It is only two more days until the iconic 2023 Lismore Lantern Parade takes to the CBD streets to enthral large crowds once again. Like the LisAmore! weather, conditions will be perfect, 22 degrees during the day before cooling quickly for the parade itself.

The Lismore App caught up with CEO/Artistic Director of Lightnup Inc Jyllie Jackson to check on preparations and her stress levels. The Keen Street building was a hive of activity from the small base of volunteers working feverishly on finishing the new lanterns for this year's parade.

"We dance in chaos," Jyllie said, "I'm sure that there will be things that don't go as we expected them to but we will work through those. If everybody's good-willed, as they always are at the Lantern Parade, and patient and kind then it will be fabulous."

2023 celebrates the 20th Birthday of three large popular lanterns Pegasus, Mother Earth and Vingilot. Pegasus had a bit of a makeover last year, Vingilot has also received some TLC and Mother Earth is next in line, maybe in 2024.

"My babies are growing up," smiled Jyllie, "They'll be leaving home soon."

"It speaks to the resilience of these lanterns because they've all been through massive floods, not just the two in 2022 and the one in '17 but there were more floods in the last 20 years so they are remarkable."

"We've got more new big lanterns than ever before," Jyllie added but she wouldn't be drawn into revealing what the new lanterns will be wanting to leave that as a surprise on Saturday night.

As we have mentioned before the Lismore SES boat has been remade as a dingy and will make its debut this year with the February 28 flood call sign.

The venue for the Fiery Finale will be down on the river, near the Ballina Street Bridge, for the first time in a decade although last year it was very close by.

Jyllie said to be prepared to cosy up on the bank on what will be a cold night.

"It will be very squishy down the river but we'll try and make that work for everybody. We're doing our practice runs now. I think we've got nearly 3000 people wanting to be part of the Lantern Parade."

"The Lanterneers (volunteers) have an area at the front. People can sit on the grass on the slope and if they need to sit on a chair then we ask them to sit up on the hill higher up. I want people to make sure that the children, in particular, can see. We have an area for people in wheelchairs and wheelie walkers and we will have an Auslan interpreter."

Jyllie is also hoping for a very still night for the Fiery Finale fireworks, although this year it will not be a big fireworks display.

"We're just going to have some fountains so a few pretty close proximity sparklies."

One of the frequently asked questions being fielded by Jyllie and her team of volunteers is "where can I buy tickets?" A reminder that this year's event is FREE and there are no tickets on sale.

However, you can still donate to the Lismore Lantern Parade using a few methods to help sustain the event for the next 30 years.

"We won't accept the "I've got no change in my pocket excuse," Jyllie said, "Because we will have somebody in town with a Square Reader so you can do a tap and give. Or you can go to the website and make a donation or you can go into any of the Summerland Credit Union branches and make a donation there."

"If you're doing okay these days, you can chuck in a bit more, and if things are tough, then just some acknowledgement for the hard work that these people have been doing and the cost of putting something like this together is appreciated."

One of the criticisms of the Lantern Parade is that it is taking away people from the CBD.

"There's a whole event in the CBD which includes things like the enchanted windows, which people can walk around town and look into the many shop windows. This is quite spectacular in the evening."

"The stalls confirmed for the Market deLight have over 50% from the 2480 postcode. After the flood a lot of people are running businesses at markets and from home and stuff like that so you know, it's not just CBD shops, but there are a lot of people who live in Lismore and run businesses. The remainder, bar two, are all from the Northern Rivers region. So they are all from Ballina, Kyogle and Casino."

Activities kick off at 12 midday with Market deLight and KidsFest with the HeartBeat Festival Stage pumping out entertainment between 1pm and 9pm. Following the Fiery Finale at 7:15pm there are a number of after Parade parties.

"Many of the pubs are running music and special events. There's a John Lush parade at the Bowlo (Lismore City Bowling Club) and the Met is putting on Vinyl DJ Nat White so there's a bit happening in the CBD after the parade."

The Lismore App is a proud sponsor of the Lismore Lantern Parade.

We have made it very easy for you to stay on top of what events are happening and when for the 2023 Lismore Lantern Parade, simply go to the front page of the Lismore App and click on the red lantern Lismore Lantern Parade. All the information you need will be at your fingertips on your mobile phone. You can enlarge maps to view the Parade Route and Road Closures.

The 2023 Lismore Lantern Parade is the last big event until spring so let's enjoy it Lismore.