CEO, Artistic Director and Founder of Lightnup Inc, the organisation that puts on the Lismore Lantern Parade, released some exciting news to the Lismore App yesterday: the 2025 Lismore Lantern Parade will return to Oakes Oval for the first time since 2018.

For the last two years, the Fiery Finale has been held at Riverside Park, down by Wilsons River under Ballina Bridge. In 2021, it was held at the Lismore Showground following COVID-19 and 2022 was on the levee bank.

The reason was thanks to another flood event, albeit smaller in scale, Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

"When Alfie came through, we had a flood down at Riverside Park, and he left behind centimetres of sludge that can't be removed or cleaned out."

Jyllie said everything was already in place; the application was completed, the traffic management plan was ticked off, and then she had to "pirouette".

"It's a whole different ball game now. Yes, it's going to be such a big space to have to manage and make it work for people.

"I think because we've always looked after the ground, wherever we've done it, council staff have been very impressed. They know we will look after Oakes Oval. We will be very careful."

The 2024 Lantern Parade had an estimated 32,000 people who enjoyed Lismore's largest single-day event. Last year's Fiery Finale was a crowded affair, with many missing out on seeing the spectacular ending due to the topography.

(Part of the 2024 Fiery Finale at Riverside Park)

Oakes Oval provides newly built grandstands and a large flat viewing area for families to sit and view the finale.

Naturally, there will be some changes for this year's Lantern Parade because of a new venue.

The grandstands hold approximately 1,000 people and will be ticketed in 2025. The price is yet to be finalised; however, it is likely to be $10 per seat. Sitting on the grass area in front of the stands will be free.

People should feel free to bring blankets and pillows for comfort, but camping chairs will need to be at the back of the grassed area so everyone can see and protect the Oakes Oval grass.

"We have a special accessible area for people with mobility requirements, and also, we've been doing a wonderful project with people who are visually impaired. They will have access, and their support workers and families will be in the right-hand side pavilion, which will be looked after by Social Futures," Jyllie explained.

The parade route will now start on Victoria Street, behind Heritage Park.

"Then we come up Molesworth Street, through the market delight (on Magellan Street) and then turn left along Keen Street, and then down the back lanes (Larkin Lane) past the Met, and across Dawson Street into Oakes Oval.

With thousands of parade participants and different classifications of watchers, there will be plenty of signage to make it easy to get to your designated area.

The lanterns will pass by the Oakes Oval stands and move around to the Adam Gilchrist Pavilion, where they will be stored, and participants will make their way around to the viewing area.

The size of the Fiery Finale depends on how much sponsorship money is raised. If you have a business that would like to be involved for $1,000 or $5,000, get in touch with Jyllie Jackson at the Lismore Lantern Parade.

For 2025, Lightnup Inc. is now a registered charity. This means that all donations are tax-deductible. Rather than relying on the buckets collecting coins or notes from people on the side of the street, you can donate whenever you wish and get the benefit of reducing your tax bill. Click on the link to donate https://www.givenow.com.au/30yearsoflanterns. You will receive your receipt as soon as the donation is complete.

"We have to cut our coat according to our cloth," Jyllie said, "But it will be really fun. We'll have some fireworks, a little bit of fireworks, not a big ten-minute wham bam, thank you, ma'am type of thing, but there will be a little bit of fireworks and quite a lot of fire in a different sort of way," Jyllie said, leaving the details for another time.

Jyllie praised Lismore City Council staff for helping her organise the 2025 Lismore Lantern Parade.

"It's just been lovely, particularly the Parks and Open Spaces people and the events team. They have been awesome."

For now, mark Saturday, June 21, on your calendars or schedule the date on your mobile phone.