LUMA8 proudly announces the 9th Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, a family-friendly happening featuring unique floats, spectacle puppets and all forms of creative performance taking place Saturday, October 21, from 6-8pm! This magical evening procession celebrates Halloween as the “artists’ holiday” and draws together participants from major cultural organizations, inspiring youth programs, and aspiring artists in every field and from every ward of Chicago. This dazzling production – named ‘One of the best Halloween celebrations in the world’ by UK-based Wanderlust magazine – annually delights an audience of 50,000+ gathered along historic State Street, from Lake to Van Buren Streets.
And while it is a ‘Halloween’ parade, the participants are not bound by a ‘Halloween’ theme; each group is invited to showcase who they are as an organization with music, dance, costumes, and other dramatic visual elements. Illustrating the vast range of artistry, participants this year range from Ballet Folklorico de Chicago to the South Side Jazz Coalition, from CircEsteem to the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles! A complete parade lineup will be released in September.
“I am thrilled to see scores of Chicago arts organizations bring their inspiration and creativity to State Street as we celebrate Chicago as a world class cultural capital,” said Mark Kelly, Arts in the Dark Parade co-founder and artistic director.
Arts in the Dark is sponsored by Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products. According to LUMA8 President & CEO Sharene Shariatzadeh, “We have been grateful for the continued support of our sponsors and partners and especially for the many cultural organizations that never fail to surprise us with their creativity. We are delighted that Barry Callebaut shares our commitment to maintaining the authenticity of the parade and to elevating Chicago as a center for artistic innovation,” she continued. “With their help, and the support of Choose Chicago, the City’s destination marketing organization, we believe the ‘Candy Capital of North America’ will eventually become an international focal point for Halloween.”
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 and HARIBO. It is produced in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and is a proud recipient of a 2023 Chicago Presents Grant. Additional support is provided by Choose Chicago, Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, William Blair and the WNDR Museum.
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. 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. www.barry-callebaut.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. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca.html
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. www.loopchicago.com.
About HARIBO
HARIBO is the world's leading manufacturer of gummi products, most famous for our classic Goldbears. Globally, the business employs nearly 7,000 Associates and operates 16 production sites in 11 countries. A family-owned business with a century-long heritage, our founder, Hans Riegel, built HARIBO on a foundation of quality and inspiring moments of childlike happiness through our products. Established in 1920, HARIBO is the acronym that comprises our founder's name and the city in which the company was born (Bonn, Germany): HAns RIegel BOnn. We pride ourselves on making playful gummies that are meant to be shared so our inner child can always experience joy through sweet treats. HARIBO global headquarters is in Grafschaft, Germany and its U.S. headquarters operates out of Rosemont, Ill. www.haribo.com
For more information visit www.artsinthedark.org , LUMA8.org.