By Jill Stocks
Horsforth Hall Park will be lit up at the end of February as the first Lantern Festival takes place in the town.
“Bring the Light – Horsforth Illuminations and Lantern Festival” takes place in the park on Saturday, February 28 and has been organised by a new collective, bringing their creative talents together to produce a real community event.
This brand-new creative group from Horsforth, in collaboration with Marc Parrett from Grandly Strange Puppet Theatre, Marianne Helliwell from Form in Fabric, Horsforth Climate Action, LS18 Rocks, Walk of Art, Neil Edwards and his daughter Oonagh, an author and playwright, Friends of Horsforth Hall Park and many more local volunteers, have come together to create the event. They’re bringing creativity, music and art to the park, and celebrating light in the darkness.
Guided by the sprite, who many will have seen their first glimpse of at the town’s Christmas light switch on, visitors will follow a trail of lanterns, created at the workshops being held in the community, accompanied by poetry, music, and story telling.
The Horsforth Sprite made his first appearance at the switch on event and having explored Horsforths past and present is now looking at what the future holds for Horsforth. The organising team have engaged with many local community groups, residents and schools, asking the question “what’s next for Horsforth?”.
In the run up to the event there are lantern workshops, with two having already been held and another to come on 15 February. Being held at Beyond the Red Door on Town Street, the workshops have been so popular that the final one is full.
But if you can’t make the workshop there are plenty of ideas for making a lantern at home which you can bring along to the festival. Follow the Lantern Festival, and the adventures of the Horsforth sprite, on facebook and Instagram for information and ideas.
And the festival is not just one event; it’s a whole community project.
Kezia Roberts told WLD: “The festival is more than a single event; it’s a project run by the community, for the community. It aims to spark creativity, strengthen connections, and inspire a shared vision for Horsforth’s future.
“We’re doing a series of three community workshops to make lanterns to celebrate the sun coming back into Horsforth.”
And if you can’t make a lantern bring anything shiny or that lights up along to the event.
“Come and join us and bring anything that shines on 28 February from 5pm, gathering at the bandstand.”
The whole collective is also grateful for the support from businesses and councillors in Horsforth.
The Horsforth Lantern Festival would not be possible if it wasn’t for the generous support of Horsforth Town Council, Outer North West Leeds Councillors, Truly Scrummy and Zero Muda.