Crowds gather to light up Stacksteads at first lantern festival since pandemic

Organised by Stacksteads Countryside Park Group (SCPG), the event attracted people from all over Rossendale and as far away as Reading to enjoy the spectacle on Saturday, October 22.

It was the sixth time the event has been held and a vast array of brightly decorated lanterns were created in a series of workshops led by community artists Ruth and Felix Evans.

Ruth said: “It has been wonderful to see so many people come along on the night to take part and great to see all of the lanterns being paraded.”

Si Lythgoe (Image: Promo)

Stacksteads resident Si Lythgoe made his lantern during lockdown in 2020, when SCPG sent kits into the community and asked people to make their own lanterns to display at home.

He said: “It was displayed in the shop window of Barearts, and now, for the first time, I have been able to parade it properly. It is absolutely fantastic to see everybody back together.”

Maggie Sutcliffe (Image: Promo)

The Wonderful World Parade sparked a lot of creative creatures including Fantastic Mr Fox, made by five-year-old Maggie Sutcliffe from Bacup.

She said: “I went to the workshops and I did drawings. I helped daddy to tape the sticks together and added silver ribbons.”

Her mum Stephanie added: “We moved here five years ago and this is our first time attending the parade and we are really looking forward to it, especially after lockdown. It is so nice to come together as a community.

“I have started a moon and star lantern and I will be back next year to finish it off.”

Geoff and Jean Knight, who used to live in Bacup, made a lantern with their grandson Zachary in Reading and brought it to display in Stacksteads.

They were joined by Zachary’s cousin Jacob, 12, from Stacksteads, who had made his lantern at the White Horse Project in Waterfoot.

Blowjangles (Image: Promo)

The parade left Toll Bar, led by jazz band Blowjangles, and when it got to Stacksteads Recreation Ground the lanterns surrounded the edge of the football field for all to see.

Rossendale Drum Majorettes also provided music and the group also made their own deer lantern.

Rossendale Civic Pride Chair Sue Shuttleworth said: “It is excellent, it is lovely to see the different communities come together and there are lots of children.”

Chair of SCPG Elaine Potts thanked everyone for attending especially the countryside park group volunteers as well as Elijah Community Group from Colne, who provided marshals.

Freya and Nahla (Image: Promo)

Phil Taylor-Fleming, his wife Meg and daughters Freya, 9, and Nahla, 7, from Oswaldtwistle heard about the workshops from a friend.

Freya made a Pokémon lantern. She said: “It has a small horn that hides great healing power.” Nahla made a dragon jellyfish because she likes both.

The parade was funded by grants from Reaps Moss Windfarm Community Benefit Fund, Rossendale Community Fund, Lancashire County Council Champions County Councillors Scott Smith and Joan Burrows and Rossendale Borough Council.

County Councillor Joan Borrows said: “I made a bee and I had a great time coming along to the workshop. When I saw some of the lanterns I thought I could never make something like this but I was a Brownie and Guide and that kicked in.”