We are all very excited about this year’s lantern parade. Here are some useful bits of information for the night:
WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 2024 - The parade starts promptly at 5:00 PM. Please arrive between 4:15 and 4:45 to retrieve your lanterns. There is no parking in the front of the school; see parking details below.
PARADE ROUTE: The starting location is in the front of Brookside Primary School. We leave promptly at 5:00PM and parade up Stowe St. to Main St. to Dac Rowe.
LANTERN PICK UP:
- 3rd & 4th Grade Students: Go to the GYM to pick up lanterns which will be organized by class groupings.
- Pre-K through 2nd Grade Students: Go to the hallway near your classrooms. We’ll do our best to get the lanterns onto your coat hooks or desks. All lanterns are marked with students’ names so take a minute to make sure you have the right lantern. The poles will be located in the hallways near your child’s classrooms.
When your child has a lantern and a pole, head out to the front of the school and get a place in the parade line where you can wait until it is time to set off.
WHAT TO WEAR: Please dress up warmly! You will be outside for a while. Waterproof boots, thermals, gloves, hats, etc. Gloves are especially useful for carrying the bamboo pole.
SUPERVISION: BPS students must have a responsible adult accompany them on the parade route. If you would like to have one adult be responsible for a small group of children (e.g. I have my two children and I’ll be responsible for my friend’s two children) that would be okay. BUT students CANNOT be dropped off at the parade site to be met at Dac Rowe at the end.
DAC ROWE: There will be a few warming fires at Dac Rowe, so please instruct your children to behave responsibly. Under no circumstances are children permitted to burn their lanterns. All bamboo poles will be collected for future use. Please HAND YOUR POLE TO STEWARDS (who will be wearing safety vests). The lanterns and lights may be taken home.
BATHROOMS: Port-o-lets will be available at Dac Rowe and the library will be open during the event for bathrooms and other activities.
FOOD:
There will be free hot chocolate available (more than we had last year) at the pavilion.
New this year, Snacks for sale (bagels, fruit, cookies…) by local groups to raise money for their programs.
Dinner will be available to purchase at the Senior Center on Stowe St. You can also enjoy dinner out at many of our local restaurants.
ENTERTAINMENT: Cirque de Fuego will again provide fire spinning for entertainment; Sambatacuda and Burlington’s Brass Balagan will be playing in the procession and at the park.
LOST CHILD: If you and your child get separated at the park, please go to the hot chocolate stand (which will be located at the pavilion) and we will help you reunite!
Lantern Etiquette:
Walk with lanterns - as opposed to running
Try not to swing the lantern about - so you don’t hit anyone with it.
Stay behind the band in the front. The band will set the pace. Please don’t go in front of them.
Hold the bamboo pole firmly – with the lantern out in front and not back over the shoulder. Please be aware of the people around you and hold your lanterns as high as possible, where it can be seen and enjoyed by all. Keep in tight formation and HAVE FUN!
Parking at BPS: There will be no parking in the front school parking lot because this is where we line up. Please use the PARKING LOTS at the back of the school or park downtown. There will be NO PARKING on Armory Avenue or at Dac Rowe. You may find on street parking downtown or use these other parking lots that are available:
- Parking Close to Dac Rowe for leaving
- Anderson Field/Swimming Pool
- Post Office
- Municipal Building/Library
- Downtown Parking
- At the old Municipal Building 51 S. Main
- Behind the Methodist Church - access from Foundry Street
- Near the Train Station (where the old freight house was).
Parade route & parking:
