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Lantern Celebration goes unplugged

Sat 19 Dec, 8 - 10pm
Centre of New Zealand (Botanical Reserve)

This year’s Canterbury Community Trust Lantern Celebration goes unplugged, with a greater focus on environmental sustainability and community participation.

Long time festival crew member Cynthia Lorrian has taken over coordination of the event from Kim Merry, who died in August, and says she’s following in his (low carbon) footsteps.

“The Lantern Celebration was one of Kim’s favourite events – he loved its simplicity and the strength of its community participation,” she says. “This year we are taking that even further with a drumming and body percussion workshop in the afternoon before the Lantern Celebration to develop a core group that will lead the music on the hill that night – we’re moving away from sitting and being entertained, to everybody helping to create the event.”

People are invited to join in with traditional musical instruments or improvised shakers and drums made from simple materials – such as cake tins filled with dried beans, bamboo sticks and even pots and pans. There will be other ways for people to make their own fun on the hilltop, such as lycra screens for children to create shadow plays.

Cynthia says ‘unplugged’ music is linked with Kim’s other passion – the environment.

“There will be no generators and no vehicles going up the hill,” she says. “We have lights from our new sponsors, Solar Peak instead. Santa is taking a break this year but there will be a new colourful offering making its debut. There won’t be a coffee cart on the hilltop – the emphasis is on people being self sufficient, bringing their picnics and making their own lanterns.”

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To help with this The Suter will have a making area from 6-7.30pm, with materials for people to create a simple lantern. The Merry Men, who won the Port Nelson Masked Parade with their tribute to Kim Merry will lead the procession from the Suter at 7.30pm, heading for the Centre of New Zealand.

The Nelson Mail Lantern Making is at the Suter. Sat 19 Dec, 6 - 7.30pm

Lantern Celebration drumming and body percussion workshop, Sat 19 Dec, 2 - 4pm, Botanical Reserve.

This event is part of the Summer in Nelson programme, presented by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an added attraction for visitors.

ENDS

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