Residents from all over Oswego gathered on Saturday to express their artistic creativity, socialize, shop, and eat delicious foods at the Annual Oswego Lantern Festival. Many locals showed up, and even some non-Oswego residents joined in on the fun.
Event organizer and Oswego community relations department member Kelley Bertog said, “We love having community participation, so I think there’s a lot of ways to get involved.”
Bertog also alluded to the fact that the event, centered around an evening lantern parade, serves as a platform to engage the community in local arts because “they thought this would be a really great way to have people create art and then celebrate that art as a part of a larger event.”
In addition to the lantern parade, Hudson Crossing Park also held an exciting night market which hosted activities for all ages. The Lantern Festival brought the community together because it allowed residents to express their creativity in arts, and residents could enjoy the wide range of activities that the event had to offer.
OH Cultural Arts Committee representative Grace Franke said, “It’s impactful because I think, as a community, Oswego is really good at having… annual [events] that bring everybody together, especially in the downtown.”
Franke noted the costumes the community participants dressed up in as well as “make their lanterns and decorate[ed] how they want[ed], and then walk[ed] down to the park.”
Costumes and decorated lanterns highlight how the festival acts as a community tradition, bringing Oswego residents and families together to express creative arts.
“There’s going to be music and other events going on, so it’s just a good way to connect with people in your community,” Franke added.
Lots of community members attended the festival, but many also helped bring it to life. With over a year of careful preparation, and four organizations working together, The Village of Oswego was able to put on a memorable event. According to attendees, the parade is important to the Oswego community because it allows everyone to show their creativity to bring the community together using art.
Bertog encouraged local residents to get connected in future events, adding that “We love having community participation, so I think there’s a lot of ways to get involved, and this event is pretty unique because it’s a combination of four different organizations.”
As the event manager for the village, Bertog shared that he was involved primarily in the parade portion of the event. “We are always looking for [volunteers] for this event and all of our events,” he added. “We’re always seeking… people that want to volunteer, of course, for the parade.”
Volunteers are essential for the success of events like the parade, and many would say that volunteering with other locals strengthens connections within the community.
The Lantern Parade was memorable for many attendees, as can be seen in the video footage of the event. Locals were able to share their art and express their creativity by collaborating together.
“Everyone work[ed] together and then celebrate[d] the parade together. They… all worked together to build beautiful… lanterns. Then they all walked together, and everyone was… cheering and clapping and excited for them. So that probably feels pretty good,” said local event attendee Keri Siceloff.
The Lantern festival is important because it allows locals to share their art, and participate in fun activities to better connect to their community. Families are also encouraged to attend with many fun activities for the youth along with a vibrant night market for parents.
Hello! My name is Craig Spicher, and I am a Senior at Oswego High School. This is my first year on staff at 42Fifty, and I am excited to serve the local community as a staff reporter! You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
