Light Up the Old Docks - Lantern Parade

On Saturday 15th November, as evening falls, prepare to step into a different world. Russia Dock Woodlands will come alive with light and sound, with surprises around every corner. Local folk tales, living heritage and hundreds of handmade lanterns will come together in a magical evening of music, storytelling and street theatre.

As you wander through this enchanted space, your lantern will help illuminate the hidden corners and forgotten histories of the area. Discover the story of the old docks, once bustling with ships bringing wood and whales into industrial London. Feel the rumble of the printing press processing Norwegian timber. Hear stories of migration and home, past and present – families arriving in Southwark, journeys that shaped the community, and memories that continue to resonate today. Every turn of the path and every glow of light will reveal something new, offering glimpses of Southwark’s past, woven into performances, installations and song.

In the lead up to the parade, we will be running a series of workshops at local schools, community groups and youth clubs. If you would like to make a lantern with us, come along to our weekend of free lantern making, and learn how to make your own willow lantern, on the 25th and 26th of October at Dockland's Settlements. The workshops are totally free, but you can book in advance here to ensure your spot!

You’ll work with natural materials that are a satisfying and and simple to shape: fresh buff willow, eco-friendly tape, wet-strength tissue, and non-toxic PVA glue. You’ll bend, tape, and layer your designs, bringing them to life with LED lights.

With our guidance, you can make anything you like – birds, footballs, castles, lifesize lantern dogs, even dinosaurs! Our expert team of lantern makers will help you realise your ideas, no matter how big or imaginative.

Our workshops are about more than just lanterns – they're about community, and integrating people's own stories and living heritage into the artistic process. Who knows – maybe a story you share at the workshop will find its way into the parade, becoming part of the night’s unfolding tale!

We are Light Whale International, a collective of lantern makers and performers. We began our practice in France and now deliver lantern parades, light installations, and craft workshops to communities in the UK and beyond.

For the last four years, we have run annual lantern parades in Tonnerre, France, and Eye Village, UK. Now, with the support of the Southwark Cultural Celebrations Grant, we are bringing a new lantern parade to Rotherhithe – and we can’t wait to share it with you!

✨Illuminate Bermondsey

The adventure doesn’t end there – our sister parade, Illuminate Bermondsey, takes place the following weekend, continuing the celebration of light, community, and creativity.

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Host or Publisher Light Whale International