While the Hahndorf Winter Lantern Fest (HWLF) has copped the worst of COVID, cancelling their highly anticipated parade and market and activity stalls in 2020, they are back for their 8th lantern festival on Saturday August 27 at Alec Johnston Park in a gleaming celebration of the Hill’s most talented artists.
The night will embrace the very best of local and community art as well as embrace nature’s gifts with sustainably made lanterns.
Last year, Megafauna “Dippo” Dipotrodon stole the show when she marched through the festival as the 2021 giant “mama wombat” lantern.
She was brought to life by the entire team at HWLF who, across several weeks, built her skeleton from a bamboo and willow structure, and gave her a paper flesh that glowed beautifully among painted symbols of Mother nature.
Local artist Leela Fletcher composed “Sylvia Snail”, a huge snail that was riddled with Mount Barker author Alisha Marie Dyer’s poem about growth, shining with carefully placed fairy lights, and greeting last year’s guests with a warming welcome.
HWLF have recently held a three day percussion workshop from Monday 18 July to Wednesday 20 July, inviting young people aged 7-14 to join Heathfield High School teacher and leader of the Healthfield Renegades, Max.
Max has been using his expertise to guide the Wallabeats, a thongaphone ensemble of the Hill’s young and talented musicians, that will be performing their array of percussion instruments, soft and loud, on the night.
A new addition of craft stalls are yet to be announced but can be expected to keep the kids entertained and their creative juices flowing. A wider range of food and drink stalls have been introduced to keep your bellies full and your souls warm with comfort foods during the wintery night.
Returning this year will be the the fire mural that has become a beloved feature of the festival, and continues to bring the heat with its elemental storytelling.
Around 200 candlelit lanterns will be hung in Alec Johnston Park, Hahndorf by 4pm as the Hahndorf Town Band performs one of their brass band arrangements.
The school holiday fun doesn’t have to end when the kiddies go back to school.
Book a weekend lantern making workshop in Mount Barker, Mylor or Hahndorf where the little ones will be taught to make candle lit paper and cane lanterns in classic and geometric shapes and can even get creative recreating animals that will be on display at the festival.
Secure your spot at a lantern workshop this July or August by booking here.
You can play your part in the festival by volunteering here.
Event details:
Where: Alec Johnston Park Hahndorf,
St Michaels LS Oval
When: Saturday 27 August, 2022
Tickets: Free entry
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