Columbia Students to Join Arts in the Dark Parade
More than 150 students will debut prairie-inspired puppetry and costumes at the Chicago parade on October 24.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Puppetry
Live Poll
Do you believe collaborative creative projects help students feel more connected to their new community?
Over 150 Columbia College students are set to participate in the Arts in the Dark parade on Columbus Drive on October 24, 2026. The students are debuting prairie-themed artistic contributions, including large-scale puppets, insect shells, and cicada designs.
Why it matters
The project serves as a hands-on learning experience for students to explore the local Chicago landscape while fostering community engagement through collaborative art. This initiative bridges academic curriculum with citywide cultural festivities.
A cohort of 150 students from the Carnival Art: Chicago Stories course are contributing to the parade effort. The work involves designing complex puppets and costumes for the event, which is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m.
The players
Columbia College
An academic institution located in Chicago that integrates arts and media studies into its curriculum.
Created to Achieve Success
An organization collaborating with students to design and implement a haunted house project for the event.
The details
Students in the Carnival Art: Chicago Stories course designed and constructed wearable architecture and insect-inspired puppets. Additionally, the group Created to Achieve Success is preparing a haunted house environment that will debut at the Student Center afterparty.
Timeline
The Arts in the Dark parade takes place on October 24, 2026.
The Columbia parade afterparty runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on October 24, 2026.
A campus haunted house is scheduled for the week following October 24, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project reflects a broader trend of integrating educational puppetry and large-scale art installations into citywide public parades. It follows the established pattern of academic institutions using the Arts in the Dark parade as a public stage for student-led creative work.
Residents can view the student-designed parade entries along the Columbus Drive route starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The subsequent afterparty at the Student Center is open to attendees, offering a closer look at the group's haunted house installation.
The takeaway
Engaging with community art projects offers a unique way for students to connect classroom concepts to their physical surroundings. Participants and observers can look for ways to support local arts programs throughout the upcoming academic year.
What happens next
A campus haunted house event is planned for the week following the October 24 parade.
Further reading
Explore more about local artistry at Puppetry.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Columbia Chronicle.
Live Poll
Do you believe collaborative creative projects help students feel more connected to their new community?
