Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade

Jamaica Pond at sunset · Photo: Lucía Rodezno via Google

• When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 at dusk (rain date Sunday, October 18); exact start time not yet posted
• Where: Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain, Jamaicaway at Jamaica Pond, Boston, MA 02130
• Cost: Free to walk; lanterns can be made at Spontaneous Celebrations or bought on the day
• Organizer: Spontaneous Celebrations

Official Event Page

The Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade is a community walk around Jamaica Pond at nightfall, with thousands of people carrying handmade, candle-lit lanterns. This year it is on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with Sunday, October 18 as the rain date. It is organized by Spontaneous Celebrations, the Jamaica Plain community arts nonprofit, and has run since 1984.

There is no stage and no grandstand: the parade is the crowd. People gather at the pond at sunset and walk the loop together, and many children come in Halloween costume. The organizers put attendance at around 4,000 people in a typical year.

Getting a lantern

Lanterns are traditionally made from recycled soda bottles covered in colored tissue paper. Spontaneous Celebrations runs lantern-making at its community center at 45 Danforth Street in Jamaica Plain in the run-up to the parade, local shops sell handmade lanterns, and lanterns can also be bought on the day.

Time and weather

The parade starts at dusk. The exact 2026 start time had not been posted when we checked, so plan to arrive before sunset and check the organizer's page on the day, especially if rain moves it to Sunday.

Good to know

Jamaica Pond is in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, along the Jamaicaway. Walking the loop in the dark with open flames and small children means going slowly; battery lights are a sensible option for little ones.

Details checked against the organizer's official site, spontaneouscelebrations.org, on September 28, 2026. Dates and times can change; confirm with the organizer before you go.