Hebden Bridge Web

Update: Lamplighter Festival Going Ahead

Friday, 27 November 2015

Lamplighter will be going ahead in Todmorden, despite poor weather forecasts. The planned parade has been changed into a new Lamplighter Lantern Gallery to ensure the fantastic spectacle continues.

The new Lamplighter Lantern Gallery will be set up starting at 6pm from Oddies bakery on Bond Street, Todmorden. Illuminated installations will light up the route and there will be around 180 community made lanterns for audiences to view, whilst walking up to Pollination Street for the Street Festival Opening, with the Mayor of Todmorden at 6.45pm.

The street festival will continue as planned from 7pm until 9pm.

Andrew Kim, Artistic Director of organisers Handmade Parade, said, "We are urging people to brave the elements and come along to enjoy what will still be a fantastic spectacle – whatever the weather. Dress bright, dress warm and come dance in your wellies!"

The festival will feature a host of local talent including fire-performers Flame Oz and Beatnik Collective and street bands Drum Machine, Skiband, Handmade Samba and Mr Wilson's 2nd Liners.

There will be walkabout performances by Frolicked, Spannerman, Callaloo Carnival Arts, Les Panards Dansants and the Oaken Hoof Cloggers and illuminated installations commissioned for the event by Walk the Plank, Space Cadets, Nick Mitchell, Handmade Parade, Enya Koster, Steve Summers and Bee Jasko.

Organisers are urging people to travel to the event on foot or by public transport if at all possible as there is reduced parking due to all day car park closures on Lever Street and Union Street South.

For more details on Lamplighter go to www.handmadeparade.co.uk

 

Lamplighter set to dazzle Todmorden

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Todmorden will be treated to a fire and light extravaganza when the Lamplighter Festival returns to its streets on Saturday.

The festival, produced by Hebden Bridge based Handmade Parade, will begin with a lantern parade including giant illuminated puppets and community art at 6pm, to be followed by a host of fire shows, illuminated installations and street theatre taking place from 7-9pm.

Lamplighter Festival 2013, Photo: Ian Hodgson

Hundreds of people have been busy making lanterns at open workshops and thousands more are expected to line the route to watch the parade, which sets off from Union Street South and finishes at Pollination Street..

The festival will feature a host of local talent including fire-performers Flame Oz and Beatnik Collective and street bands Drum Machine, Skiband, Handmade Samba and Mr Wilson's 2nd Liners.

There will be walkabout performances by Frolicked, Spannerman, Callaloo Carnival Arts, Les Panards Dansants and the Oaken Hoof Cloggers and illuminated installations commissioned for the event by Walk the Plank, Space Cadets, Nick Mitchell, Handmade Parade, Enya Koster, Steve Summers and Bee Jasko.

Andrew Kim, Artistic Director of Handmade Parade, said, "It's going to be a day packed with Todmorden at its finest: locally produced arts and activities, crafts, music, street performances and of course giant lantern puppets. It's going to be magic!"

Organisers are urging people to travel to the event on foot or by public transport if at all possible as there is reduced parking due to all day car park closures on Lever Street and Union Street South.

There will be a full road closure on Union Street South between 4pm and 9.30pm and roads will be closed in central Todmorden between 6pm and 7pm, so please use alternative routes if travelling at this time.

And for those wishing to avoid the crowds in the town centre, the best vantage point to watch the parade from will be on Rise Lane.

Lamplighter Festival 2013, Photo: Ian Hodgson

It will be a busy day for Todmorden with Kidsfest taking place in the Town Hall, the Christmas Lights being switched on between 4pm and 4.30pm, the Made in Tod Christmas market and a late-night Todmorden market.

There will also be street food available on Water Street from 4.30pm onwards, with craft activities for children and adults indoors at Cheeky Sew and Sew and live music from 7.30pm, outdoors until 9pm, then inside at the Three Monkeys.

The previous two Lamplighter festivals proved a huge hit with the thousands who watched and took part. The event followed on from the success of the Valley of Lights festival which boosted the Calder Valley after the floods in 2012.

This year's Lamplighter Festival has been made possible with funding from Todmorden Town Council, Calderdale Council, Arts Council England and Todmorden Pride.

Lamplighter Festival Day timetable

Lamplighter Festival 2013 - Photo: Craig Shaw of Blu Planet Photography