Winter Solstice Lantern Festival lights up the night virtually, December 21 at 6 pm

The Secret Lantern Society’s dance party, labyrinth, and live music happen via Zoom

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The Secret Lantern Society streams the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at 6 pm on December 19

IN THESE DARKEST days of the pandemic, we all need a little light in our lives.

Enter the Secret Lantern Society, which has found a virtual way to celebrate the 27th edition of its beloved Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. It’s even inviting you to bring your own homemade lantern, as you usually would in its community processions.

Via Zoom, participants can take part in an interactive Lantern Dance Party and a virtual walk through the Labyrinth of Light. Elsewhere in the program, you can listen to dark tales of solstices past and live music. Other strange and wonderful offerings include headdress-making with plants.

Vancouver artist Naomi Singer first launched the free event as a way to bring the community together, celebrate the ways different cultures around the world honour the return of the sun—from First Nations groups
to the Chinese, Persian, Ukrainian, African, and European.

You still have time to hit the Secret Lantern Youtube channel to discover how to make your own lanterns and headdresses with natural materials. Find details on the event here.

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