Lismore’s Lantern Parade moves to new home to meet COVID restrictions

Lismore missed the Lantern Parade last year due to the pandemic, but it is back, better than ever, with a new home, a new program, and a new story to tell.

The Lantern Parade is back this year, but it will look a little different than it did in the past.

Lismore’s much loved Lantern Parade will be back this year, but it’s going to look a little different than it has in the past.

It has a brand new home, a new program, and a new story to tell.

The festival has been held at various locations around the CBD for the past 27 years, and will move to the Lismore Showground this year.

Lismore Lantern Parade through the years

VIEW GALLERY

Event organiser Jyllie Jackson said COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the event last year, but the move from the CBD to Lismore Showgrounds this year allowed them to put measures in place to meet restrictions.

Ms Jackson was excited about this year’s event, but urged people to get in quick – tickets were limited as continued distancing restrictions due to COVID-19 meant numbers for the festival were capped at 5000.

While this number did not include staff and those participating in the parade, it was a big reduction from the 32,000 people who attended in 2019.

Ms Jackson said ticket prices would help to cover the escalating costs of managing an event during a pandemic, and said it was not a “money grab”.

“We have to do it,” she said of the ticket pricing. “We have done it (the festival) for nothing for so many years, but we have had no gigs last year, so we have to do it.

“When you buy a Lantern Parade ticket you also have entry to the whole festival – Lantern Parade, Fiery Finale, the RegenExpo, Hive Mind, Market Delight, Heartbeats Festival Stage, KidsArtFest, street theatre workshops … everything,” Ms Jackson said.

The 2018 Lismore Lantern Parade

The parade and finale will be held in the showground arena, culminating in the traditional bonfire and low impact fireworks display.

Gates open at the showground at 11am on Saturday, June 19, and there will be parking onsite with donation to the Rural Fire Service.

Organisers have lodged a development application with Lismore City Council to hold the event, and are awaiting approval.