Chantelle Rytter (center left) leads the Decatur Lantern Parade down E. Howard Ave.
File Photo: Jonathan Phillips

Decatur’s annual Lantern Parade will return on May 13 to herald the beginning of summer.

It’s billed as, “A date to stay up late!”

Over 1,500 people participated in the event last year.

The parade – co-sponsored by the Decatur Education Foundation, the Decatur Arts Alliance, the Downtown Development Authority and Color Wheel Studio – begins at 9 p.m. in downtown Decatur.

“Gather at the Color Wheel Studio at 508 East Howard avenue after 8 p.m., then parade to the downtown Decatur Square along with the Black Sheep Marching Ensemble,” the event announcement says.

Don’t have a lantern? There’s still time to make one. Color Wheel Studio is hosting workshops in the days leading up to the event. For a full list of workshops, click here.

Decaturish contributor Jonathan Phillips took photos at last year’s event and will be there again this year. To see his photos from last year’s event, click here.

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