All are invited for an evening lantern parade through the snowy streets of Montpelier on Thursday, February 23rd! The parade will be led by visual artist Gowri Savoor, the band Sambatucada, and Union Elementary School students. Students will carry their own handmade lanterns inspired by the theme “The Wonder of Winter!” You are welcome to make a lantern at home and join the parade. The parade will begin at 6:00pm on Park Avenue (in front of Union Elementary School.) The parade route will be: straight on Park Avenue, left on Loomis Street, right on School Street, left on Main Street, left on East State Street, left on Cedar Street, left on School Street, left on Loomis Street, right on Park Avenue to the UES Upper Playground. When we arrive at the UES Upper Playground there will be a FREE fun celebration with rainbow ice sculptures, live music, a fire dance performance, and free hot chocolate and cider! The event will end at 7:00 pm.

Visual artist Gowri Savoor is guiding UES students in making their lanterns during a ten-day art residency from February 6-17. All Kindergarten through fourth grade students will create hand-made lanterns from sustainable materials including willow and tissue paper. Lanterns will be suspended from bamboo poles and lit with battery operated LED lights. For more information about the school residency and the community lantern parade, please visit

Our lantern parade is made possible with the support of The UES Parents Group; Coldwell Banker Classic Properties; and Tarrant, Gillies and Richardson, Attorneys at Law. We thank Lake Champlain Chocolates and Champlain Orchards for their generous donations. We also appreciate the wonderful service of the Montpelier Police Department and the support of the Montpelier City Council for this community event.

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Jan 16, 2025, 5:30 to 6:30 PM

Jan 17, 2025, 6 to 9 PM