help illuminate santa's arrival: baltimore's first holiday lantern parade

Baltimore is welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus in a BIG way this year: the first-ever holiday lantern parade! If you love the grand illuminaria of the Great Halloween Parade in Patterson park, this is a definite 'don't miss.'

The parade kicks off at 5:30 PM on November 19th at West Shore Park, and is sponsored by Harborplace & The Gallery, Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Nana Projects, The Maryland Science Center, and Patterson Park Public Charter School. 

You could go and watch the parade -- but wouldn't it be more fun for you and kiddos if you were well, in it? 

You can be! All you need is a lantern. Don't have one handy or not sure how to make one? Don't sweat it. Parade partners have set-up three different FREE family lantern making workshops, so you and the kiddos can get your 'elf' on without having to hit up three art stores for supplies:

• Family Lantern Making Workshop at the Maryland Science Center
  Saturday, November 12, 2011
  11:00am - 1:00pm
• Family Lantern Making Workshop at Patterson Park Charter School
  Sunday, November 13, 2011
  11:30am - 1:30pm
• Winter Wonderland Lantern Workshop at West Shore Park
  Saturday, November 19, 2011
  2:00pm - 4:00pm
  (In the heated tent!)

All you need to do to attend a workshop is RSVP through Eventbrite. Select the workshop you'd like to attend and the number of lantern kits your family will need (up to 5). Although the workshop and materials are FREE, you might want to consider getting on Santa's 'nice' list and donating $5 to Healthy Harbor while you’re there... (Just saying, there's only a few more weeks to score points with the Big Guy in red...)

It's not just area families lighting up the Inner Harbor for Santa. Check out the parade line-up for the Holiday Lantern Parade:

• Nana Projects: Baltimore most luminescent organization will provide festive lanterns, cascading ribbon trees, towering umbrellas, illuminated stilt walkers, and costume characters. 
• Mambo Combo:  Few people can resist dancing to their infectious samba, which has been keeping hips swinging in Mid-Atlantic region and beyond for more than 25 years.   
• Bateria Terra Maria: A a Baltimore-area percussion ensemble inspired by the music and dance of the famous samba schools of Rio de Janeiro. Exciting Brazilian rhythms are going to keep get your feet moving.  
• Poly Western Marching Band: renown all around Baltimore for their high-level of energy! 
• Baltimore City College Choir: under the direction of Linda Hall, today's choir consists of four groups: the Mixed Chorus, the Concert Choir, the Singin'/Swingin' Knights, and the Knights and Daze Show Choir.  

Charm City's first holiday lantern parade is sure to be a GRAND success -- and a magical way to kick off the holiday festivities. Don't miss it! (And don't let your friends miss it either -- spread the word!). 

(cool) tip: Baltimore has some AMAZING holiday cheer coming to the Inner Harbor area. Check out It's a Waterfront Life for a full list of events and details

This post was sponsored by Harborplace and The Gallery.