Join us for the Murfreesboro Lantern Parade at the Discovery Center! This is the second year for the Lantern Parade, a free, community-wide event for all ages. Bring a homemade lantern, or make one at our event, and wear your marching shoes. This event will also feature live music by Slim Chance Band and Appalachian square dancing by the Cripple Creek Cloggers prior to the parade. Food will be available to purchase on-site from a variety of local food trucks. 

The schedule for the evening will be

• Lantern-making from 5:30-6:30pm

• Parade participants will line up at 6:30pm

• The parade will take place from 6:40-7:00pm

This event is made possible by the Discovery Center and the Rutherford Arts Alliance as part of the 7th annual Tennessee STEAM Festival.

See this page on the Discovery Center’s website for more about lantern parades, and ideas on how to make your own, and visit the Murfreesboro Lantern Parade on Facebook. The Atlanta Lantern Parade website or this video from their 2022 event is also a good source of inspiration.

For safety, use battery powered lights, no open flames allowed.

More about the venue and parking

Free public parking is available in the Discovery Center parking lot at 502 SE Broad St. near downtown Murfreesboro.

Banner image with purple background for the Lantern Parade by Abby Reish.

Note: Previous information indicated Gateway Island as the location. The boardwalk at the Discovery Center is the correct location.