Record-Breaking 5,000 Artists Set to Transform State Street for 11th Annual Arts in the Dark Parade

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/The Loop · October 23, 2025

The Loop is gearing up for a spectacular Halloween celebration as the 11th Annual Arts in the Dark Parade returns to State Street on Saturday, October 18, from 6-8 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will bring together over 5,000 performers from more than 100 cultural organizations, showcasing music, dance, theater, puppetry, and spectacle in celebration of Halloween as the "artist's holiday."

Parade-goers can expect an extraordinary visual feast including giant puppets and installations—a 50-foot cosmic serpent, a 40-foot glow worm, a motorized bathtub, and 16 towering skeletons. The event will feature participation from over 20 dance companies, 15 music ensembles, 8 high schools, and 3 colleges, with representation from diverse cultural groups including Black, Mexican, Irish, Colombian, Brazilian, South Asian, Korean, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Peruvian communities. According to Chicago Loop Alliance, rolling street closures throughout The Loop may begin at noon, with State Street fully closed from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street from 6 to 11 p.m.

This magical evening procession, which celebrates Halloween as the "artist's holiday," has been named 'one of the best Halloween celebrations in the world' by UK-based Wanderlust Magazine and included in USA Today's 10 best Halloween parades. Don't miss this dazzling production that annually delights an audience of over 100,000 gathered along State Street! For the best viewing experience, organizers recommend arriving early to secure a good spot, noting that the north side of the route tends to fill up quickly—consider trying the south end for better viewing opportunities.

Sources:
1. https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Chicagos-ARTS-IN-THE-DARK-Halloween-Parade-Returns-for-11th-Year-This-October-20250918
2. https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/no-kings-protest-and-arts-in-the-dark-halloween-parade-set-to-pack-downtown-chicago-this-saturdayheres-what-you-need-to-know-101625
3. https://www.choosechicago.com/event/arts-in-the-dark-parade-3/
4. https://artsinthedark.com/attend/