Giant jelly fish, fire performers and illuminated bands for the Lamplighter Festival

When: 23rd November 2013

Where: Todmorden, West Yorkshire

£: Free

What is it?

The Lamplighter Festival will come to Todmorden in West Yorkshire on Saturday 23rd November to celebrate the change of the seasons.  The festival brings together community participation, schools, businesses, markets and world-class artists in one celebratory cultural event.

The Lamplighter is a mythical spirit whose purpose is to herald back light and warmth at the darkest, coldest time of the year.  So, for one night only the familiar streets of Todmorden will be transformed as illuminated creatures will spring from darkened places and strange beings will dance down by the canal.  Mesmerising fire-lit sculptures will appear in the most unexpected places and music will ring out.

Workshops in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge will allow up to 600 participants to make their own lantern and be a part of the parade. They will be accompanied by the world premiere of a bloom of giant jelly fish, fire performers and illuminated street bands.  As the parade comes to rest the Lamplighter herself, a mysterious figure from the depths of time, will come forward to light the lamps; which  in this case is a stunning fire garden created by the award-winning outdoor spectacle-makers Walk the Plank.  This will signal the return of light and warmth to these cold, dark months.  The town will be animated throughout the evening will illuminated art installations, performances, a night market, torch-lit belly dancers and musicians on every street corner.

The lantern making workshops take place at Tod High, Ewood Lane, on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November at 10am and 2pm.  Then again on Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st November at 4pm.  Workshops at Hebden Bridge will take place at 5 Victoria Works, Victoria Rd, on Saturday 16th November at 10am, Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th November at 4pm.

The Lamplighter parade starts at 5.30pm on 23rd November from Lever Street car park and will travel up Halifax Road, along Water Street and then back on itself up Rise Lane, down Station Approach and behind the Christmas tree to rejoin Bramsche Square car park.  The parade will last until 6.15pm.  Illuminated happenings, music, performance and dance will take place from 6.15pm to 9pm on Pollination Street, Lever Street car park and the canal behind Lever Street.

More info: Visit www.facebook.com/handmadeparade, www.handmadeparade.co.uk/lanternparades and twitter.com/HmadeParade