Firelight Lantern Festival

The Department of Illumination presents the 9th annual Firelight Lantern Festival! This year’s Festival takes place November 6 from 6-9PM (rain date November 13), at the Picton Fairgrounds.

“We’ve designed this year’s festival to be as safe as possible, with timed ticketing and spreading out our art installations and performances to help with social distancing. We encourage those with children to come earlier in the evening, and those without kids to come later if they can,” says Dalby, who’s been leading the festival since 2013. “As always, the Lantern Festival is great fun for all ages – and don’t forget that costumes are encouraged!”

Although there will be no lantern parade this year, many community members as well as students from Athol South Marysburgh School have been busy making lanterns for Tiny Town Aglow, a charming collection of house- and building-shaped lanterns that will be displayed in the window of Books & Company until November 11. Proudly sponsored by Prince Edward County Arts Council’s Artists in the Community Program.

This year’s theme is “Vacationland,” with local artists contributing large-scale works of art on the theme, including Krista Dalby, Nella Casson, Susanne Larner, Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping (Sparkbox Studio) and Rosalie Maheux. Headliner musical performers are Culture Reject, whose project, Everyone a Satellite, is a playful exploration of simple technologies, inviting strangers to write with light on the glowing bodies of the band. DJ Ombudsman will be spinning tunes for a socially distanced dance party, and the Kaleidoscope food truck will be on hand with tasty treats and warm beverages.

There will be roving circus arts performances from festival regulars Trellis Arts & Entertainment (Peterborough), site animation from Shatterbox Theatre, and The Department of Illumination promises to have a few other surprises in store.

Tickets are on sale now; for complete details, visit The Department of Illumination’s website.