Great Grimsby's Christmas Festival - Make your own Festive Lantern Workshop

CREATE YOUR OWN FESTIVE LANTERN FOR THE GREAT GRIMSBY LIGHT PARADE!

Join Lucy and Wendy of What If We Create to make and decorate your very own willow lantern, ready to shine bright in the Great Grimsby Light Parade as part of Great Grimsby’s Christmas Festival 2026!

This year’s parade has a Nordic Viking Christmas theme, led by a giant willow lantern longboat alongside the Grimsby Boars and Owl.

Workshop Date: Saturday 14th November 2026
Location: People Make Grimsby, Freshney Place Shopping Centre (next door to NEXT)

This free, family-friendly workshop is open to all. All materials will be provided, and you’ll have plenty of options to personalise your lantern design. Please note that crafting can get a little messy, so we recommend wearing suitable clothing. Aprons will be provided.

Your finished lantern will be left with us to dry, ready for you to collect on parade day, Saturday 28th November 2026.

Participants should meet at 4:45pm at People Make Grimsby (same location as the workshop) to collect their lanterns and prepare for the parade, which will set off at 5:15pm.

If weather permits, the parade route will take us from Freshney Place, exiting at Riverhead Square, along Victoria Street to St James Square for the Christmas lights switch-on, a magical finale to the evening! If the weather is not on our side, the parade will still take place but inside Freshney Place Shopping Centre.

Create a festive piece, try something new and be part of Grimsby’s Christmas celebrations.

Book your tickets now as spaces are very limited! Choose one of our 2.5 hours sessions below:

• Morning session: 10:00 - 12:30 
• Afternoon session: 13:30 - 16:00

Please note: Please make your booking per lantern in your group, with a maximum of 2 per group due to limited spaces. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. You will be making the lanterns from scratch, so young children will need adult help throughout with taping willow and glueing the tissues. Those under 11 will need help during the workshop (14th November) and when carrying the lantern at the parade (28th November).