2 July 2024

Port Kembla's lantern parade to warm up community spirit this winter

| Zoe Cartwright
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Last year's Port Kembla lantern parade at The Servo.

Last year’s Port Kembla lantern parade at The Servo. Photo: Our Community Project.

It might be dark in the evenings, but Port Kembla’s annual lantern parade will shine bright on Thursday 4 July.

Organiser Chantelle Davis from Our Community Project said the event was full of warmth and culture, with something for everyone.

“This amazing evening of winter festivities encourages the community to make their own artistic lanterns out of everyday and reusable items where possible,” she said.

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“Port Kembla Primary School has again this year incorporated the lantern making into their curriculum, and this year at Our Community Project we have provided some free lantern making workshops and shared information in the lead-up, so local community members can make their own at home.

“We have some great entertainment from local performers for people of all ages and abilities, as well as a sausage sizzle provided by the P&C and our local Port Kembla Men’s group will provide hot drinks for a gold coin donation – BYO mug if you can to reduce waste.”

The parade begins at 4:30 pm, at Coomaditchie Lagoon on the corner of Parkes and Cowper streets in Kemblawarra, and will continue on to Port Kembla Public School.

It will start with a Welcome to Country from a local elder, and include the story of how the parade came to be.

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Circus performers, music therapy and storytelling will keep the mood light along the way, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Entertainment includes Mick on Wheels, Mark the Sax Man, Circus Wow performers on stilts with lights and Lillian Pang with Light Up Story Corner.

The parade will be led and followed by local police and firefighters.

“This event truly is the result of community coming together for an amazing evening of winter festivities and culture sharing and we would love if you could be a part of the festivities,” Chantelle said.

Our Community Project is a not-for-profit community development organisation based in Port Kembla, formerly known as Port Kembla Community Project Inc.

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