Norden Farm's Lantern Parade to return in Maidenhead next month

Lanterns are set to illuminate Maidenhead town centre this December as Norden Farm's popular Lantern Parade returns. 

The much-loved event was forced to cancel last year due to Storm Darragh, but The Carnival of the Animals - Lantern Parade is back on Saturday, December 6, ready for participants to showcase their lanterns.

The free to attend parade, which follows the theme of Our Animal Neighbours this year, will kick off from outside Maidenhead Town Hall at 4.30pm with music and dancing. 

The event is open to all and encourages the community to get together, create artworks, dance and parade their creations through the town centre. 

It is not essential for people to have a lantern to take part in the parade. 

The Altwood Road arts venue is once again teaming up with award-winning community arts charity SameSky, who have been creating costumes, lanterns and community events since 1987. 

The parade will depart at 5pm, making its way through the town centre, with animal-inspired lanterns lighting up the night sky along the way. 

It will return to the Town Hall at 5.45pm where the celebrations will carry on with live music and performances taking place. 

This year, guests will be entertained by the Bollywood Brass Band who will be bringing the party with their 'energetic sound and illuminated costumes'. 

Ahead of the event, the community is invited to take part in Norden Farm's Lantern Making workshops, where expert lantern makers will be on hand to guide participants through the process of creating their own lantern to illuminate at the parade. 

The family Lantern Making workshops, which are suitable for those aged six plus, are being held at Norden Farm on Saturday, November 22 and Saturday, November 29 from 10am. 

The workshops cost £7 per person and need to be pre-booked ahead of attendance. 

A shorter workshop will also take place at Norden Farm's Festive Market on Friday, December 5 between 6pm and 7pm and from 7pm to 8pm. 

Pre-booking is advised for the workshop, which is suitable for those aged three plus and is £7 per lantern. 

There will also be various drop-in Lantern Making workshops in Maidenhead town centre and at Norden Farm, and advanced booking is recommended to guarantee a slot. 

During the drop-in sessions, guests can make and decorate a simple willow and tissue lantern, ready for the parade. 

A session will take place in the Nicholsons Centre on Saturday, November 22 from 10.30am to 3.30pm and at Maidenhead Library on the day of the parade between 10.30am and 1pm. 

The drop-in sessions are suitable for those aged three plus (must be accompanied by an adult) and cost £5 per lantern.