Lismore Lantern Parade

Lismore Lantern Parade

June 21

Observed during the winter solstice (June 21 in the southern hemisphere), the Lismore Lantern Parade in New South Wales, Australia, is a relatively new festival honoring an ancient seasonal observance. In 1994 leaders in Lismore established the parade in hopes of revitalizing the town's declining business district. Festival founders selected the longest night of the year to honor the cycles of the seasons, and they selected the lantern as the central motif because they recognized it as a common symbol of hope among a number of cultures.
Every year around Easter, Lismore community groups begin preparing for the parade, offering workshops to construct the parade's original artwork. Volunteers travel from all over southeastern Australia to help make lanterns, costumes, and puppets. The parade is accompanied by other festivities, including a Carnival Dance, music shows, and street theater.
Attendance has grown dramatically since 1994, from a few hundred people to over 25,000, some of whom come from overseas.

CONTACTS:
Lismore Lantern Parade
P.O. Box 1394
Lismore, New South Wales 2480 Australia
www.lismorelanternparade.com.au

Celebration day: Jun 21