Countdown is on for lantern show

Free lantern making workshops are being held throughout November and in early December ahead of Leamington being lit up by around 1,000 lanterns on the evening of Thursday, December 11.

The first of the many lantern making workshops is being hosted at the Royal Spa Centre on Newbold Terrace on Saturday, November 1 between 10am and 4pm. Further workshops are also taking place at the Royal Spa Centre on November 8, 15 and 22.

There will also be workshops at Warwickshire College’s Leamington campus on Saturday, November 29 and two sessions at the Family Tree Club in Kenilworth Street, Leamington, on Sunday, November 30 and Sunday, December 7 - all from 10am until 4pm.

And Leamington Art Gallery and Museum in the Royal Pump Room will be hosting a workshop for children up to the age of five on Wednesday, December 3 from 11am until 1pm.

This year’s Lantern Parade will once again coincide with late-night Christmas shopping on Thursday, December 11. Entertainment, including music and stilt walkers, gets underway at 5pm at the Pump Room Gardens, with the procession starting at 5.45pm from the bandstand before making its way up the Parade while accompanied by local singers.

The parade will culminate with Christmas carols around the Tree of Light at the Town Hall and a chance to meet some real reindeer.

Stephanie Kerr, of organisers BID Leamington, is looking forward to bringing people together at the lantern workshops ahead of the spectacular main event.

“The workshops and the Lantern Parade are fantastic ways of bringing the community together in a creative way to share in the spirit of Christmas,” she said.

“Around 1,000 fantastic lanterns were produced by families and school children last year, and we’re aiming to help people make even more this time.

“We’ve added more lantern making workshops this year, which are all free and all materials are provided, so just bring yourself in some craft clothes and join in the fun.

“We welcome all schools which are keen to get involved and encourage as many people as possible to help light up Leamington and enjoy a fantastic community event.”

People who are unable to attend one of the workshops are able to pick up lantern making packs from BID Leamington’s office at 35c Park Court, off Park Street, at a cost of £5 per lantern.

For more information on the workshops and how to get involved log onto www.leamingtonlanternparade.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01926 470 634.