Lantern Procession 2024

On Saturday 30 November 2024, Multistory, Bostin’ Arts and local community groups came together for this year’s Community Lantern Procession in Wednesbury as part of the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-On celebrations. Over 60 people joined us in the Procession to celebrate the lanterns they made. Read on to hear more about the workshops leading up to the 30th, the theme for the Procession and of course the night itself!

During November, Multistory commissioned Bostin’ Arts to work with local community groups to create the lanterns. Collaborating with Crafternoon, Way 2 Wellbeing, Kickstart Dance, 3rd Wednesbury Rainbows and Brownies and 617 Air Scouts (Beavers, Squirrels, Cubs and Scouts), the groups designed lanterns around the theme of togetherness.

For the workshops, the Crafternoon and Way 2 Wellbeing groups worked on the two, 12-foot puppet lanterns, adorning the dog walker with small dog cut-outs and the gardener with flowers and gardening imagery.

The 617 Air Beavers, Squirrels, Cubs and Scouts groups made a variety of lanterns, decorating windsocks and small, circular lanterns and creating lanterns representing expressive faces.

The Kickstart Dance group personalised clear umbrellas with their names and fun patterns and lights and the 3rd Wednesbury Rainbows and Brownies decorated their windsocks with colourful animals and floral designs.

With the workshops done, we were ready for the rehearsal! For the performance element, Bostin’ Arts brought in the fantastic Mark from InfuseDANCE who choreographed and created a wonderful story involving the two, 12-foot figure puppets, their dog and the umbrella lanterns. Following the theme of togetherness, the performance told the story of a dog walker who loses their dog and a gardener who’s kindness helps them find it. Wearing the giant, walking, body puppets were community members, Neil and Deb, and Rosa (part of the Bostin’ Arts crew).

The rehearsal took place on Tuesday 26 November and we loved working with Mark and Bostin’ Arts to shape the story. And, before we knew it, the 30th was upon us!

Led by Helter Skelter (two LED stilt walkers) and Bostin’ Brass band, the procession began at 5.40pm and made its way towards the William Archer pub. The puppets and lanterns lit up the streets and brought joy to the watching crowds, particularly the dog puppet who bounded towards the audience for fuss and attention.

We ended the procession in front of the stage at Market Place, where the short performance took place. It was a joy to see the story come to life and the audience engaging with it. By 6.05pm, the performance had finished and we all gathered for the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-On celebration event organised by Sandwell Council.

Above photographs © Phillip Parnell

We would like to thank everyone involved with this year’s Lantern Procession: the We Are Wednesbury group; Crafternoon, Way 2 Wellbeing, Kickstart Dance, 617 Scouts, 3rd Wednesbury Rainbows and Brownies; Bostin’ Arts; Mark (infuseDANCE); the LED stilt walkers (Helter Skelter); Bostin’ Brass; the stewards; the Wesley Centre; and Sandwell Council for inviting us join the Lights Switch-On.

Workshop participant