Festival of Cultures 2012 Cultural Lantern Parade

There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival, however, it is likely to have had something to do with celebrating and cultivating positive relationships between people, families, nature and the higher beings that were believed to be responsible for bringing or returning the light each year.

A twilight parade will mark the Year of the Dragon in Palmerston North on Friday, March 23 and herald the beginning of the Festival of Cultures 2012.

The parade promises to give the people of Palmerston North a flavour of the attractions in store during the festival which will be held in The Square and other venues between the 23 - 30 March 2012.

The parade will begin at around 8.30pm in The Square and move around the adjoining streets to finish back in The Square.

There will be a new giant dragon lantern made by REACT (Rangiwahia Environmental Arts Centre Trust) especially for this Year of The Dragon. As always, there will also be plenty of local performances and food stalls.

Last year, the festival drew over 15,000 people from around the Manawatu and regions over one week.

Event listed by Karen Heaphy

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