12 May 09 The Parade is Back!

After thousands of requests over the last decade, the 2009 Redland Spring Festival will once again deliver the most unique parade ever experienced in South East Queensland.

It will line the festival streets in the Redlands Showgrounds with the traditional elements of our past parades and the most spectacular array of illuminated sculptures and lanterns.

Local students will assist in building lanterns and parading them at the festival under the supervision of Jyllie Jackson and her Light’n up crew who have years of experience across Australia in making the crowds jaw drop at the sheer beauty of the light and shadows of illuminated sculptures and lanterns.

Lanterns, fire and outdoor celebrations have cultural significance in many nations and lanterns represent a positive metaphor for community optimism and hope throughout the world. This element of the festival will draw together performers, audience of all ages, and community groups under the brilliance of light and unity, symbolising our common dreams for the future and sharing the community spirit of the present.

There will be lantern workshops coordinated by Lightnup on Saturday at the festival, allowing anyone to become part of this spectacular element of the festival. Community organisations are encouraged to start dreaming up their non motorised float designs and contacting the festival for more details. “This will allow them to receive “brighter” recognition in the broader community of South East Qld.”, says parade coordinator Rowena Plant.

The Redland Spring Festival Lantern Parade is partly funded through Q150 and will help us celebrate this important year in Queenslands history.