Lantern Parades and Light-based events
We love making lanterns at B.ARTS, we’ve been making lanterns throughout our 40-year history—it’s a part of our work that we never get bored of doing ourselves or sharing that learning with others!
We make lanterns and light boxes in all sizes, shapes and forms and using a range of materials! But we mostly come back to the traditional willow, masking tape and wet strength tissue. If we’re creating a parade you can expect a series of workshops where all ages and abilities can get involved—we often run masterclasses too, for artists or community makers who want to try something more ambitious!
We usually work to a theme or sometimes even a story—whatever seems the right thing for the community, time or place we are working in?
It's’ not just about the lanterns we usually add other elements too, like live music, walkabout performance or other surprises along the way!
Often the event is about creating a shared experience and celebration as well as passing on skills—maybe getting a new place or set of people ready to continue to run the event in future.
“Lanterns lend themselves to the creation not only of processions but other kinds of theatrical events. Massed lanterns can be stunning, yet a single lantern can have a startling impact. The lantern procession has become a recognised form of event throughout Britain and beyond -
it can be endlessly repeated, reassuringly the same, always different.”
Gill Gill
B.ARTS Co-Founder
UPCOMING LANTERN WORKSHOPS & PARADES
Check back here for information on workshops and parades for 2026 later in the year!
WANT TO START A LANTERN PARADE IN YOUR TOWN OR NEIGHBOURHOOD?
Together with partners B.ARTS has supported hundreds of lantern processions to take shape, both in our home of North Staffordshire and all around the world, including Sweden, Italy, Bosnia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Indonesia, India, and France. Most recently 3 of our core team travelled to Cualta in Mexico to support their new lantern event—Fireflies for Peace. Ranging from small scale neighbourhood offers to multi-partner city wide events
This includes working with partners to fundraise for their events and training volunteers and artists. If this is something you’re interested in please get in touch with Rebecca or Martin at B.ARTS (Rebecca.frankenberg@b-arts.org.uk // martin.gooding@b-arts.org.uk)
“For communities, especially those struggling with alienation and disaffection, a lantern procession offers the possibility of creating new traditions: yet the same event gives possibilities of invention, exploration and change”
Gill Gill
B.ARTS Co-Founder