A new winter festival with a “magical” lantern parade is coming to town.

Accompanied by folk musicians and singers, a parade where people carry their own handmade lanterns will make its way along Newhaven West Quay on the evening of Sunday, November 26.

The project was thought up by Siou Hannam, a director at Haven Young Creatives, who has a history in running outdoor theatre events.

She had seen how lantern processions bring joy into a community and together with her co-director Bex Milner she thought Newhaven deserved its own celebratory winter parade.  

The pair teamed up with Patrick Bullock and were blown away by the enthusiastic reception. The lantern-making workshops were booked up within two days.

A second lantern-making workshop will take place on Sunday, November 26, just before the parade.

It is currently booked up but you can join a waiting list online and be notified if places become available.

Lanterns lit, the parade will set off from the Hillcrest Centre in Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, at 5pm.

Everyone is invited to join in at Huggetts Green, on Newhaven’s West Quay, just after 5pm and take part in the singing as they process along the riverside to the RNLI station. 

This event, the latest in the BN9 programme of creative events, is one of many hosted by Haven Young Creatives who bring young people together with regular free drama sessions for ages eight to 18.

Harbour Lights is made possible by grants from the Newhaven Arts Growth Fund and the town council via Newhaven Festival. It is hoped it will become an annual event.

The Newhaven Arts Growth Fund, which is now in its second year of funding from the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, has awarded grants to five grassroots arts projects this year, demonstrating the commitment to fostering arts and culture in and around the town.

The Newhaven Enterprise Zone aims to “deliver a new era for the town through quality, inclusive and sustainable growth”.

By 2030, it is hoped that Newhaven will be a thriving business destination and a "re-energised" harbour town.