Hundreds of people gathered in Patterson Park on Oct. 25 for the Great Baltimore Lantern Parade and Dia de Los Muertos festival. It’s one of the city’s more well-known and family friendly Halloween events.  

Marching bands, school groups, local performers, dancers and independent creators are all welcomed to walk in the parade. 

Participants decorate themselves in lights and make puppets or floats that are illuminated, since the parade takes place after dark. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume. There is also a station where people can make lanterns from provided supplies to hold along the parade route, illuminating the area. 

Before the parade is a Dia de Los Muertos festival, which includes face painting, performers, a costume contest, and games. There are also activities for children, vendors, food trucks, and more.  

The event is backed by the Creative Alliance, a Baltimore art space located in Highlandtown, along with the group Friends of Patterson Park. 

Smiling drummers perform on lit-up drums.
Dummers from Batalá Washington DC, an all-women Afro-Brazilian music band.
An adorable toddler wearing a pumpkin costume.
Elijah, seen here dressed as a pumpkin, poses with his mom after they made a lantern at the lantern-making station.
A child wearing a skeleton costume shows off a cool looking crafted guitar. In the background is a large crafted rat.
Warren poses with a moving rat sculpture created by the Baltimore Rock Opera Society.
Two people operate a large, fantastical lit-up puppet.
A two-person puppet.
People march with a variety of lighted puppets.
A series of puppets depicting characters from the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Dancers perform during the parade
Dancers with the group Desi Moves & Vibes, a fusion dance group combining South Asian and American dance moves.
An illuminated performer and parade attendees.
Performers on stilts.
An illuminated dancer performs in the parade.
Dancers with Danza Folklore Alebrijes, a Baltimore-based Mexican folk dance group.
A large lighted bull in the parade.
Dancers with Danza Folklore Alebrijes, a Baltimore-based Mexican folk dance group.
Dancers in beautiful culteral costumes perform.
Dancers with Danza Folklore Alebrijes, a Baltimore-based Mexican folk dance group.
People in the parade walk with a large, illuminated axolotl puppet.
An axolotl created by the Black Cherry Puppet Theater required multiple people to operate it.
Adorable dancers dressed as astronauts.
Members of a dance group.
A long, illuminated worm puppet.
A multi-person puppet worm.
A large, illuminated bat puppet.