On March 19, arguably the biggest Lismore event of the year, the Lantern Parade, was postponed to November 14. Yet another in a long line of events that has either been postponed or cancelled completely for 2020.

In my conversations with CEO and Creative Director Jyllie Jackson, it was always in the back of her mind to work on an alternative event to celebrate the Winter Solstice, something that will lift people's hope during these pandemic times albeit on a smaller scale.

Today, we can reveal that takes the form of the Virtual Lismore Lantern Parade.

This is where you and your family can purchase simple pre-made pyramid lanterns with specially prepared decorating kits.

These kits will be available from the Lismore Lantern Parade website at the end of next week (https://www.lismorelanternparade.com.au/), but there will be some early bird kits available at the Lismore Farmers Markets tomorrow morning between 8am and 11:30am.

Each kit contains....pre-cut shapes, PVA glue, sponge, an LED candle and full instructions.

The Lantern kits are $15 each - please bring the correct change if you can!!

Jyllie says that decorating the lanterns is a wonderful activity for everyone - especially the kids at home

"We will then ask you to take a photo of you and your lantern and send it to the Lantern Parade so we can create a virtual lantern parade on line!!", she said.

"This is a really special night this year because of COVID19", Jyllie added, "Selling these lanterns will keep us alive as a business which means we can keep doing Lantern Parades into the future. This year we have had absolutely no income."

So, come on Lismore and our surrounding communities, get to the Farmers Markets tomorrow and buy a kit for only $15 or get on-line at the of next week and order from the website. If you believe in the Lismore Lantern Parade and what it does for our community, make an effort. Jyllie and the team need us now.

LET'S LIGHT UP THE WORLD!