Lismore Lantern Parade

Now in its 25th year, the spectacular Lismore Lantern Parade is a weekend festival of activities celebrating the Winter Solstice in June. Activities begin on the evening of Friday, June 21 with a Gala Concert at Lismore City Hall that features the fabulous Moorambilla Voices and the Northern Rivers Festival Choir. Saturday, the fun starts in the CBD from 10am with markets stalls, rides, games, a buskers festival, kids arts, crafts, games and lantern making workshops.

There will be an exhibition in the Lismore Regional Gallery showcasing the history of the Lantern Parade, with local and regional musicians, dancers and performers on the main stage in the Quad from noon. On Saturday evening from 5:30, the Lantern Parade winds its way through the heart of Lismore’s City Centre with spectacular, larger than life lanterns, illuminated sculptures, parade bands and performers. Making their way to the Quad for a where it climaxes with a breathtaking outdoor theatre featuring fire performance, bonfire and fireworks.

There will be market stalls and street food feasts and a very special ticketed dinner to celebrate this year’s 25th birthday. Celebrations continue over the weekend with the Viking Village Solstice on both Saturday and Sunday at Jolley Fields and the Piazza in the Park on Sunday from 10am until 3pm.

To celebrate this year’s ‘Rivers of Light’ theme, there will be a special event after the Piazza in the Park at Riverside Park from 5:30pm until 6:30pm where a flotilla of canoes, kayaks and tinnies carrying lanterns will meander down the Wilson’s River at dusk. There will be food stalls serving hot soup and braziers to keep you warm.

For a full detailed program including tickets visit the website.