Stoke Lanterns 2026 - Stories in the Shadows

✨️ Stoke Lanterns 2026: Stories in the Shadows ✨️

Join us in lighting up Stoke-upon-Trent for our annual community lantern procession.

Friday 20th March, gathering outside Stoke Library at 6:30pm, for a 6:45pm parade start.

You’re invited on an adventure, to help the Lamp Lighter bring the fire back to our town. The event will feature willow, paper and candle lanterns, projections, walkabout performance, music, fire, shadow theatre and our brand new giant puppet - The Lamp Lighter - that will lead the way.

You can bring your flame to the journey by joining us at one of our many free workshops through February and March to make your own willow and paper lantern.

These workshops are suitable for all ages, everything is provided and there’s no experience necessary.

Keep your eye on our social media pages and event page for all the details of these workshops coming very soon!

The short parade will start outside of Stoke Library (ST4 4SZ) and will finish with a finale at the Brilliant Bamboo brownfield site on Boothen Road (ST4 4AH).

We will have plenty of spare lanterns for anyone who would like to carry one at the procession that can’t make it to a workshop, and people are also welcome to join in and walk the parade without one. Our lanterns are carried on bamboo poles, are not let loose and do not harm wildlife.

Large-scale Lantern Making Masterclass - as part of Stoke Lanterns we are running a 3 day masterclass for creatives working in outdoor arts, who are looking to expand their professional skillset or integrate lantern making into their existing practice.  For more details and to book click here

To find out more or for any questions please contact:

Rebecca.frankenberg@b-arts.org.uk and Holly.johnson@b-arts.org.uk

Stoke Lanterns is part of our Cascade programme supported by Stoke Creates and Arts Council England, the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund-supported by UK Government and Historic England and the Animate 72 project funded by Stoke-On-Trent City Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.