Friday, 9 November 2018
Lamplighter set to dazzle Todmorden
Todmorden will be treated to a fire and light extravaganza when the Lamplighter Festival returns to its streets on Saturday 17th November.
Lamplighter Festival 2017
The festival, produced by Hebden Bridge based Handmade Parade, will begin at 5.30pm with the lantern parade setting off at 6pm. The parade and festival will include giant illuminated puppets and lanterns made by local artists and community and a host of fire shows, illuminated installations, street theatre and will continue until 8.30pm.
Lamplighter Festival 2017
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 Bramsche square carpark, outside the market.
The festival will feature a host of local talent including fire-performers Flame Oz, Jess Rost, inflatable light installations by Spacecadets and fabulous live drawing projections by Fabric Lenny, all accompanied by gorgeous grooves from street bands Skiband, Handmade Samba, Fat Cat Brass, Orixa Bloco, Mr Wilson’s 2nd Liners and Todmorden Brass Band.
Lamplighter Festival 2017
There will be walkabout performances by Thingumajig Theatre as well as dancers, stilters, hula hoopers and beautiful illuminated artwork and performances created by groups from across the valley.
Kerith Ogden, Artistic Director of Lamplighter Festival 2018, said, “As usual, it looks like it’s going to be a fabulous night. Hundreds of people have worked really hard to make a fantastic extravaganza full of magic and light, that the valley can be really proud of”
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 School Lane and Halifax Road and Bramsche Square car park from 4.00pm (please note there is a reduced train service: visit the strike page of Northern Rail for more information)
Roads will be closed in central Todmorden between 6pm and 7pm, so please use alternative routes if travelling at this time.
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.
There will be street food available both at the festival and from local market traders so come with an appetite and wrap up warm.
It will be a busy day for Todmorden with the Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team holding a cake sale in the Town Hall from 3.30-5.30pm.
Previous Lamplighter festivals have proved a huge hit with the thousands who watched and took part.
This year’s Lamplighter Festival has been made possible with funding from Todmorden Town Council, Calderdale Council, Arts Council England, The Community Foundation for Calderdale and the Big Lottery Fund.
For more details on Lamplighter go to www.handmadeparade.co.uk