Date confirmed for Hexham Lantern Parade 2023

After the huge success of events in 2021 and 2022, Hexham Cultural Network have announced the Hexham Lantern Parade will return this year, taking place on Friday 17 November 2023.

People are encouraged to find an existing lantern, bring one they created at the recent workshops held at Queen’s Hall with artist Deni Riach or alternatively, just show up to enjoy the parade. Pupils from Sele First School are working together to create a giant lantern which will lead this year’s parade.

This year’s event will start at 6pm on Friday 17 November at the Bandstand in Sele Park. NEW for 2023, NuSound Brass will kick-off proceedings with the spectacle and joyful sounds of New Orleans. Their combination of swing grooves, the second line feel, and hip-hop beats provide the foundation for a phat brass sound steeped in blues, boogie woogie, soul and jazz. After parading through Hexham, the band will plug themselves in under the Shambles for a scintillating set of glorious, amplified funkiness!

The Hexham Lantern Parade is presented by the Hexham Culture Network, led by Queen’s Hall Arts and Hexham Community Partnership with the support of the North of Tyne Combined Authority. It was first created as part of Hexham’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, which helped fund the first two years of the event.

Queen’s Hall Artistic Director Katy Taylor said, “We are delighted to be bringing the Lantern Parade back for the third year running! And, with a new longer route and lots of other surprises, it’s guaranteed to better than ever! We’re really pleased the parade is joining the likes of Christmas Light Switch-on and Festival of Flame as another highly anticipated calendar event for Hexham.”

Councillor Glen Sanderson, North of Tyne Combined Authority portfolio holder of culture, creative and rural said: “The North East hosts many spectacular events in the run up to Christmas and this is no exception.

We know how fantastic this parade has been over the past two years and how popular it is for residents both in Hexham and from further afield. We’re looking forward to another great spectacle later this month.”

Luke Watson, teacher at Sele School commented: "The children are very excited to work with a local artist and get creative, making something magnificent for the lantern parade.”

More information on this year's parade can be found online here.