Lanterns at the ready

Children at Goldfields Kindergarten in Lawrence (from left) Ramona Little (4), Kurt Howat-Bath (4), Cambell Padgett-Lewis (4), Mia Tauti (4) and Oliver Murray (4, both obscured), Jaxon Padgett-Lewis (4), Kendal Homer (4), Molly Houghton, Billie and Sadie Bradfield (all 3) and Tyson Homer (4) show off some of the paper lanterns they made with Anne Cheng (rear) for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Lantern Parade being held in Lawrence next Friday.

The lantern parade coincides with the third day of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations which are a traditional send-off or  farewell to the moon.

The festival is also known as the Lantern Festival or the Moon Festival and is the second most important event in the Chinese cultural calendar.

It traditionally falls on the 15th day (full moon) of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. 

The parade will start at the Tuapeka Health Centre and continue down to Ross Pl.

Members of the community had the opportunity to make their own lanterns as well.