By Jonathan Phillips, contributor
As the sun set over E. Howard Ave. in Decatur the lights started to come on. Not just street lights, but the lights of lanterns as people gathered at Color Wheel Studio for the annual Decatur Lantern Parade. This year over 1,500 people participated in the walk from the studio to Decatur Square, all to the tunes from the Black Sheep Ensemble.
Check out some of the sights from this awesome event.
Daphne Cobb (left) ties helium balloons into her family’s lantern before the start of the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Tim Marker (right) helps his son Coleman with his skeleton lantern before the start of the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Kira Porter looks up at her lantern before the start of the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Heather Whitman (right) talks with Beverly Beyer as they carry lanterns on their backs during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Chantelle Rytter (center left) leads the Decatur Lantern Parade down E. Howard Ave.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Choyce Smith (center) carries her sister Shiphrah James on her shoulders as they walk down E. Howard Ave. during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Lanterns fill the street as people march toward Decatur Square during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Luke Beckham carries star lanterns during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Lanterns fill the street as people march toward Decatur Square during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Lanterns fill the street as people march toward Decatur Square during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Ian Hogben (right) carries a dragon lantern with his brother Alec during the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Thousands of people listen to the Black Sheep Ensemble play in Decatur Square at the conclusion of the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Thousands of people listen to the Black Sheep Ensemble play in Decatur Square at the conclusion of the Decatur Lantern Parade.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips