Halloween Lantern Parade

The event itself was an epic and fantastical experience, unlike anything I had taken part in before. The scale of the parade was something I wasn't expecting, and the huge finale on the stage was a feast for the senses. The music and the artwork along with the giant puppets made it an unforgettable finale to the whole parade.
Being a part of it taught me a lot about the amount of time and effort planning and staging such a large event takes. It was a real learning curve, and also extremely enjoyable!

Halloween Lantern Festival - Workshop Assistant

I have had an amazing time assisting some fabulous groups with their lantern making! They made these lovely lanterns from the theme 'things that go bump in the night' We had lots of witches, black cats, a coffin and even an obviously terrifying hamster.

I also assisted with the 'big makes' in the workshop, which was a fantastic experience. It was fascinating seeing these giant puppets come to life and the different materials and techniques that go into making them.
This is the giant moon I helped to make, I had to wrap clingfilm around the bamboo structure and tape it all in place ready for the paper we had to glue over the top. The inside was filled with a spider's web of fairy lights and sellotape. There had to be two sheets of paper covering the structure or the light doesn't diffuse properly through the lantern.

And here is the finished article used on the night of the parade!

All images copyright Katharine Studley 2012