Ulverston Lantern Festival takes place on September 16.
Lantern-makers are being asked to take inspiration from everything that grows, sprouts, crawls or flies ‘Into The Garden’ - the theme for 2023.
Organisers are expecting withy and paper lantern creations to feature everything from flowers, trees and vegetables to birds, bugs or furry visitors. If your garden includes a super shed or a gob-smacking garden gnomes collection, create it in paper and willow withies and join the procession.
Wildlife visitors such as frogs, foxes, owls, otters, mice and micro-organisms can also be inspiration. They can then be lit up in lantern form with traditional candles or multicoloured LEDs.
Lanterns Chair Chris Nelson said: "We try to vary the themes of the festivals so that there is something to interest everyone and plenty of scope for creativity. Last year was very much about fantastical screen images so for 2023 we decided to literally ground the festival with the ‘Into the Garden’ theme.
"Our Lanterneers have the most wonderful imaginations and extraordinary lantern-making skills, so we are expecting to see more breath-taking creations on the night."
Four processions will start at different points around the town from 7pm onwards and come together in County Square outside the Coronation Hall at 8pm. They will create a River of Light which winds through the streets up to Ford Park for a big firework finale starting around 9pm.
The Lantern Festival is self-funded and appreciates the support of Broughton-based education specialists CGP Books, Cater-Kwik which is hosting workshops at the Old Brewery development, Ulverston Town Council and the new Westmorland and Furness Council.
But the biggest proportion of the £10,000 needed comes from sales of Lantern Kits – which will start from Town Centre outlets in August – and the money collected from spectators on the night itself to ensure its continuation.
The event also relies heavily on volunteers to organise the procession and keep everyone safe an influx of new people is wanted.
Chris Nelson added: "It is just three 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.
"We also hope people will generously support the event on the night; just £1 from each spectator will ensure we can run the event again next year."
Lantern kits go on sale at the beginning of August from Appleseeds in Market Street, The Book Shack in the Market Hall, The Cumbria Way in Upper Brook Street, and Croftlands Launderette.
Lantern workshops will take place at the Old Brewery development on September 9th and 10th from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, and from 5.30pm to 8.30pm Monday (Sept 11th) through to Friday (Sept 15th).
The town centre will be closed to traffic between 7pm and 10pm and anyone parked in the centre cannot leave car parks until the police allow the streets to reopen.
To find out more, visit Ulverston Lantern Festival Facebook page or visit https://ulverstonlanternfestival.org. To volunteer please contact Chris Nelson on 07761 930627 or email chris@trafalgar-pr.co.uk
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