Arts in the Dark, the magical nighttime Halloween procession, will march down State Street for the first time, Saturday, October 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will be filled with costumes, spectacle, music, dance and more. Presented by LUMA8, producer of the annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, and partners Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Park District.
This year's procession will include more than 90 contingents ranging from notable organizations like Lookingglass Theatre Company and Second City, to guilds of artists like the film makers contingent organized by CineSpace Chicago/CineCares and the Chicago Film Office. The parade also offers an opportunity for established organizations like the Harris Theater and the Chicago Blackhawks to sponsor less-resourced cultural organizations and neighborhood groups who would not be able to participate without their support.
Additional participants include Chicago Children's Museum, Envision Unlimited, Jabberwocky Marionettes, Colombian Fest Chicago, Comparsa Explosiva y Sus Chinelos Magicos and Kaotic Drumline. It will also feature large-scale lanterns of Chicago's iconic buildings made by local artists.
The parade will march down State Street, traveling south from Lake St. to Van Buren St.
—From a LUMA8 press release
About LUMA8
LUMA8 ( Light Up My Arts ) is an independent, not-for-profit dedicated to creating conversations about Chicago that are heard around the world. This is achieved through unique cultural events and experiences, often using light and scale as tools, and by developing innovative ways to amplify the effect of existing arts initiatives. It coordinates the work of public agencies, arts organizations and artists to elevate the cultural life of the city, attract visitors, and ultimately generate economic impact.
About the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation
The Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation is a 501( c )( 3 ) affiliate organization that pushes the limits of what a downtown can be for its residents, workers and visitors. The Foundation seeks to enrich the Loop's public spaces through artistic expression and free cultural programming. By building a connection between people and the places they share, the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation hopes to create an inclusive downtown environment that fosters creativity and enhances the Loop's appeal to the people and businesses that are a part of it.
About the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ( DCASE ) is dedicated to enriching Chicago's artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago's non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City's future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City's cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.
About the Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the 2014 Gold Medal Award winner, recognized for excellence in park and recreation management across the nation. For more information about the Chicago Park District's more than 8,700 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 11 museums, two world-class conservatories, 15 cultural centers, 16 historic lagoons, nearly 50 nature areas, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312/742.PLAY or 312/747.2001 ( TTY ). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling, 312/742.PLAY.