Binnie O’Dwyer lost everything when her house was inundated in the February flood. But creating paper lantern boats for the Lismore Lantern Parade has been a big part of her healing process.

“It was so soothing because my life is in disarray,” Binnie said. “I’ve been doing flood repairs and that's as hard as cleaning up was.

“I just wanted to be here at the Lismore Lantern Parade workshop, papering and glueing.

“I didn’t have to make decisions about the house. I could just come here and work.

“I get to use a different part of my brain - and although this year's theme still deals with the flood, it’s a creative pursuit and doesn’t trigger my despair.

“I’m surrounded by paper hearts – it’s a beautiful thing.”

The theme of this year’s Lismore Lantern Parade is “Our healing hearts” and Binnie is one of many volunteers helping to make the healing happen.

“The Parade has been one of Lismore’s highlights for decades and this year will be super special because it survived the flood, like most of us, with help from the brave and courageous individuals who risked their own lives to save others,” Binnie said.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday evening and honouring those people and our lovely community - and the river."

No tickets

Festival creative director Jyllie Jackson said this year’s event in the CBD won’t need tickets – but the festival still needs your donations of money.

“This year, we’ve had less than a month to put it all together,” Jyllie said.

“We’ve had lots of new volunteers coming in for an hour to help – but then saying they don’t want to leave.

“This is something this place has always given to the community – an interesting and safe place where people find something special they didn’t know they had.”

Jyllie said tomorrow’s parade will give people a chance to walk around the CBD and see which places have reopened.

There’s also a few shops with lanterns in the windows – such as ‘The Boys’ on Woodlark Street.

Read more about what has opened: Leo's reopens with Lismore's favourite fried food

The parade and fiery finale viewing – what you need to know

Festivities begin Saturday at 12pm with markets, activities and music. The parade begins at 6pm from the Quad. The route map for the parade has been released.

Every year is a year of firsts for the parade and this year, the viewing platform for the fiery finale is the road near the skate park on Victoria Street. Access to Riverside Park is excluded as it is not safe.

Viewers will look toward the levy bank where the milk churn is and there will be a bonfire there.

Even though volunteers have been filling in road potholes as best they can, Jyllie warns people to look out for potholes.

“Please be kind to each other and understand it’s an adventure,” Jyllie said.

"There will also be a surprise performance piece which will acknowledge our communities in North and South Lismore."

The community is also invited to take part in the parade with a little flotilla for the lantern parade of 50 little lantern tinnies and boats which were created to give to flood families.

If you would like to join in, they are walking behind the preschool lanterns and will meet up at the corner of Magellan Street and Keen Street at 5pm Saturday.

For more information, visit https://www.lismorelanternparade.com.au

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