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Lantern Festival

Over 100 people, carrying wonderfully-designed lanterns or waving banners, enjoyed the first-ever lantern parade in North Swindon in March 2008.

The weather held and as daylight faded the walkers marched towards a red sunset, holding their lanterns high, while a “music man” led the children in making up songs for the occasion.

Swindon Mayor Michael Barnes opened the event, saying:

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome everyone participating in the North Swindon lantern parade. It’s an arts based event for people of all ages with a view to bringing the community together.”

Then he and the Mayoress Sue Barnes started the parade, carrying the mayoral candle.

Excited

On the parade was Rachel Mcallister with her three children. She said, “The children have been excited, they’ve been looking forward to it, they did their own lanterns at the library. It gets the community together.”

As children blew whistles, and police escorted the ever-winding parade, nine-year-old Ashley Croydon said, “I like holding the lanterns, the designs are good.”

Brilliant!

After the walk, tired paraders enjoyed a well earned rest at Isambard school, with cakes and drinks.

Eight-year-old Ayala Trinder said she enjoyed everything, especially the singing. “It was brilliant holding the lanterns, it’s been absolutely brilliant!”

Drama practitioner Rebecca Lloyd, who organised the event for Flux, said, “It’s been a very simple and beautiful event. I found it very moving and I was incredibly proud of what we achieved. As I led the parade off I looked back into the fading light and saw banners and lanterns I had an overwhelming sense of being part of a community, that I was invited into as a guest.”

She said the first-ever North Swindon lantern parade had been a success. “I introduced mothers new to the area to mothers who are established in Swindon and they are forming friendships and support for each other. Children were forming friendships and I have seen sharing. It’s been really powerful.”

Head of Swindon Arts Services, and North Swindon resident, Helen Miah added, “It’s been fantastic, it’s been lovely to see so many people and especially really young people here.”

After the event, Becky Crimp, from Abbey Meads, emailed Flux:

"What a wonderful time we had at the lantern festival this evening. My daughter Amelie, who is 2 years 3 months, had such a fabulous adventure this evening (as did I and our friend Jennie!). She loved all the lanterns, flags, songs - she could not stop smiling, waving and chatting away about it all! It was such a lovely experience and we can't wait for the next one.

"When I put Amelie to bed this evening we hung our glow stick lanterns up in her bedroom. She was so excited and kept saying 'magical!' I just know she is going to be talking about the lantern festival for weeks to come!

"Thank you so much to the whole team for such a well organised, friendly and special evening."

Lantern making workshops were held at the North Swindon Library.