Jamaica Plain Lantern Parade 2017

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA — Each year for the past 34 years on a night in the middle of the fall, flickering lights circle JP Pond. It's a moment of community tradition - with roots in a Dutch tradition, according to organizers — that comes with a ton of smiles, usually some apple cider and the kind of chills you get when you know you're a part of something bigger than yourself.

"It reflects our dedication to building community by exploring old and creating new cultural traditions," reads the organizer's webpage.

The action this year starts at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse on Saturday, October 21 around 5:30 p.m. where you can buy and decorate a lantern, though you can also bring your own. The parades start at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 and then again Sunday, organized by Spontaneous Celebrations and Friends of Jamaica Pond and the Curley School.

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Spontaneous Celebrations and community members host lantern making workshops to help folks create handmade lanterns from recycled soda bottles decorated with colorful tissue paper. Or you can pop by Boing! and buy the supplies to make it on your own. By the night of the festival, several thousand people have made lanterns, according to Spontaneous Celebrations. And each year some 4,000 people make their way to Jamaica Pond around sunset with their lanterns. The parade of folks (many in full Halloween costume) with lanterns winds around the pond, bringing a trail of bouncing lights into the darkness.

Opposite People ( the local Afrobeat and Funk band) will be on hand with some music, according to Jamaica Plain News. Look for fresh pressed hot apple cider, Empanadas and baked goods from Fiore’s, they also reported.

On Sunday, Spontaneous Celebrations will be hosting the Boston Symphony Orchestra ahead of the parade.

If you're wondering why we get so much of the Boston Symphony Orchestra recently, the BSO has launched an initiative to support collaboration with surrounding communities. For the next three years Jamaica Plain gets to host the BSO in residence.

Dates and times to know

Saturday, Oct. 21:

• 4-10 p.m. Spontaneous Celebrations $5 Food @ 6pm! - Make a lantern workshop
• 3:30-5:30 p.m. Jamaica Pond Boathouse - make a lantern workshop
• 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. lantern parade around the pond.

Sunday, Oct. 22:

• 2-4 p.m. The Haven 2 Perkins St. $5 - make a lantern workshop
• 4 p.m. Engagement Party Concert at the Curley School, 493 Centre St. followed by reception at 5 p.m.
• 6.30-7.30 p.m. Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade: Join us as we walk around the pond - highlighted by acoustic music from BSO and others

$5 to go kits available at Boing! 667 Centre St.

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Photo of the lantern parade mural by Jenna Fisher/Patch