25th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival

Celebrate the 25th annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival on December 21st in two Vancouver communities. Celebrate this free community event with a glowing constellation of lanterns shining in Yaletown and Chinatown.

25th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival

A free family event, with some ticketed venues. Suggested donation of $5/person gratefully accepted.

Granville Island

The processions from Leg in Boot Square and Vanier Park begin at 6:00pm. The Granville Island procession leaves Triangle Square at 6:20pm. Activities take place in both Performance Works (Labyrinth of Light) and the False Creek Community Centre from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Following indoor activities, the final procession leaves False Creek Community Centre at 9:15pm and heads to the Fire Finale in Ron Basford Park at 9:30pm

Additional events: December 20 & 21, 2018 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm: Watch Secret Lantern Artist Yoko Tomita create a 25th Anniversary Sun Lantern to lead the procession on solstice night.

December 21, 2018 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm: Free Lantern Workshop. Turn a glass jar into your own unique lantern for the procession leaving from Triangle Square at 6:00pm.

Photo by Jan Gates

Yaletown

A procession leaves The Gathering Place (609 Helmcken St) at 6:00pm and heads to the Roundhouse. Note: The traditional processions from the Aquatic Centre or Cooper’s Park no longer take place. Following a last-minute lantern-making workshop at the Roundhouse 6:00pm to 8:00pm, a family lantern procession heads into David Lam Park 8:00pm-8:30pm.

The Roundhouse hosts indoor activities 6:00pm to 10:00pm and then the Fire Finale takes place on the Roundhouse Turntable at 9:30pm.

Volunteers especially needed for all four Solstice sites on Granville Island (False Creek Community Centre, Performance Works, Ocean Art Works and Ron Basford Park). Help with last-minute lantern making and other workshops (some outdoors), decorating and venue set-up, our labyrinth, outdoor fire procession, or as an Entrance Guardian, concession volunteer, and more. Register here to volunteer.

Follow the Secret Lantern Society on Facebook for more information.