Berwyn Lantern Parade

Saturday, September 26th, 2026

Location: Proksa Park
Time: 6:30–8:30pm
Rain Date: October 17, 2026

Upcoming Workshops

Illuminated Wearables Workshop with Carolyn Kassnoff
Sunday, July 26th 10AM
Berwyn Lantern Parade MakerSpace | 7003 Cermak Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402

Join maker and owner of the shop Hey, I Thought Of You, Carolyn, for a bright and colorful craft! We will illuminate stuffed animals with EL wire (plastic TRON-style wire powered by 2 AA batteries)! We will sew the EL wire onto the stuffed animals, and be able to take home our creatures that day. We will have a variety of plush animals to choose from, but you are also welcome to bring your own, all materials are provided. These look so cool at night, so be sure to bring your glowing animal to the Berwyn Lantern Parade on Saturday, September 26th.

Want to bring a sweater, t-shirt or sign instead of a stuffed animal? Feel free! No sewing experience needed. Please add in the comments if you will be bringing your own stuffed animal/material.

Attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a chaperone.

Each ticket represents 1 wearable lantern. Register for the two hour workshop here. You won’t want to miss it!

June 15 – August 1, 2026
7003 Cermak Road
In Cermak Plaza, South-East Corner, between Shoe Carnival and Ross.

Learn more about the space, guidelines, and special events like workshops and Wednesday Open Studio Sessions.

Looking Back: Inaugural Lantern Parade 2025

Scroll this page to learn about:

  1. Lantern Templates & Resources

  2. Parade Details — September 26th, 6:30pm

  3. Lantern Parade Rules

  4. Our Sponsors

A Special thank you to our community partners Berwyn Public Library, South Berwyn Park District, North Berwyn Park District who are supporting and hosting the workshops and the lantern parade.

Lantern Templates to download (click on picture)

Lantern Making Resources

How to Make Lanterns video from Eden Project Communities

Chantelle Rytter and Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Lantern Ideas and Inspiration

Craft Bunker's How to Make Fish Lanterns

Upcycled Plastic Bottle Lanterns from the Newbury Town Library

And if you want to go big: How to Build a Giant Lantern from Small Pond Arts

Here is our Lantern Committee’s Pinterest Board for inspiration

Berwyn Lantern Parade

September 26th, 6:30–8:30pm
Proksa Park

Join us in celebrating our creative community, Saturday, September 26th from 6:30-8:30pm.

We’ll be meeting at the flagpole in Proksa Park for the inaugural Berwyn Lantern Parade.

We’ll parade within the park and enjoy live music while meeting friends new and old.

Make sure to bring your lantern! If you don’t have one, we will have a few available just in case.

Whether you'd like to walk the parade with us or watch the fun as a spectator; residents, visitors, schools, local organizations, and businesses, everyone is invited to make a lantern and join in the fun. 

Photos by Joel Gonzalez

Lantern Parade Rules/ Reglas del desfile de farolillos:

Hand-held, non-flying lanterns only! / Sólo linternas portátiles no voladoras.

Battery-operated lights only, no candles or flame! / Sólo luces a pilas, ¡nada de velas ni llamas!

No pets, no bikes/ No se admiten animales ni bicicletas

No passing / No se permite adelantar

If you need to stop, step to the side / Si necesita detenerse, apártese a un lado

Leave no trace! / ¡No dejes rastro!

Thank you to our Sponsors

$500+ Glow Sponsors:

$250+ Spark Sponsors:

$100+ Shimmer Sponsors:

$1-99 Supporters

Support this event with a Sponsorship or Donation, download the form!

Workshop costs range from $250-500, your sponsorship or tax-deductible donation helps us set off these costs, and provide free or low-cost programming to your community.

Please Share Your Memories & Thoughts About Our Inaugural Lantern Parade in 2025

Take our Lantern Survey