Welcome to the

Lismore Lantern Parade 2011

The Lismore Lantern Parade and LightnUp Inc acknowledges the Bundjalung Nation on whose land we walk.

Our theme for 2011 is ‘The Great Garden’

Now in it’s 18th year the spectacular Lismore Lantern Parade gives people a chance to get in touch with their inner Tim Burton with the theme ‘The Great Garden’ giving rise to imaginative and inspired lanterns that pay homage to the natural world and our Gaelic roots. The rough translation of Lios Mohr (Lismore) is the Great Garden, and early settlers in this city came from around the island of Lismore in Argyle, Scotland.

The Lantern Parade brings together community groups, schools and artists throughout the Northern Rivers to present a spectacular parade of light sculptures through the city centre. Lanterns this year will represent imagery from Gondwana Garden, Dream Time Garden, The Garden of Eden, The Gaelic Garden and the Fairy Garden. Imagine giant ferns, cycads, flying fire puppets, volcanoes erupting, giant spiders, mushrooms, forests and magic.

It’s the philosophy of gardening that makes it such an appropriate theme for artistic interpretation, according to Marcel Proust: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” And that’s just what happens at the Lismore Lantern Parade, it is a feast for the eyes and warms the heart.

In Lismore, community gardens and garden projects are everywhere. There are produce markets and organic markets and people are thinking about gardening and growing their own food locally. Even Prince Charles said we need to talk to our vegetables!

With funding from Festivals Australia for ‘Light Gardens’ a spectacular digital projection and animation project constructed from the ‘Secret Gardens’ submitted by community members, the festival takes it’s art from the streets and the shop windows to the very city scape itself.

The longest night of the year is Winter Solstice, the perfect date for a festival that celebrates nature, community and art. Come and join us in the GREAT GARDEN with arts, crafts, workshops, regional cuisine, a spectacular parade, lanterns, parade bands, street theatre, music, carnival dancers, illuminated puppets, fire art and pyrotechnics……and much, much more.

produced by lightnUp inc >> entry by gold coin donations >> rug up and bring a blanket