The Hive Library has announced the return of the lantern parade for the first time since the pandemic restrictions in 2020.

This year, The Hive has partnered with Worcester City Council, Worcester BID, local Artist Catt Standen, and Crowngate Shopping Centre, to make the return of the event bigger and better than ever before.

The Starlight Parade will take place on Saturday 25 November at 4pm starting from The Hive and ending at Cathedral Square. Invited students from local schools as well as a team of volunteers and creatives will adorn the streets of Worcester with handmade lanterns.

Artists Anna Best and Catt Standen have been visiting the city’s schools this month, working with students to build willow lanterns and to tell them more about the parade. Lantern decorating workshops will also take place at The Hive throughout November and December, where families and children are encouraged to decorate their own lantern before lining the streets to welcome and watch the parade. The public is invited to watch the spectacle by lining the route of the Starlight Parade.

Local artist Catt Standen has also produced four showstopper lanterns for the Starlight Parade around the theme of the famous ballet, The Nutcracker - a Storybook, the magical Mouse King, the Nutcracker and the sparkling Sugarplum Fairy Princess. The special showstoppers are funded by Worcester BID and will stand 6 feet tall upon puppeteers.

The parade will start at 4pm from The Hive, making its way down past the bus station and Mode Nightclub, across the market stalls at Angel Place, turning left onto Broad Street before making the final stretch down Worcester High Street finishing at Cathedral Square.

The Starlight Parade coincides with the city's Christmas Lights switch-on, situated at Cathedral Square, where there will be lots of family entertainment from 4pm until 7pm. The event will mark the beginning of the Christmas celebrations in Worcester with live music performances from local schools, choirs and appearances from the cast of the Swan Theatre’s Pantomime, Jack and The Beanstalk.

A window art trail will accompany the event during November and December, with local business windows decorated by local artists. A hidden word game dotted around the city will also spread some festive joy over the extended Christmas period.

After the parade, the showstopper lanterns will be exhibited at The Hive from Monday 27 December until Tuesday 2 January, with free admission to all and open daily (8:30am-10pm). There will also be multiple ‘Meet the Artist’ events during December giving the public the opportunity to meet artist Catt Standen as she talks about the creation of the lanterns.

To stay up to date with everything about The Starlight Parade and Trail, follow @thestarlightparade on Instagram.

To book a lantern-making workshop at The Hive, visit thehiveworcester.org.