What to buy for a lantern parade

A lantern parade needs more than lanterns and sticks. You will need safe lights, spare batteries, craft materials, registration equipment and a simple refreshment setup for before or after the walk. Use the number of registered participants as your starting point, then add a small reserve for children, damaged materials and late arrivals. The list below covers the items most often forgotten until setup day, including lighting backups and serving equipment.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 40
Foldable tablesqty 4
Tablecloth setsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 180
Coffee cupsqty 100
Platesqty 180
Cutlery setsqty 180
Serving spoonsqty 8

Catering

Thermos flasksqty 6
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Drink dispensersqty 3
Serving traysqty 6
Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Chocolate milk - 12 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Cola - 12 liters
- Cola Zero - 12 liters
- Orange soda - 8 liters
- Sparkling water - 12 liter
- Still water - 24 liters
- Children’s juices - 120 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Mini hot dogs - 8 cans
- Mini rolls - 200 pieces
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 6 crates
- Carrots - 4 bags
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Apples - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 60 pieces
- Cheese cubes - 4 kilo
- Herb cream cheese - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Raisins - 3 kilos
- Low-allergen cookies - 4 packs
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Cupcakes - 180 pieces
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Paper straws - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 3 bottles

Decorations

Paper lanternsqty 180
Lantern sticksqty 180
LED lightsqty 200
Craft paperqty 300
Colored pencil setsqty 20
Markersqty 20
Children's scissors setsqty 20
Glue sticksqty 40
Rolls of tapeqty 20
Sticker sheetsqty 100

Lighting

LED flashlightsqty 20
AA batteriesqty 240
AAA batteriesqty 120
Battery lanternsqty 12

Equipment

Walkie-talkiesqty 12
Mobile phone chargersqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Extension cordsqty 6

Safety

High-visibility vestsqty 12
First aid kitsqty 2
Flashlightsqty 12
Crowd control barriersqty 10
Traffic conesqty 20

Information

Route signsqty 20
Registration signsqty 4
Clipboardsqty 6
Pensqty 30
Name stickersqty 200

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 20
Hand broomsqty 4
Mop setsqty 2

Tips

Plan one lantern and one lantern stick per participant, plus 10% extra. For a group of 50, that means 55 lanterns and sticks so a broken item does not delay the start.
Give each lantern its own LED light and keep spare batteries on hand. Buy at least 10% extra AA or AAA batteries, depending on the lights you use, and test every light before the event.
For a children’s craft table, prepare one small set of paper, coloured pencils, markers, scissors and glue for every four to six children. Add several rolls of tape and sticker sheets for quick repairs and decoration.
Allow one reusable cup per guest for a single serving, or two per guest if refreshments are served before and after the parade. For coffee, plan one cup per drinker and keep thermos flasks or kettles ready for refills.
Do not leave lighting and weather equipment until the final week. Check battery lanterns, LED flashlights, tents, tables and chairs at least three days before the parade, leaving time to replace missing or faulty items.

Frequently asked questions

How many lanterns do I need for a lantern parade?: Plan one lantern and one lantern stick per registered participant, then add 10% extra. For 80 participants, prepare about 88 of each. This covers late registrations, damaged lanterns and children who need a replacement.
How many batteries should I buy for a lantern parade?: Buy enough batteries for every LED light, plus at least 10% spare. If 60 lanterns each use two AA batteries, buy 132 AA batteries in total. Check whether your lights use AA or AAA batteries before shopping.
What craft supplies are needed to make parade lanterns?: For a supervised craft table, provide paper, coloured pencils, markers, children’s scissors, glue sticks, tape and sticker sheets. One craft set for every four to six children is a practical starting point; buy extra tape and glue because these run out first.
How many cups and plates do I need for a lantern parade?: For one refreshment round, plan one reusable cup, plate and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. If guests will eat or drink twice, plan two cups per person and check that your thermos flasks, kettles or coffee machines can handle the serving period.

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