Name: Lantern parade
Start: 2025-11-27T17:00:00+00:00
Location: St Peter's Church, Derby

Lantern Parade
Thu 27 Nov | St Peter's Church Yard
Come & join Derby's Lantern Parade and light up the streets of our amazing city.
Time & Location
27 Nov 2025, 17:00 – 18:30
St Peter's Church Yard, St Peter's Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN
About the Event
Derby Lantern Parade – Thursday 27 November, starting at 5pm
Volunteers Wanted - For more information click here
Open to all and its FREE!
Come with your friends and family and join our annual Derby Lantern Parade, ahead of the city’s Christmas light switch on event. Don’t forget to bring your own lanterns but no glass or real flame allowed!
You do not have a lantern, why not make one at one of our workshops dotted around Derby.
This year’s parade theme is ‘Light' 'Peace & Friendship' which reflects a key message behind DSOL of celebrating Derby's diversity, bringing communities together and making Derby a cohesive city.
Starting at 5pm from St Peter’s Cross, participants who have attended one of the various lantern making workshops will be joined by children, young people and families from local primary schools and Derby College and local community groups who will proudly parade through the streets with colourful lanterns that they have made with biodegradable materials including willow, bamboo, tissue paper, LED lights and chemical-free glue.
Parade revelers will be joined by illuminated Christmas themed stilt walkers, Bollywood Bhangra dancers from Surtal Arts and Derby College, Ukranian Hopak dancers from Hoverla dance ensemble, Dhol drummers and Chinese umbrella dancers who will start from from St. Peter’s Church Square. Parade route is short and takes approx 30-40min.

The parade then concludes with energetic dance and drumming performances on Christmas Light Switch on Stage, adding colour and dynamism to whole Festive Derby which is organised by Derby LIVE.

It's a great family day out not to be missed!
Thank you to all our volunteers and our funders Arts Council of England, Derby City Council, Derby Live and Cosy for their support