⏰ Schedule - The Parade is Saturday, May 9, 2026 with festivities starting at 6:00 p.m. Pre-Parade Party is 6 - 8:30 pm. Parade line-up is at 8 pm, and step-off is at 8:30 pm. 

🚍 Shuttles - Shuttles run between Parking and the Pre-Parade Party until parade line-up (6 - 8 pm). After parade step-off, shuttles only run from Overlook Park back to Parking (9-11pm). Staying for the parade? Plan to walk to Overlook Park or back to Parking. 

🎨 Lanterns - Make a Lantern in advance, then bring it to the parade. Only LED battery powered lights are allowed; No fire or flying lanterns. 

🚻 Restrooms - Located at Parking, Pre-Parade Party, and Overlook Park. There no restrooms along the parade route. 

      Learn more

      The Lantern Parade brings Light to Life on Saturday, May 9th. 

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