Lantern Parade 2023

About

Fun for all the family, Winchester Cathedral's popular Winter event returns and everyone is welcome to join in.

The annual lantern parade returns to Winchester Cathedral, and this year the theme is Angels.

Join Winchester Cathedral in coming together to celebrate Christmas with music, lanterns, and the Christmas Market. Parade from Winchester Cathedral through Winchester with your lanterns and light the way back to the cathedral where the Dean of Winchester, Catherine Ogle, will judge all the lanterns and pick her three favourites with a prize for all.

Her favourite lantern creator will help to switch on the Cathedral lights at the end of the parade.

Arts and crafts not your thing? Don't worry, the parade is a great event for all the family, whether you come to display your own creation, or you join just to enjoy the colourful spectacle. Lap up the atmosphere and admire the skilfully made weird and wonderful lanterns.

Make your own lantern:

You are encouraged to make your own lantern at home by reusing and recycling items which would otherwise have gone in the bin. Re-purpose your materials into something wonderful and give it a new lease of life at this year's Lantern Parade.

It is important that only battery operated candles are used inside your lantern creations, no live flames please.

Timings:

Evening Prayer, 4.00pm-4.30pm – You are welcome to attend Evening Prayer prior to the Lantern Parade.

Gather in the cathedral with your lanterns, from 5.00pm – You are welcome to gather in the cathedral with your lanterns from 5.00pm.

Judging of Lanterns and carol singing, from 5.30pm – Judging of the Lanterns by The Dean of Winchester, Catherine Ogle and carol singing from 5.30pm.

Get ready for the start of the parade, 6.30pm – Start to make your way out of the Great West Doors as the parade begins.

Parade route: The parade will head past Bar Gate, turning left at Pret A Manger, heading up the High Street to the Buttercross monument where you'll steer left, walking through the passage between L'Occitane En Provence and The Winchester Bakery, you'll then walk across the diagonal on the cathedral grounds and the parade will end outside the West Front of the cathedral.

Closing speech and winner announcement, 6.50pm/7pm – Depending on how long the parade will take, the closing speech and winner announcement, by The Dean of Winchester, Catherine Ogle, is expected to take place just before 7pm.

Enjoy the Christmas Market, from 7pm – 8pm – Why not make a night of it and be one of the first to enjoy this year's Christmas Market.