Maidstone plans Light Up Festival to brighten the winter nights with a lantern parade

A town is planning to cheer up those dark winter nights with a stunning lantern parade.

The annual Light Up Festival returns to Maidstone on Friday, February 7.

Starting at 5pm there will be a dazzling parade featuring hundreds of children from six local schools, each carrying their own homemade lantern.

They will walk from County Hall, along Week Street, to Jubilee Square where there will be a host of street performers and live entertainment, right in the heart of the town centre.

The festival is being organised by the business group One Maidstone in collaboration with Cohesion Plus, and is sponsored by Maidstone council.

Michelle Woodland, the chief executive of One Maidstone, said: ”February is well known for its dark evenings and reasons to stay home and hibernate.

“The Light Up Maidstone Festival aims to bring light into the town and encourage people to venture out to enjoy a variety of professional performers and view the beautiful lanterns on parade, created by the participating local schools and community groups.”

“This free event will illuminate the town during the darkest month of the year."

Further information can be found here.

Also that day, One Maidstone will launch a Hearts of the Town wellness trail, focusing on local charities and raising awareness of the support available.

Those who follow the trail can win prizes donated by The Hazlitt Theatre, the Vineta Flower Gallery and N2 Sweet Lab.

The trail will run for three weeks until February 28, during which time large heart-shaped sculptures will be located at Fremlin Walk and The Mall shopping centre, where visitors can write messages of support and pin them to a heart.