“Arts In The Dark Parade” Celebrates Halloween As The “Artists’ Holiday
LUMA8 proudly announces the 9th Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, a family-friendly happening featuring unique floats, spectacle puppets, and all forms of creative performance taking place Saturday, October 21, from 6-8pm!
This magical evening procession celebrates Halloween as the “artists’ holiday” and draws together participants from major cultural organizations, inspiring youth programs, and aspiring artists in every field and from every ward of Chicago. This dazzling production – named ‘One of the best Halloween celebrations in the world’ by UK-based Wanderlust magazine – annually delights an audience of 50,000+ gathered along historic State Street, from Lake to Van Buren Streets.
While it is a ‘Halloween’ parade, the participants are not bound by a ‘Halloween’ theme; each group is invited to showcase who they are as an organization with music, dance, costumes, and other dramatic visual elements. Illustrating the vast range of artistry, participants this year range from Ballet Folklorico de Chicago to the South Side Jazz Coalition, from CircEsteem to the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles! A complete parade lineup will be released in September.
“I am thrilled to see scores of Chicago arts organizations bring their inspiration and creativity to State Street as we celebrate Chicago as a world-class cultural capital,” said Mark Kelly, Arts in the Dark co-founder and artistic director.
Arts in the Dark is sponsored by Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products. According to LUMA8 President & CEO Sharene Shariatzadeh, “We have been grateful for the continued support of our sponsors and partners and especially for the many cultural organizations that never fail to surprise us with their creativity. We are delighted that Barry Callebaut shares our commitment to maintaining the authenticity of the parade and to elevating Chicago as a center for artistic innovation,” she continued. “With their help, and the support of Choose Chicago, the City’s destination marketing organization, we believe the ‘Candy Capital of North America’ will eventually become an international focal point for Halloween.”
Arts in the Dark is presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago and is sponsored by Barry Callebaut, with Major Support from the Chicago Loop Alliance and HARIBO. It is produced in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and is a proud recipient of a 2023 Chicago Presents Grant. Additional support is provided by Choose Chicago, Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, William Blair, and the WNDR Museum.
For more information visit www.artsinthedark.org , LUMA8.org.
