LUMA8 and the City of Chicago’s Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot are pleased to announce the return of the Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, which will serve as the Grand Finale for Chicago Halloweek 2022. The parade celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” and has been called “Chicago’s Neighborhood Parade” because it pulls together cultural organizations and artists from across the city.
"This October, the City of Chicago will be lively with color and vibrant activities to ensure a safe and fun Halloween," said Mayor Lightfoot. "For eight years, the City has welcomed the Arts in the Dark Parade where thousands of performers come together to celebrate with our residents, across different communities and organizations, throughout the 'Halloweek' festivities, and I am happy to carry on this tradition."
The 8th Annual Arts in the Dark is a magical evening parade that draws together world-renowned institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, celebrated Chicago organizations like Ballet Folklorico Xochitl, important youth programs like After School Matters, and aspiring artists in every field. It is a dazzling production that delights an audience of 50,000 people with unique floats, spectacle puppets and creative performances – all set against the backdrop of historic State Street.
“We will bring together over 2,500 performers representing arts organizations, neighborhood cultural groups and creative youth who will animate State Street with their puppets, spectacle, dance, music and theater, lights and fire, and a good dose of attitude,” said Mark Kelly, Artistic Director of the parade and former Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “What a magical way to remind us how important Chicago’s cultural landscape is to its fabric and future.”
The 2022 parade lineup will include many of the crowd favorites from previous years, as well as a few stand out additions. Jazmine Cooper, now a Chicago celebrity, will bring her dance students from CICS Wrightwood Charter School so they can perform the Thriller routine that went viral last fall with over 1.4M views on YouTube. The Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU) will come together in a magnificent display of their creative force with a spectacle puppet that will enchant the crowd. The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), in collaboration with La Vuelta Ensemble, will lead the parade and bring their colorful circus performance of stilt walkers, jugglers and physical theater. Arts in the Dark and CLATA will honor the recently deceased Myrna Salazar, the founder of the Latino Theater Alliance and a “force of nature” supporting Latino and Chicago culture with this opening performance which will include a brief moment of silence in her memory.
This year Arts in the Dark welcomes a new Lead Sponsor, Barry Callebaut, who will be adding an extra dose of fun to the pre-parade activities by bringing the City’s “Year of Chicago Dance” to life. Barry Callebaut ambassadors will be joined by Dancing Trick-or-Treaters who will pass out special Barry Callebaut trick or treat bags filled with their favorite candy to costumed parade-goers who are getting their groove on!
“Barry Callebaut is delighted to support the City of Chicago and LUMA8’s Halloweek celebration, as the lead sponsor of its Art in the Dark Halloween Parade. Barry Callebaut is proud to share its passion for chocolate and to demonstrate our continued commitment to Chicago,” Steve Woolley, President of Region Americas of Barry Callebaut, said.
Arts in the Dark 2022 will have over 70 contingents – many of whom LUMA8 was able to assist due to a grant provided by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. According to Sharene Shariatzadeh, LUMA8’s President & CEO, “We want Arts in the Dark to be a platform for cultural organizations and artists across every spectrum to feel the power of the larger creative community to which they belong, and to reach new audiences who can embrace their work. This endeavor would not be possible without the support of our partners – or our new Lead Sponsor, Barry Callebaut,” she added. “We’re elated to have them join the Arts in the Dark family of supporters that includes such loyal patrons as the Chicago Loop Alliance, and we are confident that, with their help, this year’s parade will be the most magnificent yet.”
Arts in the Dark is presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago and is sponsored by Barry Callebaut, with Major Support from the Chicago Loop Alliance. It is produced in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and My CHI. My Future. Additional support is provided by, Choose Chicago, City Winery, Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, Millennium Garages, Revolution Brewing, One Chicago Fund, William Blair and the WNDR Museum.
For more information visit www.artsinthedark.org , LUMA8.org and HalloweekChicago.org.
About LUMA8 (Light Up My Arts)
LUMA8 (Light Up My Arts) 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. It does this through its signature events – the Upside Down Halloween Parade, Arts in the Dark, and its upcoming lighting festival, MoonGlow. For more information visit www.luma8.org.
About Barry Callebaut Group
With annual sales of about CHF 7.2 billion (EUR 6.6 billion / USD 7.9 billion) in fiscal year 2020/21, the Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds. The Group runs more than 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 13,000 people. The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers. The global brands catering to the specific needs of these Gourmet customers are Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®, Carma® and the decorations specialist Mona Lisa®. The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. For more information visit barry-callebuat.com.
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. For more information visit: ChicagoDCASE.
About My CHI. My Future.
‘My CHI. My Future.’ is Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s signature youth-facing initiative with the aim to connect all of Chicago’s young people to meaningful out-of-school time experiences. The Mayor’s Office Education & Human Services Team partnered with City Departments, philanthropy, academia, the private sector, and more than 250 community-based organizations to create and connect an “opportunity ecosystem” that enables young people to explore their interest, develop their talents, and build pathways to positive futures. These opportunities for youth can be found at www.mychimyfuture.org.
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. For more information, please visit www.loopchicago.com.