Celebrating 30 years of bringing light to the heart of our community – the Lismore Lantern Parade on Saturday 22 June will celebrate the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice.
Attracting more than 30,000 people each year, the festival celebrates community, art and nature with arts, crafts, workshops, regional cuisine, a spectacular parade, lanterns, bands, street theatre, music, carnival dancers, illuminated puppets, fire art and pyrotechnics.
Each year the Lantern Parade involves participants from Lismore, throughout the Northern Rivers and visitors to the region who have attended workshops in lantern, mask and costume making.
School and community workshops start at Easter each year with many other volunteers travelling from across the Northern Rivers region, South East Queensland, around NSW, South Australia and Victoria to participate in this event.
LightnUp Inc, the producers of the event, are widely recognised for their expertise in lantern making, spectacular event production and staging. With creative direction from its founder, Jyllie Jackson OAM, LightnUp Inc hires lanterns, produce specially commissioned work and develop lantern parades and events for communities across Australia.
The theme this year looks back to the simpler parades in the early days, and the growth of the Lantern Parade into the beloved community tradition it is today.
Commencing at noon with a unique art and craft market, street food vans, children’s activities, a youth hub, workshops, lantern decorating and a festival stage featuring local musicians and dancers.
The Lismore Museum is curating a wonderful collection of Lantern Parade memorabilia and audio visual displays, celebrating 30 years of the Lismore Lantern Parade. Take time to wander around the Lismore CBD and delight at the Enchanted Windows.
Soldiers from the Lismore based 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, will conduct a Freedom of Entry Parade into the Lismore CBD during the afternoon.
At dusk the fabulous Lanterneers will assemble in Magellan Street outside the Library and depart through the Heart of the City to Magellan Street, Market Street and along Victoria Street into Riverside Park for a fiery theatrical finale and fireworks display.
The 2024 Lismore Lantern Parade and community arts festival will be held on Saturday 22 June. For more information and program overview, visit: www.lismorelanternparade.com.au for details.
Image: Lismore Lantern Parade – photo by Natsky