The city of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is going all out for Halloween. Collaborating with LUMA8 and the Chicago Park District, get ready for “Arts in the Dark,” a crazy and enchanting Halloween Parade along Columbus Drive that showcases the cultural diversity and creativity of its upcoming generation of artists.

The Art Institute and School of the Art Institute will be dressed in medieval-style armor, Broadway In Chicago calls on their fans to dress up as their favorite Broadway characters, and After School Matters will have participants including West Town Bikes with decorated cycles and riders, the Mariachi Ensemble, Aztec Dance Chicago and The Art of Drumming.

The parade will begin on Columbus Drive at dusk, going from Balbo to Monroe, and it will be quite the spectacle with its beautiful costumes, masks and lighting elements.

Best part of all: following the parade will be a House Music Dance Party at the Cloud Gate (aka the “Bean”) in Millennium Park from 7:30 to 9pm with legendary Chicago Producer and DJ Roy Davis, Jr. joined by the Fivestarboogie Dancers.

When: Saturday, October 21st
Parade: 6-8pm
Roy Davis Jr. set: 7:30-9pm
The Arts in the Dark festivities will kick-off at 4:00 at Buckingham Fountain, where the Chicago Blackhawks street team will host a pre-parade celebration including music and a Blackhawks inspired mural to commemorate the artist’s holiday in conjunction with hockey. Party-goers can post pictures to social media for the chance to win Blackhawks prizes.

LUMA8 also is calling on individual artists to join the parade by creating lanterns using the theme “Under the Sea and Up in the Air.” Awards will be given to the artists with the most creative and best-executed lanterns.

lead photo via Kitano Dreamstime.com