Contributed by Lisa Saleh
Hundreds of community members carrying paper lanterns and wearing festive costumes gathered in the Downtown Cary Park on Saturday, January 10, to share in a journey.
Their walk started near the iconic fountain at Frantz Square, snaked through the pathways of the park, and ended at the Great Lawn and Pavilion. The occasion? The fifth annual Under the Silver Moon Lantern Parade.
Local artist and organizer Gowri Savoor credits the space itself for making the event so touching. “There are all these different vantage points, and it’s so intimate,” she says. “The relationship to this space is very special.”
As the founder of A River of Light, an organization that aims to meld art and community through lantern light, Gowri seeks to create experiences that “start traditions, build beautiful memories, and engage creativity, collaboration, and celebration at their core.”
Diverse performances included the Raleigh Drum Circle and One Tribe Rhythms, Caroleena’s Circle of Joy, the Bulltown Strutters band, Oakwood Second Line band, the Awesomettes dancers, Street Creature Puppet Collective, and Colorful Waves belly dancers.
“That is my vision,” Gowri says. “It’s about showcasing the community and their talents. It was beautiful.”
In the months leading up to the parade, Gowri, a visual/teaching artist by trade, conducted eight community workshops on lantern making. The two-hour sessions taught attendees how to incorporate LED lighting and sustainable materials into their lantern designs.
The parade kicked off the Town of Cary’s GLOW outdoor exhibition of illuminated art installations that will illuminate downtown Cary until March. The annual pop-up art event is presented by the Academy Street Artwork Projects and features seven displays created by six artists.
Denise Dickens, the public art and exhibitions supervisor with the Town of Cary, is responsible for coordinating GLOW 2026. According to the Town of Cary’s website, the GLOW art displays “illuminate the darkest part of winter, surprising and delighting viewers when the artworks are discovered.” This year’s theme is “Our Town” and Dickens hopes that GLOW will “create a dynamic sense of place that adds energy to the street environment, creating memories and moments of celebration for all who encounter each work of art.”
