In preparation for the April 10 Lantern Parade, Concrete Couch will be hosting Lantern building workshops this week at the Manitou Arts Center. The workshops are open to all, and run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 24, 25, and 26.
“This is our 15th annual Lantern Parade,” said Thomas Pantoja, Concrete Couch’s community integration manager. “It’s kind of a staple of Concrete Couch and a staple of the Manitou community … On April 10th, we gather at Memorial Park, across from Sunwater Spa, and promptly start at 8 p.m. with a lot of music and we have the Concrete Couch jam band, with a lot of music playing and the kids go light up their lanterns. We walk down Manitou Avenue over to Soda Springs Park. It takes about 12 and a half minutes, but it’s an awesome 12 and a half minutes, and then at that point we just have cookies and jam out at the Bud Ford Pavilion there at Soda Springs park.”
This week at the Manitou Springs Art Center, staff from Concrete Couch will be available to help children get ready for the Lantern Parade. “They’re made from tissue paper, or recycled wood pieces that we have laid around Manitou Art Center, glue,” said Pantoja. “It’s real simple, and then we just get like those string lights that we wrap up inside of them and turn them on. So it’s really simple, but it just makes a big impact. This is something where the kids can be creative, get outside, make memories with their family, make memories in their community, connect with their community — all that kind of good stuff.”
This year’s Lantern Parade will also include pre- and post-parties at local businesses. “So the pre party is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and it’s a combination between Border Burger and the Penny Arcade,” explained Pantoja. “People can pop in at Border Burger, and Rick, the owner, he’s going to give Lantern Parade participants a discount on food and drinks. Then pop over to the Penny Arcade — we’re gonna have a little area set up in front of the skee ball area. They’re going to give out some coins for free skee-ball games. They’re gonna be doing face painting. We’re going to be doing tinsel for the kids’ hair. It’s going to be a real dope time.”
After the parade, there will be a gathering at Soda Springs Park before the all ages post-party at 9 p.m. at the Armadillo Ranch. A QR code on the flyer below will give attendees 20% off of food and drinks.
The annual event is sponsored by a variety of local groups, including the Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage Board, School District 14, the Penny Arcade, Border Burger, and others.
“It’s just one of the most robust events that we have at the Couch,” said Pantoja. “People are excited.”
