Lantern parade flickers to life

AFTER its cancellation last year, the Liverpool Hallowe'en Lantern Carnival is back for 2010 in the newly refurbished Sefton Park.

The October 31 parade, which began in 2004 as part of the build up to European Capital of Culture, has received a £20,000 commission from Liverpool City Council – with an appeal for private enterprise to help bail the event out next year.

Councillor Wendy Simon, Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, said: "It's been a great cultural success story and sorely missed at Sefton Park last year, so I'm delighted we've found the funding this year to make it happen."

But, she added: "In light of the current state of public finances I hope the private sector can play a bigger role in years to come to make this a sustainable fixture on our cultural calendar."

Liverpool City Council has invested more than £100,000 in several annual festivals this year such as Africa Oye, Brouhaha, Hope Street Feast and Liverpool Samba Carnival.

The Hallowe'en Lantern Carnival is quite the spectacle, involving 150 performers and hundreds of local people carrying handmade lanterns in a procession. Attended by up to 8,000 people, the carnival climaxes with a spectacular finale event which this year will weave together Celtic, Nordic and Greek mythology into a poetic tale which takes the audience on an unexpected journey from this world to the next.

The event is produced and directed by Liverpool Lantern Company (in collaboration with local colleges, theatre companies and choirs) who run lantern and costume making workshops for local community groups and families from around the city to attend.

Artistic Director Jo Pocock said: "The Lantern Carnival is a very special event, bringing the creativity of hundreds of people together to create an enchanting evening in one of the city's most beautiful parks."