The nationally-recognized Little Five Points Halloween parade and festival returned Oct. 19 and 20 for another boisterous year of music, madness and handmade costumes.
Thousands of attendees turned out for the two-day event with three stages playing local music, an artist market along Euclid Ave. with spooky wares, “beastly buskers” doing street performances, a monster sticker hunt, Deep South Wrestling and a walkthrough “Halloweenville” at the local community center.
The centerpiece is the annual parade on Oct. 20. Dozens of local businesses join in costume and create ghoulish floats while attendees collect candy and watch on. It’s recognized by USA Today and the Travel Channel as one of the top Halloweeen parades in the nation.
Little Five Points Business Association President Kelly Stocks said the holiday is part of the neighborhood’s identity as a hub for “misfits and creatives.” People often tell her it is “Halloween every day in Little Five.”
This year’s event was even bigger than previous years, with a new area off Euclid Ave. packed with food trucks and a wrestling ring. The festival has grown every year since its formal beginning over twenty years ago, though there have been Halloween events since the 1970s.
“It’s part of our identity,” Stocks said. “That’s what we’re known for, is Halloween.”
But the parade wasn’t the only eerie event that October weekend. A few miles away, “Where the Weird Things Are: An Upside Down Parade” had its inaugural showing at Old Fourth Ward Park. On Oct. 19, Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of Grateful Gluttons lined the retention pond with mystical and bizarre creations that honor the city’s imagination.
Rytter and the Krewe are best known for helming the annual Lantern Parade on the Beltline, where thousands come to watch and participate with handmade lanterns. “Where the Weird Things Are” started as a pop-up parade in Reynoldstown, but the Oct. 19 model flipped the event on its head by having the crowd walk through the stationary puppets.
“We aim to honor the mystical creatures that live in the wild places of our own imaginations on the Atlanta Beltline,” Rytter said.
After exploring creations like the Rat King or a giant gnome, the crowd returned to the amphitheater seating for Rytter’s storytime. She opened with a tale of “Kudzulu, lord of the vines,” a cautionary tale about environmentalism and invasive species.
The artist said she opted for an upside-down structure to let the crowd and puppeteers “spend more time delighting each other” while establishing a sense of place around regional lore and legends.
A full gallery of the festival, parade and upside-down parade is available below.
Did you get any archival shots of the Regulate Guns NOT Women entourage?
Marchers, banner, 2 trucks and vintage Mercedes coupe plus huge pink and tie dyed VOTE! and VOTA banner?
Thanks to Laurie and all Parade organizers!!!