Bigger parade and new route for this year’s Lantern Festival

Farnham is counting down the days to this year’s Lantern Festival which is set to be bigger than ever and featuring a new, extended parade route through the town centre.

The festival will take place on Thursday 29 October and will bring the community together for a celebration of creativity at the end of Farnham Craft Month.

Festivities will begin at 5pm in Gostrey Meadow, with live music from country and folk band Violet Faultline and refreshments available ahead of the procession.

At 6.30pm, lantern holders will set off from Gostrey Meadow. The procession will travel along Union Road, up South Street to The Borough, into Downing Street and along Upper Church Lane, finishing at St Andrew’s Church. The longer route will give more people the opportunity to enjoy the colourful spectacle as the procession makes its way through Farnham.

After arriving at the church, the lanterns will be displayed together as a large-scale community craft endeavour, showcasing the imagination, skill and collaborative spirit of Farnham’s residents.

To accommodate the parade, a temporary road closure will be in place from 6pm until 7pm so anybody travelling into Farnham by car should allow extra time for their journey.

Councillor Kika Mirylees, Lead Member for Culture at Farnham Town Council, says: “The Farnham Lantern Festival has become a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together through creativity, and we’re delighted to be celebrating our third festival this year. With a bigger parade and a new, longer route through the town centre, we hope even more people will come along, enjoy the atmosphere and support everyone who has put so much time and effort into making their lanterns.”

There is still time for anybody wanting to get involved in making a lantern to purchase a lantern-making kit from Farnham Town Hall on South Street. Kits cost £6 each with a limited number available to community groups free of charge.

Farnham Town Council would like to thank its Craft Month principal sponsors, Make it Farnham (Farnham BID) and Lion and Lamb Yard, as well as silver sponsor Frensham Heights, for their support.

See more information about the Lantern Festival and the events happening in the remaining days of Farnham Craft Month.