By Wendy Williamson
A lantern making workshop on Saturday 21 July will set the spark for the annual Yarra Glen Festival of Light.
Community members are invited to come along to the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall between 1pm and 3.30pm and make their own lanterns for the upcoming festival.
This year’s Yarra Glen Festival of Light will take place on Saturday 18 August.
The festival will see the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall transformed by a ‘Light Room’ installation.
All are welcome to go to the hall between 4.30and 5.30pm, bring their own lantern and contribute to the installation.
Each lantern will be given an LED light ahead of ‘Lights Out’ at 6pm when everyone can enjoy the display.
The Yarra Glen Football and Netball Club will provide a food stall, and from 8pm to 9pm the hall will be turned over to teenagers to enjoy psychedelic and trance music.
Festival of Light organiser Beth Williams started the event with some friends a few years ago to celebrate the end of winter being in sight and to promote community spirit.
“We saw it as a beautiful opportunity to create something sacred and magical and very personal for our community,” Ms Williams said.
“We love it when the older community members, mums and dads and tiny children come and make lanterns at our annual workshops.”
Ms Williams said the festival, which is supported by Yarra Ranges Council’s Grants for Community, is about bringing the community together and what people most enjoy is the spiritual element the festival offers.
“This year we don’t have much in the way of funds available, so the Council’s support is really amazing,” she said.
Applications for the 2019 Grants for Community round close on 12 August.
For more information visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/communitygrants.
For more information on the Festival of Light visit yarraglenwinterlights.com.au.
