LightnUp Inc is a community, arts-based, not for profit organisation based in Lismore, and are the producers of the annual Lismore Lantern Parade and run year round programs and workshops throughout regional, rural and metropolitan Australia, including lantern making, shadow theatre, illuminated puppets, masks and costume making, and story development.
Lismore Lantern Parade is an annual community event held on or around the longest night of the year, being the Winter Solstice. In 2019 the event will celebrate its 25th anniversary to the event theme ‘Rivers of Light’ representing all the community events that the Lantern Parade has travelled to over the years. These communities will be invited back to the heart to celebrate this grand occasion. The event attracts approximately 25,000 people each year and is estimated to contribute 3.4 million to the local economy. With its social, economic and cultural contribution to the City, the event has been formally recognised by Lismore City Council as its signature event.
In 2019 the event will be held on Saturday 22 June 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. At dusk illuminated puppets in the Lismore Library tell the story for the year and the Lantern Parade dances through the streets of the Lismore central business district (CBD) and culminates at the Lismore Quadrangle, a public meeting square in the heart of the city centre, for a fiery theatrical finale and fabulous firework display. The event continues on into the evening until 9pm with music, dance and performance.
New program events include a Gala Concert featuring Moorambilla Voices, a banquet dinner, photographic exhibition at the Lismore Regional Gallery and a celebration on Sunday at dusk for a flotilla of canoes, kayaks, tinnies and rowing boats covered with lanterns to meander along the Wilson’s River. The Lismore Lantern Parade partners with the Viking Village Winter Solstice and the Lismore Friendship Festival to create a weekend festival of activities.
(02) 6622 6333 | Light’n Up 289 Keen Street, Lismore NSW 2480
festival@lanternparade.com | lismorelanternparade.com.au
