Derby Lantern Parade

Derby Lantern Parade is the Season of Light flagship event and will light up the city centre on on Thursday 27th November from 5pm. Organised in partnership with Derby LIVE, part of Derby City Council as part of Festive Derby, this year’s Lantern Parade serves as a precursor event to the Christmas Lights Switch-On. Featuring hundreds of community-made and professionally commissioned lanterns, alongside colourful and diverse cultural dance and music performances to bring the whole city centre alive! Derby Lantern Parade is free to attend and open for all.

There is a chance to join the parade bringing your own eco-friendly Diwali lantern, made in advance at a lantern-making workshop using biodegradable materials. Illuminate your lantern with a battery-operated LED light and bring your finished lantern to the parade.

The lantern-making workshops take place from 29th October to 16th November:

• Derby Market Hall on Wednesday 29th October at 10am to 12 noon.
• Chapel Street Arts Centre (formerly Déda) on Thursday 30th October at 10am to 12 noon.
• Electric Daisy (Halloween Special event) on Friday 31st October at 10:30am to 12:30pm.
• Derby Chinese Welfare Association on Saturday 1st November at 10:30am to 12:30pm.
• Thrivemind on Sunday 2nd November at 11:00am to 1:00pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
• Elvaston Castle & Country Park on Sunday 15th November at 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

The workshops are suitable for individuals or families with children aged 5 and above and cost £5 per person per lantern. Places can be booked in advance: https://www.surtalarts.co.uk/event-details/lantern-workshops-2025-10-29-10-00  The lantern-making workshops are supported by: Derby Season Of Light, Arts Council England, Derby City Council, Cosy Direct Foundation, Derby College, Derbyshire Chinese Welfare Association, Thrivemind, Electric Daisy, Safe & Sound, Krishna Sweet Centre and Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust.

For details of all Derby Season of Light events, please see: surtalarts.co.uk/our-events