Make a Lantern. Join the Parade!

Presented by Leighton Linslade Rotary Club

Following the huge success of last year’s event, the Christmas Eve Lantern Parade is back for 2026 – bigger and brighter!

Join us on Thursday 24 December at 6.15 pm for a magical lantern procession through the heart of Leighton Buzzard.

This year’s theme: The Heart of Christmas

What lies at the heart of Christmas for you?

Love, kindness, family, friendship, giving, hope, peace, togetherness – or perhaps a favourite Christmas tradition?

Whatever Christmas means to you, turn your idea into a lantern and help us light up the parade!

There is no right or wrong design and no previous experience is needed.

Make Your Lantern

In the run-up to Christmas, we will be holding eight lantern-making workshops – six at weekends and two during half-term – at the Salvation Army Hall and at Leighton Buzzard Library.

Our volunteers will be there to help you create your lantern from scratch, so no special skills or experience are needed.

Alternatively, you can buy a lantern kit and make your lantern at home, with your family, friends or organisation.

Lantern kits cost £8.90 and include the materials and instructions you need to make one lantern. Battery-powered lights are not included, although a selection will be available to buy.

Please choose the correct ticket

When booking, please make sure you select either:

WORKSHOP – Make your lantern with our volunteers at Leighton Buzzard Library or the Salvation Army Hall.

MAKE AT HOME – Buy a lantern kit to make at home or with your organisation.

Workshop places are limited because we want to give everyone plenty of space and hands-on help.

Workshop Lantern Making – See Below for Dates

Please arrive as early as possible within your allocated session to give yourself plenty of time to complete your lantern. Bring your sandwiches and we will also be offering some drinks and cakes at the Salvation Army venue.

Our volunteers will help you turn your idea into a lantern frame. Once your frame is complete, you will receive tissue paper, glue, a sponge and instructions to decorate and finish your creation.

Lantern making is open to everyone, but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at workshops.

If you would like to create a larger or more elaborate lantern, additional bundles of withies (willow sticks) will be available for a £2 donation. Extra masking tape will also be available for £1, together with a selection of battery-powered fairy lights and batteries. Please bring cash for these additional items.

Make-at-Home Lantern Kits

Prefer to get creative at home? You can purchase a kit containing instructions and all the materials needed to make your lantern.

You will also need battery-powered fairy lights to illuminate it. These are not included in the kit but will be available to buy from us. For safety reasons, candles and other naked flames are not permitted.

Kits can be collected from Saturday 24th October