about the lantern parade

So much more than a parade....

The Lismore Lantern Parade is an annual community arts festival held on or around the longest night of the year, being the Winter Solstice. This year the Lismore Lantern Parade will be held on Saturday 22 June 2013 and the theme is 'IMAGINE'.

The Lantern Parade attracts in excess of 25,000 people each year and provides a safe and enjoyable experience for all those involved. The festival celebrates community,  art and nature 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.

Lanterns, fire and outdoor celebration are deeply embedded in many cultures from China, Japan, Burma and Vietnam to Europe and Africa. The lantern represents a positive metaphor for community optimism and hope throughout the world and it was from this tradition that the Lismore Lantern Parade was born. The universal and multicultural theme makes the Lantern Parade appealing to people from all walks of life and nationalities.

Each year the event theme is drawn from community sentiment and stories, creating a strong sense of place and ownership. The lantern parade involves participants from throughout the Northern Rivers and visitors to the region who have attended workshops in lantern, mask & costume making, the finale show, carnival dance and the parade bands.


School and community workshops start at Easter. Workshops for feature lantern making and sponsored community lanterns are held by arrangement. For many year’s participants in very successful Work for the Dole projects contributed in a major way to the lantern parade, but sadly this is no longer available. However, many volunteers travel from across the Northern Rivers region, South East Queensland, around NSW, South Australia and Victoria to participate in this event.

The Lantern Parade has a wonderful network of lantern and fire event friends that spread across the country, many of whom travel to Lismore each year to work on the Lismore Lantern Parade. This event would not be possible without the support of the local community, volunteers and sponsors. Thank you everyone!

A very special mention and sincere thanks to Neil and Faridah Cameron who have been vital in the development of the Lismore Lantern Parade and LightnUp Inc. Their inspiration, wisdom and generosity have been so very important to the staff and all those involved in the lantern parade – thank you.


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

Warm regards

Jyllie Jackson

Artistic Director /CEO