CHICAGO’S RENOWNED ARTS IN THE DARK PARADE RETURNS OCT 18, TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AS THE “ARTIST’S HOLIDAY”
- ChicagoJazz.com
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
11th Annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
Saturday, October 18, 6-8 pm
Along iconic State Street
(July 31, 2025) LUMA8 proudly announces the 11th Annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, a family-friendly event featuring unique floats, spectacle puppets, and all forms of creative performance on Saturday, October 18, from 6-8 p.m. along historic State Street, with a step-off onRandolph Street. This magical evening procession celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” and draws together participants from major cultural organizations, inspiring youth programs, and aspiring artists in every field and from every ward of Chicago. Named ‘one of the best Halloween celebrations in the world’ by UK-based Wanderlust Magazine and included in USA Today’s 10 best Halloween parades, this dazzling production delights an audience of over 100,000 gathered along State Street. In addition to the evening parade of vibrancy and fun, a full day of additional cultural experiences will soon be announced.
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.
The parade has featured an array of cultural and ethnic representation, including a powerful representation of Black and Mexican cultures throughout a plethora of groups. Additionally, the parade will feature a diverse mix of Irish, Columbian, Polynesian, Brazilian, South Asia, Korean, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Chinese, Indonesian, Peruvian, and LGTBQ+ organizations and groups. These and many more groups capture the expanse of Chicago’s cultural landscape in areas including film, photography, museums, visual arts, theatre, architecture, drag performance, fashion, dance, circus arts, creative youth, hip-hop, jazz, rock, opera, street arts, fire arts, drumlines, puppeteers and so much more! Illustrating the vast range of artistry, participants this year span fromBallet 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 Parade co-founder and artistic director. “Our artists, arts organizations, the humanities, libraries, colleges and universities, and all the cultural forces that are vital to our city and nation are under attack. We need to come together to honor and support our cultural community now more than ever.”
Arts in the Dark is presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago with Major Support from theChicago Loop Alliance and Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago. It is produced in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
About LUMA8 (Light Up My Arts)
LUMA8 is an independent not-for-profit that strives to elevate Chicago as a focal point of artistic innovation to enrich the lives of its citizens and create economic impact. www.luma8.org
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. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca.html
About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA)’s mission is to create, manage and promote positive and inclusive programs that attract people to the Loop and accelerate economic recovery. CLA is a membership organization as well as the sole service provider for Special Service Area#1-2015, and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation produces public art projects and events. www.loopchicago.com.
About Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago
Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago empowers individuals and families to achieve greater dignity and quality of life by removing barriers to opportunity and connecting people with meaningful employment, training, and vital community resources. https://www.goodwillgreatermc.org/
For more information visit www.artsinthedark.org , LUMA8.org.