TWO spectacular lantern parades will light up the winter skies of Whitby and Scarborough in November and December.
Scarborough theatre company Animated Objects, which is organising the events, is inviting local people to contribute by making their own lantern by holding workshops before the events and also producing online video instructions.
The lantern parades will take place in Whitby on Friday, November 18, and in Scarborough on Friday, December 2.
The first is part of Whitby’s Christmas Festival, organised by Whitby Town Council. The parade of large feature lanterns carried by local schoolchildren and community groups will start at the Pannett Art Gallery at 5.15pm, and will process through the town to the Dock End, where it will be followed by live music, the official switch-on of the town’s Christmas lights and a firework display.
Animated Objects creative director Dawn Dyson-Threadgold said: “This will be a major event in the town’s calendar, and a great opportunity to celebrate Whitby’s local community in a family celebration of the town’s identity and heritage.”
The Scarborough event, Moonlight and Song, will take place in the town’s Peasholm Park from 5.30pm on Friday, December 2, and will last about an hour.
Local schools and community groups will take part in the parade, with singing led by the Scarborough Community Choir, and seasonal readings. Some of the lanterns will depict swans and sailing boats to reflect the features of the park.
There will be free lantern-making workshops from 10am to noon at Scarborough Library on Saturday, November 26.
Animated Objects artistic director Lee Threadgold said: “The event will celebrate Scarborough’s communities, and will be a beautiful start to the festive season for families; we’ll be encouraging different generations to take part with each participating group.”
All of the workshops are free to attend. Materials will be provided, but participants are asked to bring a two-litre plastic drinks bottle to form the basis of their lantern. Anyone wishing to make a lantern, but unable to attend a workshop can find instructions on the Animated Objects website here: animatedobjects.co.uk
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