Downtown Lantern Parade
Gather with your lanterns at Ting Pavilion at 8:30pm on July 3rd, 2026. The parade will follow a route down the Downtown Mall led by the Elby Brass Band. Bring your own or collect a FREE lantern that will be available onsite.
No pets, fire, or candle-lit lanterns please.
Thank you to the build team Melissa Goldman, Miranda Elliott-Rader, Annie Temmink, Cosmo Kuzmick, Dylan West, and Daniel Gilmore for their amazing work on the dragon lantern.
Want to make a lantern? Find inspiration here and make a lantern at home or join one of our lantern workshops led by local artists Miranda Elliott-Rader, Melissa Goldman, and Annie Temmink which can be found here. Find a variety of free and ticketed workshops happening downtown below.
Family Friendly Workshops Downtown
Starting June 1st at the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitor Bureau vans who's schedule can be found here
July 1st, 6pm - 7pm, floral paper lanterns with @flowergirlcville ticketed - Message to reserve spot
July 2nd, 3pm - 8pm, Community Day Paper Lantern Decorating Workshop at the Looking Glass
July 3rd, 9:30am – 5:00pm at the Virginia Discovery Museum
Workshops for Artists Ages 13+
Friends of Cville is excited to partner with local artists Kathryn Wingate, Miranda Elliott-Rader, Melissa Goldman, Annie Temmink, and Raging Buffalo Glass Studio to lead lantern making workshops. Join a workshop to create lantern structures to be used in the community lantern parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Downtown Mall on July 3rd, 2026. Workshops will be held at Live Arts and the McGuffy Art Center on the Downtown Mall. Participants will be able to choose from a variety of example designs or make their own design. All materials will be provided so just bring your creativity! Ages 13+, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (ticket sold separately).
Want to make a lantern at home? Check out our Pinterest profile and find inspiration and tutorials here.