Parade of Spirits, Liberty Lands

12/21/2025

Lots of you mentioned in this article!

From a Northern Liberties parade to Krampus photo ops, Philly’s holiday season is trading forced cheer for folklore, horns, and a little rebellion.

12/18/2025

The photo we never see - of Neil the photographer!

12/17/2025

12/17/2025

Parade of Spirits 2025 Portraits!

12/14/2025

Photos from Parade of Spirits 2025 pt 2!

12/14/2025

Photos from Parade of Spirits 2025 pt 1!

12/14/2025

Some shots from 2025

12/14/2025

Deep gratitude for all who came out to Parade of Spirits 2025! The spectacular costumes, the magical choir, the raucous procession, the glorious fire, our vibrant imagined community all here in Liberty Lands, despite all of the other chaos in the world (and maybe a little because of it). Special thanks to the complete strangers, some who arrived a little early and others who stayed a little late to lend helping hands with set up and clean up. We appreciate all of you ❤️

Please share your pics!

12/09/2025

It's Parade week!!!

You'll see when you get to the park that a big chunk of our usual area – the playground – is fenced off because of construction. For that reason, we're moving the party towards the stage, and this year we have a longer route and no post-parade performance. We'll step off at sundown (4:35) as always, after Sing Slavic performs, and return for the vegetative sacrifice and some more socializing until around 6. Our friend Neil will be taking photos but may not be able to set up the large-format portrait studio: TBD.

And here's the annual message about how you can help (thanks!)

BRING SOMETHING TO SHARE.
We'll have mulled wine and mulled cider, plus cookies, as always (courtesy of our long-time sponsor, Penn Treaty SSD). If you'd like to bring some other food or drink to share, that would be lovely – just set it out on the table! Bonus points for food allergy labeling, thanks.

We'll have extra masks, noisemakers, and lanterns as always, too. If you have extra to share, just put IT out on the table. . . and take it back at the end if you don't want it to just become part of the yearly pile.

The SOCK DONATION bin will be there as always: if you can toss in some new socks for those who are struggling this winter, we'll all appreciate it.

Oh, and share your photos on Facebook afterwards if you can – we all love seeing the ones we might have missed!

BE YOUR WONDERFUL SELVES.
Part of the joy of this event is how inclusive, welcoming, and fun all of you are. Keep it up! Continue to enjoy each other's costumes, make new friends, and generally dissuade bad vibes with an overwhelming spirit of generosity and kindness.

Related to that. . .

STAY OUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA
Seriously, please. We don't want people messing with our not-yet-installed playground equipment, but more importantly, that site is incredibly dangerous with big pits, lots of stray rebar, and random hazards. Please respect the fence.

HELP CLEAN UP and then TAKE THE PARTY ELSEWHERE
By about 6 p.m., the Parade organizers are pretty cold and tired. We love a hand putting noisemakers back into bins, trash into bags, and bins into cars. Putting out the fire is the last chore, but when it's out, Parade is over for the year and the park turns back into a “closed at night” zone. That's the time for you to adjourn to one of our many local bar/restaurants (or home) so the organizers can also go home and don't have to apologize to too many non-parade neighbors.

We can't wait to see you, and your costumes, on Saturday at Liberty Lands!

11/19/2025

Here's a map of the Parade of Spirits route for 2025, beginning and ending at Liberty Lands (913 N. 3rd Street). Due to construction in the park, there will be no entertainment after the march, so we're expanding the route a bit. Let's make it a blast!

12/15/2024

Thanks to everyone who participated yesterday! SHOW US YOUR PICS AND VIDS!