LANTERNS will once again light up Leamington this weekend.
The 15th annual Lantern Parade, taking place on Sunday, will see residents parade homemade paper lanterns through the town for this year’s sparkling spectacular, sponsored by David Wilson Homes.
Participants have been busy creating hundreds of lanterns for this much-loved event, inspired by their favourite characters including dragons, unicorns, Peppa Pig, plus traditional snowmen and reindeer, to name but a few.
The evening kicks off at the bandstand in the Pump Room Gardens at 4.15pm with a host of entertainment, including stilt walkers who will lead the parade, and music from David Harrop. The event will then end at the steps of the town hall, where there will be community carol singing supported by Methodist Choir and Royal Spa Brass – and even be an appearance from Santa.
The Lantern Parade, organised by BID Leamington, is inspired by ‘The Lights of Leamington’ event, which lit up Jephson Gardens from 1951 to 1961.
Alison Shaw, BID Leamington project manager, says: “We would like to invite everyone to join us for this year’s Lantern Parade to welcome in the festive season.
“It is always an incredibly popular event which forms part of people’s Christmas traditions, which is wonderful.
BID Leamington also has a number of other festive events coming up, including Festive Fun Trails around town running from December 1 to 24, and Christmas Angels adding some sparkle to the town centre on Small Business Saturday (December 6).
Santa will also be parking his sleigh at the Royal Priors shopping centre in Leamington this Christmas.
He will be handing out presents to children and hoping to beat last year’s total of £1,700 raised for local charities.
Organised by Leamington Rotary Club, which is celebrating its centenary this year, Santa will be at the shopping mall on the weekend of December 13 and 14 – between 10am and 5pm on the Saturday, and between 11am and 4pm on the Sunday – when his elves will be helping children to choose a free toy from a huge selection.
Visit www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk for more information.
