Lantern Festival returns to light up Beeston

The popular annual Cross Flatts Park Lantern Festival returns to Beeston this Christmas – on the evening of Friday 11 December (2015).

The free, family-friendly event will once again feature carol singing (led by the local Salvation Army brass band), live animals to meet and pet, refreshments (this year including roast chestnuts), arts and craft activities – and hundreds of lanterns lighting up the park!

Image: John Parkin.
Hundreds of people joined last year’s Lantern Festival (image: John Parkin).

Local resident Mark Hodgkinson of the Salvation Army is one of those coordinating the event, and commented:

“It’s been great to see this event develop over the past 3-4 years, with loads of different local people getting involved – and it’s always good to see Beeston ‘on the map’ for the right reasons. We had hundreds join us last year, and this year’s promises to be even bigger – not to mention milder, if the weather forecasters are right! See you all then.”

Attendees are invited to come (through the Beeston Road entrance) from 5.45pm, for a 6.30pm start – the event centres around the Watsonia Pavilion at the top end of the park. Bring a lantern or light if possible, and wrap up warm! The event will finish by 7.30pm at the latest. The organisers are also looking for more volunteers, anytime between 10am-9pm on the day – please get in touch if possible, or just turn up.

The event is hosted by the Church in LS11, and supported by the Salvation Army and Leeds City Council. For further event info, including a downloadable poster, click here.