The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is held each fall on the Southwest Trail. The 2026 parade ran Sept. 26; the 2027 date is not announced yet.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts come from the organizer, the Atlanta Beltline’s Lantern Parade page, its 2026 announcement and its parade-night guide. This page is updated for each year’s parade at the same address.

The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is a fall night parade of handmade lanterns, giant illuminated puppets and marching bands along the Beltline’s Southwest Trail. The 2026 parade, the 16th, was set for Saturday, Sept. 19, and moved to Saturday, Sept. 26, after weather forced a postponement. The Beltline has not announced the 2027 date. Its page says, “We look forward to welcoming you at our 2027 Lantern Parade. Stay tuned for more event details!”

Know before you go

  • When: a Saturday night in September; 2027 date not announced
  • Where: Southwest Trail, from Allene Avenue near Beulah Colbert Park to Lee + White in West End (2026 route)
  • To walk in it: you need a lantern; to watch, you do not
  • Getting there: MARTA to West End station, then the free ATL Spoke shuttle or a walk on the trail
  • Pets, drones, flying lanterns: not allowed
  • Organizer: Atlanta Beltline Art, beltline.org/art/lantern-parade

What it is

Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons created the parade and lead it. It was one of the Beltline’s first public art projects. It started in 2010 with a few hundred people on the Beltline’s first finished stretch and, according to the Beltline, now draws tens of thousands of “lantern enthusiasts.” Anyone with a lantern can walk; everyone else lines the trail to watch.

The parade began as a fall event and moved to spring after a short COVID-19 break. The 15th parade was canceled because of storms. In announcing the 2026 parade, the Beltline said it was moving back to the fall in response to community feedback and to make the event more reliable in bad weather.

When: the 2026 schedule as a guide

The 2027 times are not out. In 2026 the Beltline published this schedule for the original Sept. 19 date:

What 2026 time Where
Kids Lantern Parade celebration 4 to 7 p.m. (parade at 4:30 p.m.) Pittsburgh Yards
Lineup 7:15 p.m. Near Beulah Colbert Park, formerly Adair Park II
Parade steps off 8 p.m. Gillette Avenue, Allene Avenue SW, then the Southwest Trail
All-Band-Puppet-Jam finale About 9 to 10 p.m. Lee + White

For the postponed Sept. 26 parade, the parade-night guide gave an updated route: lineup at 7:15 p.m. near the Beltline Marketplace at 1089 Allene Ave. SW, step-off at 8 p.m. and the finale at Lee + White at 8:45 p.m.

The Beltline advises walkers to arrive when lineup starts to get a place behind their favorite band. Bands in 2026 included Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective and the Seed & Feed Marching Abominables.

Cost and lanterns

The Beltline’s parade pages list no tickets or admission for walking or watching. The rule is simple: participants must have a lantern to walk in the parade.

In the weeks before the parade, Rytter and her team run lantern-making workshops, some free and some paid, and post patterns for making a lantern at home. “There’s no wrong way to light up the night,” the Beltline says.

Kids Lantern Parade

For families who cannot stay up for an 8 p.m. start, the Atlanta Beltline Kids Lantern Parade, presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, runs in the afternoon at Pittsburgh Yards. In 2026 it was set for 4 to 7 p.m., with the kids’ parade at 4:30 p.m., a DJ, face painting, balloon twisting and a lantern-making station.

Getting there and parking

The Beltline strongly encourages leaving the car at home. For the 2026 parade it said:

  • Parking is limited to Lee + White and West End MARTA station, 620 Lee St. SW.
  • MARTA: West End station is the closest rail stop to the finale.
  • ATL Spoke, the Beltline’s free autonomous shuttle, ran between West End station and Lee + White throughout the evening. See the ATL Spoke page.
  • Walk or bike the Beltline to the route.

The Beltline said details on MARTA access, parking and road closures for each year’s parade are posted on its Lantern Parade page before the event. The 2026 route used Gillette Avenue and Allene Avenue SW before joining the trail; expect those streets to be busy on parade night.

What to know

  • Pets are not permitted on the parade route.
  • Flying lanterns and drones are prohibited.
  • Weather: the parade can be postponed. In 2026 the main parade moved back a week. Check the Beltline’s page and its social accounts (@atlantabeltline) on the day.
  • Food and market: the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace at Allene stayed open through the 2026 parade evening, and the Beltline lists food and market vendors among the festivities.

More things to do

See the things to do in Atlanta page and this month’s events. The Piedmont Park lantern walk and tree lighting in November is on the Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade?

The Atlanta Beltline has not announced the 2027 date. The 2026 parade was set for Saturday, Sept. 19, and moved to Saturday, Sept. 26, after weather forced a postponement.

Where does the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade go?

In 2026 it ran on the Southwest Trail, lining up near the Beltline Marketplace at 1089 Allene Ave. SW and ending at Lee + White in West End with the All-Band-Puppet-Jam finale.

Do I need a lantern to go to the Lantern Parade?

Only to walk in it. The Beltline says participants must have a lantern to join the parade; anyone can watch from along the route without one.

Where do I park for the Beltline Lantern Parade?

Parking is limited to Lee + White and West End MARTA station, the Beltline says. It asks people to take MARTA, walk or ride the trail, or use the free ATL Spoke shuttle from West End station.

Can I bring my dog to the Lantern Parade?

No. Pets are not permitted on the parade route, and flying lanterns and drones are prohibited.