Neighborhood Life
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.

The Lantern Parade is Coming Soon… Here’s How to Get Involved

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Spontaneous Celebrations' Lantern Parade is on October 22 and 23 and there are many ways you can get involved leading up to one of Jamaica Plain's greatest traditions. You can make lanterns. Albeit this year, Spontaneous Celebrations is in need of 3-liter bottles. Members of Spontaneous Celebrations' Programming Circle have been exploring how to make lanterns in other ways, such as strings of LED lights and even cellphone lights. There are upcoming afternoons and evenings for community drop-ins to help make lanterns for everyone to use.

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Arts

Photos: 35th Annual Jamaica Plain Lantern Parades

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The cold arrived just in time for Jamaica Plain's annual Lantern Parades this past weekend. Participants, some donning costumes, met at Jamaica Pond's Boat House on Saturday and Sunday, and paraded around the pond with lanterns in tow at dusk. You don't have to be young, or with a youngster (at least in a photo) to enjoy Jamaica Plain's lantern parades. This is the 35th year for the annual tradition presented by Spontaneous Celebrations and the Friends of Jamaica Pond. Some participants wore scary costumes, and the classic skeleton outfit never goes out of style.

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Neighborhood Life
James Purtle arranges lanterns spelling out “Spontaneous Celebrations” for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18., 2014.

Saturday Night of 2016 Lantern Parade Cancelled

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Spontaneous Celebrations, the non-profit that hosts several of the neighborhood's iconic events, announced late Saturday afternoon that the first night of the 2016 Lantern Parade has been cancelled. Sunday's parade is on, however. Here's the message Spontaneous Celebrations sent out via email:

Here's the Jamaica Plain News Guide to the 2016 Lantern Parade. It tells you everything you need to know to enjoy Sunday's parade.

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Neighborhood Life
Victoria Wu studies one of many lanterns for sale at the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18, 2014.

Your Guide to the 2016 Lantern Parade

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UPDATE: The soggy weather has forced Spontaneous Celebrations to cancel the Saturday night portion of this year's Lantern Parade. Sunday is still on. ~~~~~

Here's everything you need to know to prepare for and enjoy the 33rd edition of Jamaica Plain's iconic Lantern Parade. The 2016 Lantern Parade takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23 around Jamaica Pond.

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Photo of the Day

Curse the Darkness? Nah, I’ll Light Some of These

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Cristian, 13, lights lanterns for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade on Oct. 18. Credit: Esther Ro

One of the neighborhood's most photogenic events (for photographers with the skills to work in in low light) is the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade. Photojournalist Esther Ro captured this view of Cristian, 13, lighting lanterns on Saturday night. Here's a full gallery of Ro's work at this year's Lantern Parade.

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Neighborhood Life

Photo Gallery: Lanterns Light the Night

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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.

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