Light up the town

Make your own lantern and join Sunday's procession through Newbury

The town centre streets should draw the crowds again this weekend, as the latest spectacular outdoor event takes place on Sunday afternoon, with a winter lantern procession.

As daylight turns to darkness, the twinkling of hundreds of lanterns, illuminated by candles, will light the night sky. Hundreds of families and community groups from across West Berkshire have been creating lanterns from scratch at workshops over the course of the past month, all aiming towards the procession.

Wrap up warm and join a host of live musicians who will lead the river of sparkling lanterns from outside the Methodist Church, Northbrook Street, winding through the town centre to the Market Place where there will be an amazing aerial finale, which is being kept firmly under wraps by the team at the Corn Exchange.

Director Katy Griffiths said: “We have been working extra hard to make sure that this year's procession builds on the success of both last year's event, and the array of fabulous events we have been lucky enough to present throughout the second half of 2011.

“The secret finale will be a truly memorable way to close a hugely successful year of outdoor performances staged by the Corn Exchange and Greenham Common Trust.”

The lantern procession will start at 4.30pm from outside the Methodist Church on Northbrook Street, before making its way to the Market Place.

There is still time to join the fun with a lantern making workshop on Saturday from 10am-3pm at Newbury library. This is a free drop-in session, and you will have to allow two hours to make your lantern.

For more information about the procession, workshop or the range of free festive events across the town, visit www.cornexchangenew.com or call the Corn Exchange box office on (01635) 522733.