Adelaide, 6, receives a lantern she picked out at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014. Credit: Esther Ro
Thousands thronged the Pond Saturday for the 31st edition of the Lantern Parade. Photojournalist Esther Ro was there and brings you a gallery of images from this signature neighborhood event. The Lantern Parade's second night begins Sunday at 6 p.m.
The event is sponsored by Spontaneous Celebrations and Friends of Jamaica Pond.
Esther Ro
The Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade, a tradition hosted by community group Spontaneous Celebrations since 1984, attracts thousands of local residents and visitors from outside the neighborhood every year for a weekend of beautiful lights. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 19 at the Jamaica Pond Boat House.
Esther Ro
James Purtle arranges lanterns spelling out “Spontaneous Celebrations” for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18., 2014.
Esther Ro
Twins Veronica (left) and Victoria, 9, light lanterns in preparation for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014. The girls are involved in Spontaneous Celebrations’ La Piñata program, a traditional music and dance group directed by Rosalba Solis.
Esther Ro
Cristian, 13, lights lanterns for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18.
Esther Ro
Asher Bremser (left), 3, and Finn Rosenbaum, 4, wield their lanterns on sticks for easy, safe holding as they walk about the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014. Rosenbaum’s grandmother was the founder of the yearly event.
Esther Ro
Victoria Wu studies one of many lanterns for sale at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014.
Esther Ro
Spontaneous Celebrations, Jamaica Plain residents and other community members created lanterns out of plastic soda bottles and tissue paper for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade held on Oct. 18 and 19, 2014. Lanterns were sold for $5 to $20 each.
Esther Ro
Rainy weather did not deter Suman Appadwedula and her daughter Isha from parading around Jamaica Pond with their lanterns on Oct. 18, 2014.
Esther Ro
Many people attended the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade in costume (Oct. 18, 2014)
Esther Ro
A girl holds her lantern in the midst of the crowd at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014.
Esther Ro
Kaitlin Jacobucci, 6, searches for a lantern to claim for herself at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014.
Esther Ro
As the night grew dark, lanterns provided a warm, festive glow at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18.
Esther Ro
Some lanterns were strung onto rowboats to illuminate the pond at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18.
Esther Ro
Tzipporah Rosenstock, 3, plays with a lantern at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18.