Festival of Light 2026
Cardigan will be transformed into a glowing winter woodland with the return of the much-loved Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade on Friday 11 December at 7pm.
Giant illuminated puppets, lanterns and live music will fill the streets, bringing the community and visitors together for a spectacular and creative celebration with Small World Theatre.
This year the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade is funded by The Wildlife Trusts, Community Foundation Wales, a Healthier Communities Grant from CAVO, The National Lottery Community Fund, Cardigan Town Council and The Black Lion, Cardigan. Thanks to them all, and we hope to continue raising funds through a public fundraising campaign will help to meet the costs.
The annual parade is a highlight of Cardigan’s festive calendar, attracting thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy its unique combination of giant puppetry, community-made lanterns and live performance.
Our giant puppets and lanterns bring people together, this year’s support has come from community-focused funders. We hope the parade will inspire people to look more closely at the natural world around them and discover the importance of protecting these precious woodland habitats.
Business Lantern Making
Local shops and businesses are invited to take part in Business Lantern Making sessions on 20 and 27 November from 5.30pm - 8.30pm, to create nature-inspired lanterns for their Christmas windows and be a crucial part of the festive Light Trail throughout December.
Public Lantern Making
Get ready to take part in the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade! You can choose to make one of three new beautiful lantern designs inspired by woodland creatures.
Public Lantern Making sessions are across the weekend 28 - 29 November from 10am - 3pm. Booking is essential.
Dates: 28 & 29 November 2026
Times: 10am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 4pm
Cost: £5 per lantern
Please book a morning or an afternoon session. Follow the link in our bio for more details.