Lister Park Lantern Parade 2026: Celebration of Life

Lantern-making workshops: 10am to 3.30pm
Evening entertainment and parade: 4.30pm to 7.30pm

Light up the autumn evening as the much-loved Lister Park Lantern Parade returns for a spectacular celebration of community, creativity and life.

Begin the day at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery by making your own colourful lantern during one of four bookable workshops. Each hour-long session is suitable for all ages and costs £6 per lantern. Places are limited, so advance booking is essential.

Lantern-making workshop times:

• Session 1: 10am to 11am
• Session 2: 11.30am to 12.30pm
• Session 3: 1pm to 2pm
• Session 4: 2.30pm to 3.30pm

Buy Tickets from Cecil Green Arts

From 4.30pm, enjoy entertainment outside Cartwright Hall before the lantern parade sets off at 5.30pm. Hundreds of handmade lanterns will illuminate Lister Park alongside spectacular giant puppets, community groups, schools and live music from the Peace Artistes, Banda na Rua and Drum Machine.

The parade will make its way through the park before ending with a theatrical finale at the Bandstand at approximately 6.30pm. This year’s theme is Celebration of Life, forming part of the Festivals of the Dead project created in collaboration with Cecil Green Arts, the University of Bradford and Bradford Death Cafes.

Evening timings:

• 4.30pm: Entertainment begins
• 5.30pm: Lantern parade sets off from the front of Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
• 6.30pm: Theatrical finale at the Bandstand
• 7pm: Cartwright Hall Art Gallery closes
• 7.30pm: Event ends

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery will remain open until 7pm, offering an opportunity to explore the displays and permanent galleries, visit the gallery shop and meet museum volunteers and young ambassadors.

Food, access and travel

A quiet sensory space will be available in the Learning Room inside Cartwright Hall Art Gallery for anyone who would benefit from experiencing the event in a different way. Tea, coffee and cake will be available to purchase from the Refreshment Room, with additional food vans located in the park.

Visitors are encouraged to travel car-free where possible by walking, cycling or using public transport. Lister Park also has a bike hub for Beryl and LNER Bikes.

Parking within Lister Park will be available as normal for visitors attending the daytime lantern-making workshops, with workshop sessions running until 3.30pm. From 3pm, parking in the park will be closed to public access, with the exception of Blue Badge holders. Visitors attending the evening entertainment and lantern parade are advised to park off-site where possible. Please note that there may be delays leaving the park after the event due to vendor vehicles arriving and large numbers of people dispersing following the parade and finale.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.