Chicago’s beloved Arts in the Dark Parade is set to return to its original Columbus Drive route next month, offering a larger venue for the event’s expanding audience. The 12th annual parade, scheduled for Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., will once again wind north from Balbo Drive to Monroe Drive, giving families and art lovers a more spacious setting for the night‑time celebration.
Why the route change matters
Co‑founder and Artistic Director Mark Kelly explained that the parade’s audience has roughly doubled since its debut in 2014, now reaching about 100,000 people. “The challenge has become, because our audience has just become so large, that it’s really difficult for the audience to take the parade in as we’d hoped,” Kelly said. Columbus Drive’s wider streets and broader sidewalks provide the room needed for both spectators and participants.
Growth in participants
When the parade first rolled down Columbus Drive, roughly 60 cultural groups took part. This year, organizers expect about 105 groups and 4,500 individual performers, nearly doubling the original numbers. The procession will showcase marching bands, dance troupes, drumlines, and spectacular installations such as a fire‑breathing dragon, a 60‑foot glow worm, handmade puppets, dramatic masks, and two giant alebrijes—traditional Mexican folk art sculptures.
Family‑friendly atmosphere
Kelly emphasized that the event is designed for families, noting a “fun sense of making trouble and sort of potential mayhem” that appeals to all ages. While most parades are daytime affairs with corporate floats, Arts in the Dark flips the script by celebrating nighttime creativity. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, and a DIY costume contest, sponsored by Goodwill Greater Milwaukee and Chicago, will accept entries through Oct. 5.
Honoring creative spirits
Instead of a single grand marshal, the parade will honor several “creative spirits” this year: longtime 93XRT radio host Marty Lennartz, Chicago poet laureate Mayda de Valle, Barbara Gaines, founder of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and Grammy‑winning musician Peter Cottontail. Their contributions highlight the event’s commitment to recognizing artistic leadership across the city.
Local schools and colleges are also involved. Columbia College integrates the parade into its curriculum, with more than 150 students building giant lantern puppets. Guilds of poets, writers, photographers, and architects have crafted 50 headdresses inspired by Chicago’s architecture.
Community impact
Kelly described the parade as a unifying banner for Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, likening its cultural significance to that of the Pride Parade for the LGBTQ+ community. “It looks like the city of Chicago. It’s Mexican, Peruvian, Colombian, Irish and Black,” he said, underscoring the event’s role in reflecting the city’s rich tapestry.
For first‑timers, Kelly suggests viewing the procession from the south end to fully appreciate the spectacle. With its blend of artistic expression, community participation, and family‑friendly fun, Arts in the Dark aims to become one of the nation’s great night‑time parades.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
