The 29th Lismore Lantern Parade is heading back to the river, for the first time in a decade.

Last year the Lantern Parade walked down Victoria Street but this year it will wind its way down the embankment to the river where Lismore City Council held Carols in the Heart in 2021.

"So many people are excited about it," CEO and Artistic Director Jyllie Jackson told the Lismore App, "It's going back home."

"We don't want to do it in the car park, Oakes Oval is too fancy and too costly plus it's tricky to have a bonfire there. We will have a bonfire on the river though."

"I have to say the Lismore Parks and Gardens guys have been fabulous. They have been so supportive and excited, I'm really really grateful to them."

The route will be the same as 2022, setting off from Magellan Street by the old library, through the middle of town before turning left onto Molesworth Street, rounding Anzac Close before walking down Victoria Street.

"There'll be a surprise down there as well," Jyllie teased, "Hopefully, fingers crossed."

"There is no indication of what that surprise is, you and the community will just have to wait. It is a 10 out of 10 surprise. It will be amazing!"

"We will need the cooperation of everybody this year because when we get to the car park we have a parade split. The Lanterneers, who are in the parade, will go one way and then the general public will go another way. Everybody who's in the parade will have a bracelet and we will have people to help out. This is so that nobody misses out on seeing the big lanterns."

"We are inviting people to sit on the hill and also request that apart from the top, where people can either have a camp chair or want to stand, that everyone else sit down so that everyone can see. Bring a good blanket with the plastic underneath and then a cushion to keep your bum warm," Jyllie laughs.

"We've got people from the Center Church and Lord Taverners getting involved to help people know where they are going plus professional security."

The theme for the 2023 Lismore Lantern Parade?

"Gates of renewal."

"Which I think is quite pertinent on several levels in as much as the Lantern Parade is held on the winter solstice, which is what they call a liminal space, where optimism and magic happen. It's when we change from all the nights being long and getting longer to the longest night and then it changes and they start getting shorter."

"The Gates of Renewal is also about Lismore. Renewal for me is about reimagining, it's about making things, so it's our opportunity to reimagine our future here and to find little pockets of positivity. We hope this will bring positivity and happiness to our community – moving forward with renewed hope."

With the new theme comes new lanterns for the 2023 Lantern Parade.

"We have a couple of new lanterns but that is another surprise that will get revealed as we get closer to June 24."

This is the first Lantern Parade in many years that doesn't involve any turmoil......touch wood. After the years of COVID and last year's flood, 2023 is looking more straightforward. However, Jyllie does need it to involve more volunteers.

"We need people. Where has everybody gone?"

"We have some simple tasks that need doing for our school children. Summerland Credit Union are subsidising the lanterns that we build and then give out to schools so the children can decorate them. The fabulous Chan has been making hundreds of lanterns but we need to paper them. Plus there are other lanterns that we need to make and paper and a few people are needed to carry and be part of the show."

(Jyllie Jackson points to the many lantern shells that need papering in the Keen Street building)

If you have a few hours spare to help Jyllie and the Lantern Parade team get in touch by phone (0412 732 102) or through the website.

Local Lismore businesses that want to be involved as a stallholder should also get in touch as Jyllie looks after locals first before reaching out to the wider Northern Rivers community.

The 2023 Lismore Lantern Parade will be held on Saturday, June 24 from 12 noon through to 8:30pm. Put it on your calendar now.