Thousands of lanterns released over GR

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Thousands of people crowded Bridge Street Bridge and stood in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Friday to become part of a spectacular ArtPrize entry.

Volunteers handed out Chinese sky lanterns to a cast of thousands who were all part of an ArtPrize entry in Ah-Nab-Awen Park.

At 8 p.m., the people lit the lanterns and launched them into the sky over Grand Rapids.

Artists Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson called the entry "Lights in the Night." It was meant to make the dreams of a community take flight -- and it left an impression.

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Photos: ArtPrize "Lights in the Night"

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Watch the lanterns being released (Courtesy Joe May via Facebook ):
 

The lanterns as seen from U.S. 131 (courtesy Jeremy Prins via YouTube ):

It was also the launch of what is expected to be a huge weekend for ArtPrize. Police are preparing for 200,000 visitors downtown, drawn by forecasts of pleasant weather.

Grand Rapids police encourage ArtPrize-goers to use crosswalks. They will be working major intersections in an effort to keep vehicle and pedestrian traffic moving smoothly.

They recommend parking on the outskirts and taking a shuttle downtown.