ORGANISER of a popular upcoming festival are appealing for more volunteers to help run the event.

With just three weeks to go before the 2022 Ulverston Lantern Festival takes place on September 17, the organising committee is appealing for more volunteers to help run the event.

Last year 10,000 people crammed into the town centre to see a never-ending River of Light created by 1000 lanterns as the procession wound through the Ulverston up to Ford Park for the big firework finale. This year four processions will come together outside The Coro at 8.00pm, with the Fireworks scheduled for 9.00pm

Committee chair Chris Nelson said: “Our core team of volunteers is incredibly busy making up the lantern kits and putting in place all the organisation needed to make the event happen. But we need more volunteers willing to give up their time on the Saturday night itself to help with the organisation, act as stewards, maintain road closures around the town centre, and ensure that everyone attending and taking part enjoys the evening safely.

“It is just 3 hours on a Saturday night, but every extra person we recruit helps to ensure that that Festival survives and prospers and remains a feature of Ulverston for future generations to enjoy.” 

Volunteers please contact Chris Nelson on 07761 930627 or email chris@trafalgar-pr.co.uk

The theme for the 2022 festival is  ‘On the Screen’ with lantern-makers drawing inspiration from movies, TV, and computer games.

Lantern-making kits are now available for £5 each from Appleseeds in Market Street, the Book Shack in the Market Hall, The Cumbria Way in Upper Brook Street, and Croftlands Launderette.

They contain willow withies, paper, PVA glue, masking tape, wire and a candle – in fact, everything needed to make a lantern. Anyone wishing to make a bigger lantern can contact the organising committee for more materials.

Lantern workshops will take place in the old St John Ambulance Station in The Ellers (LA12 0AB); they will be held on Saturday and Sunday (Sept 10 and 11) from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, and Monday to Friday (Sept 12-16) from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

The Lantern Festival community event is self-funding with support from local companies such as education specialists CGP Books, and from Ulverston Town Council and South Lakeland District Council. But most of the £10,000 needed to run the event each year comes from sales of Lantern Kits and cash – coins and notes donated by crowds on the night itself.