Castle Quay in Banbury has teamed up with the Banbury Business Improvement District (BID) to light up Banbury with a beautiful community lantern parade on Saturday 20th November from 5pm. Cheeky elves and a band of amazing musicians will accompany the parade to switch-on Banbury’s spectacular light show.
The Christmas light show returns following its incredible debut last year. The show has been provided by Banbury Town Council and Banbury BID and will be projected onto the iconic Cornhill entrance in Market Place to Castle Quay from 20th November. The video that will be projected has been described as a telling of a festive story bringing a real sense of magic to the centre of Banbury.
Castle Quay is inviting local children to make the festive lanterns for the parade in a free workshop at the centre on Saturday 13th November between 11am – 4pm. Sessions can be booked via the Castle Quay website. Workshops will take place in a unit opposite the centre’s Customer Service Desk.
Once children have completed their lantern, they can leave it in the unit to pick up on the day of the parade. On Saturday 20th November participants should meet at the workshop unit near the Customer Service Desk at 4.45pm for the parade to start at 5pm. The parade will then travel around Banbury town centre and end at the Cornhill Entrance in Market Place, in time for the first showing of the festive projections.
Oliver Wren, Centre Director at Castle Quay Shopping Centre said, “I am really pleased the lantern parade is returning to Banbury – it is the perfect community event and the ideal way to mark the beginning of the Banbury light projections, which were exceptional last year. Our brand-new Christmas lights will be installed the week after this event and are in my opinion the most stylish lights the town has ever had – I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction. Banbury will be the perfect festive destination this year.”
Stuart Moore Chairperson for the Banbury BID said “Banbury BID are delighted to be part of this fantastic event and bring some festive cheer to our community once again. We are keen to welcome visitors to our town to ‘Experience Banbury’ and celebrate the wonderful shops and businesses we have to offer.We have also funded some additional workshops in two local Banbury Schools, and we look forward to those families joining the parade as well.
We hope families will make a day of it and do some Christmas shopping before the parade, stay and watch the first of our Festive Light shows, then relax in the bars, cafes restaurants and pubs that offer some outstanding dining experiences in Banbury.”
If you haven't attended a workshop, why not make your own lantern and bring it with you on the day, or simply come along and watch this spectacular event and enjoy the carnival atmosphere. Just click on this link to let us know you are interested in attending https://