A Celebration in Light

We are bringing the magic of the lantern parade back to Gillingham after a three-year absence.

As part of the Love Gillingham celebrations, Ideas Test, Cohesion Plus and Medway Council are working together to create a spectacular lantern parade through Gillingham High Street on Friday 26 February 2027.

This year’s theme is ‘Love, Community and Celebration’ – giving us an opportunity to celebrate Gillingham, its people and the communities that make the town what it is.

Bringing schools together

A number of local schools from across Gillingham and Rainham will be invited to take part in the project, creating their own lanterns to carry in the parade.

Working with the wonderful Medway-based artist Xtina Lamb, participating schools will take part in creative lantern-making workshops between 16 November 2026 and 12 February 2027.

The workshops will give pupils the opportunity to get hands-on, work creatively together and create their own unique lanterns inspired by the theme.

Once made, the lanterns will be stored safely by the schools until the big day, when they will become part of a spectacular display as the schools and wider community come together to light up Gillingham High Street.

The Gillingham Lantern Parade is about more than making lanterns. It is about bringing people together, giving local young people the opportunity to be creative, and creating a shared experience that celebrates the place they live.

Lighting up Gillingham

On Friday 26 February 2027, the lanterns created by participating schools will take to the streets as part of the Gillingham Lantern Parade.

We can’t wait to see the creativity of our local schools come together and help make this a very special celebration of Gillingham.

The Gillingham Lantern Project is organised by Ideas Test, Cohesion Plus and Medway Council as part of the Love Gillingham celebrations.