ATTEND THE PARADE!

Arts in the Dark takes place on State Street and moves south from Lake to Van Buren.  Parade participants will begin lining up along Wacker Drive as early as 4:30pm – and at 6pm, the show will start!  Come in costume, bring your friends, your family, your colleagues, even your dog! All are welcome to enjoy what is quickly becoming one of the region’s most iconic parades.

The parade route is located right in the center of the Loop – so come early for shopping or a meal in one of the Loop’s many restaurants – and stay late for dinner and festivities after the parade.  There is no better way to celebrate Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” than to enjoy a night in the nation’s second largest cultural district!

For more information on pre and post-parade activities in the Loop, visit the Chicago Loop Alliance.

PARKING:

Millennium Garages is the Exclusive Parking Sponsor for Arts in the Dark.  Their lots are conveniently located off the parade route on Michigan Avenue, with access points at Washington and Van Buren.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

  • Bus
    Buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 126, 129, 146, 147, 151 and 173. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) – bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
  • The L Train
    From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk two blocks east. From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson and walk three or four blocks east on Jackson.
  • Metra
    For schedules and more visit https://metrarail.com/
  • Rideshare
    Due to street closures for the parade, we recommend being dropped off on Michigan and walking west to State.

SAFETY:

Having a safe and fun parade experience for spectators is most important to LUMA8 and our partners and sponsors. Please follow these procedures to help ensure everyone’s safety.

  • The parade area will be monitored by Chicago Police, Private Security Officers, Parade Marshals and Staff and other Emergency Response Personnel. If you have a problem of an emergency nature, please contact those responders along the parade route for assistance.
  • PLEASE NOTE: NO BACKPACKS, LARGE BAGS, LAWN CHAIRS OR LARGE UMBRELLAS ARE ALLOWED ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE.
  • And ALWAYS remember…”If you see something, say something!”

ADA VIEWING:

The ADA viewing area is just south of the Sponsor Tent in front of Macy’s, at the north east corner of Washington and State.

 This is a free, family-friendly event.