Arts & Culture
Devizes is set to host their famous Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade on November 25 and want your help to keep this tradition alive

The Devizes Christmas Festival and its famous Lantern Parade is just around the corner, ready to launch the festive season on Friday 25 November!

Stalls selling festive goods, food and drink will be open in the Market Place from 2.00 p.m. and inside the Corn Exchange where there will be a craft and makers fair, and a wealth of good food in town centre pubs and restaurants. Father Christmas will be in his Grotto at Albion Place between 2.30 & 5.30, entertainment will start in the Town Centre at 5pm.

The Lantern Parade, the biggest for miles around, starts from its new location at Sidmouth Street at 6.15p.m. and makes its way round the town spreading magic, before Father Christmas switches the Christmas Lights on at approximately 6.45p.m. followed by celebratory fireworks.

Be part of the biggest lantern parade in the county by joining a community lantern making workshop, running throughout November. Workshops are free and people of any age are invited to come. No previous experience is needed and there will be tuition and materials provided. For more information Email info@docadevizes.org.uk or call 07880 239598 to find out more.

Community lantern making workshop dates are:

Saturdays 12 November 1.00 - 5.00 pm - Devizes Museum – 41 Long St 

Saturday 19 November 1.00 – 5.00 p.m.- The Crown Centre, 39 St Johns Street

Tuesdays 15 & 22 of November 6.30 - 8.30 pm - The Crown Centre, 39 St Johns Street

 

[caption id=“attachment_17717” align=“alignright” width=“225”]elephant Devizes’ famous elephant lantern, the centre-piece of the parade[/caption]

Loz Samuels, DOCA’s Artistic Director said: “This is my first Christmas Festival, I’ve heard so much about it, I’m really looking forward to seeing it all come to life.  We are bringing back some of the large lanterns that are old favourites, with a bit of repair and a spruce up they should look spectacular.  We are still looking for volunteers to help carry them, so if you want to be part of bringing the elephant back to town please get in contact – we can’t do it without volunteers.

“I’ve been helping out with the workshops in schools and with community groups, it is fantastic hearing peoples stories about the event, it seems much loved and hugely popular.

“All we need is the weather to be on our side and we are guaranteed a fantastic evening.

“People may not know though that each lantern costs DOCA £4.50 to produce in materials alone and we provide all the materials, lights and tuition for free. As a charity, we have fundraised very hard to pay for all our materials and all the events we produce, including the International Street Festival and Carnival.

“We would be very grateful if people could donate what they can to help sustain both the lantern parade, and next year’s summer events, all of which are unique and benefit Devizes socially and economically”.

You can donate to DOCA by texting DOCA12 £5 (or an amount of your choice) to 70070.

Visit www.docadevizes.org.uk to see other ways you can donate and how you can support DOCA through advertising, web advertising and sponsorship.

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  • Devizes is set to host their famous Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade on November 25 and want your help to keep this tradition alive
  • Devizes is set to host their famous Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade on November 25 and want your help to keep this tradition alive
  • Devizes is set to host their famous Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade on November 25 and want your help to keep this tradition alive
  • Devizes is set to host their famous Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade on November 25 and want your help to keep this tradition alive