Avery Landgrebe stroked her fingers through light pink, light purple, and white tendril-like streams at the bottom of her lantern as her fellow seventh grade art enrichment students entered a Newtown Middle School art classroom on Tuesday, September 20.

Avery's was one of many lanterns at the school on Tuesday made over the course of two weeks and ahead of a Lantern Parade scheduled for Saturday night at Fairfield Hills.

NMS art teacher Kristen Ladue said this is the first year the entire seventh grade art enrichment students are helping to create paper lanterns for the event, which is part of continuing Newtown Arts Festival celebrations through October 1. The Newtown Lantern Parade gathering will be held at Fairfield Hills, starting at the Mile Hill Road South baseball field (Glander Field) parking lot, at 6:30 pm. The parade procession will begin at 7 pm.

Students in both Ms Ladue's class and that of fellow art teacher Leigh Anne Coles participated in the project to create the lanterns, according to Ms Ladue.

This is the second year for the Newtown Lantern Parade, said Program Director Beckett Kohl-Condon, who had stopped by the art class on Tuesday. Organizers of the Newtown Arts Festival event invited local children to make lanterns at workshops for the Saturday evening event, and possibly bring a favorite costume to wear on that night. Lanterns were also crafted by residents of all ages at a September 10 Ben's Lighthouse Ice Cream Social event, at the September 11 REACH Car Show, and at the Newtown Art's Festival signature outdoor festival on September 17.

"This year is the second Annual Lantern Parade in town, and we are trying so hard to get the community involved," said Ms Kohl-Condon. "So far I think it will double in size this year, and hopefully we will have a great turnout."

On Tuesday, as NMS students continued putting the finishing touches on their lanterns, Ms Kohl-Condon said the Newtown Lantern Parade was inspired by the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade.

The Newtown Lantern Parade celebrates "the creative kid in everyone!"

Participants on Saturday do not need to have a lantern, said Ms Kohl-Condon. Local students have been working to create many so all walkers will have lanterns to carry at the event, she added.

Prizes will be issued at the parade for Best Costume and Most Creative Lantern, according to an announcement for the event.

NMS student Acadia Petersen said she was inspired by her love of dancing when she created her lantern. Sophia Soriano said she decorated her balloon with thick colorful vertical stripes based on the idea of a hot air balloon. Julia Kaiser said her lantern, which she was decorated with a black marker, was inspired by nighttime lights in New York City.

Nearby, Lily Mahoney said, "I was kind of inspired by creativity." Her lantern is decorated with the words "Stay Creative."

More information about the Newtown Lantern Parade is available on its Facebook page, 2016 Newtown Lantern Parade, and a schedule of continuing Newtown Arts Festival events is available at newtownartsfestival.com.

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