Sandy Springs Lantern Parade 2027: date, route, parking

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year. The city has set the date for 2027 but not the full plan, so the schedule, parking and closures below describe the 2026 parade, from the City of Sandy Springs Lantern Parade pages. We will update it when the 2027 details are out.

The Sandy Springs Lantern Parade is Saturday, May 8, 2027, with festivities beginning at 6 p.m., the city says. Families carry handmade glowing lanterns, giant puppets lead the way, and the parade walks down Morgan Falls Road to the Chattahoochee River, where lit puppets float on the water. It is free, and it is presented by the city with the Sandy Springs Foundation and the National Park Service’s Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Who to call

• Event questions: City of Sandy Springs, 770-730-5600 (24 hours)
• Weather updates: the city’s Facebook page
• Official page: Lantern Parade

How the 2026 parade ran

The 2026 parade was Saturday, May 9, according to the city’s parade viewing page:

The route: from the Pre-Parade Party at the Sandy Springs Municipal Complex, along Morgan Falls Road, to Morgan Falls Overlook Park. It is 1 mile and downhill.

The Pre-Parade Party had live DJs, a balloon artist, a bubble station, a fish puppet choir, food trucks and the Stayin’ Alive dance crew, a nonprofit troupe of performers 50 and older, the city’s party page says.

In the parade: Sanderson the Flying Pig leads it, a nod to the old joke that Sandy Springs would become a city “when pigs fly,” which it did in 2005. The Black Sheep Ensemble brass band plays, and artist Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons bring giant puppets. At Overlook Park, kayakers from Murph’s Surf pull lit river lanterns across the water, and the puppets stay on display for photos, per the city’s puppets page.

Make a lantern first

Lantern kits are not available at the event, so make yours ahead, the city’s lantern page says.

• Only LED battery-powered lights. Fire and flying lanterns are prohibited.
• Workshops: in 2026 Chantelle Rytter, who created the parade, ran workshops May 1-2 in the Studio Theatre Lobby at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way. Tickets were $25 per lantern or parasol, with all materials included and pre-registration required. Kids had to be with an adult. See the workshops page.
• Make-at-home kits are listed on the city’s lantern kits page.

Parking, shuttles and closures

From the city’s parking and shuttle page for 2026:

• All cars park at 7840 Roswell Road, and rideshare drop-off is there too. The walk to the Pre-Parade Party is about 10 minutes (0.4 miles) on a flat sidewalk.
• Shuttles ran from parking to the party from 6 to 8 p.m. After the parade they ran only from Overlook Park back to parking, 9 to 10:30 p.m. Walking back from Overlook Park is 1.5 miles, uphill, with sidewalks and streetlights the whole way.
• MARTA: Route 87 stops at Roswell Road and Morgan Falls Road, about 0.3 miles from the party, per the bus page.

Closures in 2026, per the road closures page:

• Morgan Falls Overlook Park, the dog park and the boat ramp closed all day.
• Morgan Falls Road closed to cars past the Adair Apartments entrance all day.
• All traffic on Morgan Falls Road stopped from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

What to know

• Chairs and blankets are welcome for watching. Stay on the sidewalk and off retaining walls, and at Overlook Park stay at the top of the hill and do not climb the fence.
• Restrooms are at the parking area, the Pre-Parade Party and Overlook Park; there are none along the route.
• History: the first parade was June 18, 2016, down Morgan Falls Road to Overlook Park, the city says.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Sandy Springs Lantern Parade in 2027? Saturday, May 8, 2027, with festivities from 6 p.m., the city says. In 2026 the parade stepped off at 8:30 p.m.

Where does the Lantern Parade go? It starts at the Sandy Springs Municipal Complex on Morgan Falls Road, follows Morgan Falls Road for 1 mile downhill and ends at Morgan Falls Overlook Park on the Chattahoochee River.

Where do I park for the Lantern Parade? In 2026 all cars and rideshares had to use 7840 Roswell Road. From there it is about a 10-minute walk, or a shuttle ride, to the Pre-Parade Party.

Can I use a candle in my lantern? No. Only LED battery-powered lights are allowed. Fire and flying lanterns are banned, and lantern kits are not sold at the event.

Is the Lantern Parade free? Yes. Watching and walking in the parade are free. The city’s lantern-making workshops cost $25 per lantern in 2026.

What this means for you

• Save Saturday, May 8, 2027.
• Plan your lantern in April; workshops have been held the weekend before.
• Wear walking shoes: the route is downhill, the way back is uphill.
• More plans: Mother’s Day, parks and trails and things to do.