Ellesmere arts group to hold workshops ahead of town’s winter festival

A community arts group is holding free workshops to make lanterns ahead of the town’s winter festival.

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Fizzgigs, Ellesmere’s arts group, is gearing up to run free lantern-making workshops in the Town Hall ahead of the Winter Festival parade on Friday, November 27.

The parade is one of a wide range of activities going on in the bustling market town on that evening. It begins at the Wharf, where Father Christmas arrives by canal boat before being transferred to a very special vehicle. This special vehicle will be part of a procession through the town before delivering Father Christmas to his grotto.

An important part of the parade is the community lanterns. Anyone wishing to join the procession can attend one of two specially arranged free Fizzgigs workshops in the week leading up to the Festival. Materials and instruction are provided.

These workshops will be on Saturday, November 21 between 1.00pm and 5pm and Tuesday, November 24 between 5pm and 9pm at the Town Hall. The lanterns can be taken away at the end of the workshop and brought back in readiness for the procession

The procession usually leaves the Wharf between 6.15 and 6.30pm. There will be some very large lanterns made by Fizzgigs members.

Chairman Ian Andrew said: “There is always a theme for the procession. In the past we have had a replica of Stevenson’s Rocket, a life-sized horse and a spaceship. We are all very excited about this year’s chosen theme which is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

“Anyone can make a lantern and carry it in the parade.”