Participants in the 2014 Princeton Community Lantern Walk on Palmer Square. (click to expand)

Every year, the Waldorf School of Princeton organizes a “Lantern Walk” for its students and their families. The event is a continuation of a European tradition celebrating the life of St Martin, and also reflects worldwide ‘festivals of lights’ that take place in many cultures around this time of year. This year, the Waldorf School helped organize a Lantern Walk in downtown Princeton that was open to the whole Princeton Community. You can read all about it here. On Saturday night, around 200 people processed around Princeton carrying lanterns, through the University, Palmer Square, and other historic points of interest in the downtown. Click through the photos below for more details.

Event registration at Palmer Square, in front of the Nassau Inn. (click to expand.)

A merry band of recorder players leads music and song recalling the life and times of St Martin. (click to expand.)

The procession crosses Nassau Street. (click to expand.)

In Princeton University campus, in front of Nassau Hall. The lights of the lanterns from the participants can be seen. (click to expand.)

Lanterns on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall, Princeton University campus. (click to expand)

A huge ring of lanterns. (click to expand)

The procession gathers at Hinds Plaza, in front of the Princeton Public LIbrary. (click to expand.)

Hopefully, this is something that will happen every year! It was really a beautiful event, bringing together a lot of happy people on a chilly November evening. Credit is due to all the people who worked to make this event happen, including the Princeton Tour Company, JaZams, Princeton Arts Council and Chez Alice.

Note: the title of this piece was amended 11/17/14 and some small corrections were made.