For over 30 years Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival has been lighting up the Colne Valley in February half term with lanterns and bringing a glow to the village that has become legendary.
Planning is underway for the next Lantern Parade in 2025!
Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival was started 30 years ago by Satellite Arts with Slaithwaite Community Association. The festival now takes place every two years (in the odd year) and has grown and developed into an exciting celebration of creativity, crafts and storytelling.
Now an independent, charitable organisation run by local people, the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival has embraced a role in profiling the uniqueness of Slaithwaite as a place to live, work and visit.
February is a dark time of year; by the end of it we are all ready for a ‘lift’ and the Moonraking Festival provides a welcome diversion from the winter gloom. At its heart is a week of lantern making workshops, where people of all ages create wonderful willow lanterns of all shapes and sizes. This is interwoven with storytelling, music workshops and performances building to the finale day.
Back for 2024 - MOONSHINE
The Moonshine project reaches out to residents in all parts of the village as we aim to create a winding trail, exhibiting illuminated pictures that celebrate our Moonraking heritage and creativity.
A bit of information on Moonshine 2024 to get you started scheming, sketching, cutting and colouring.
For this year's Moonshine, we’re inviting everyone to take their own lead and either create a new illuminated window picture that "tells a story" or re-use a window lantern from previous festivals. These will make a trail across the village and valley for locals and visitors to enjoy on the 16th/17th of February 2024. (Of course you can put your illuminated window picture up before then- we hope to see lots of window art popping up during February half term!)
We'll be putting instruction videos and posts on social media and on our website with a few ways to make your window look beautiful this February half term. Stay tuned!
You can source your own materials, or you can purchase a Moonshine Materials Pack for £5 from these gorgeous businesses in Slawit !
Globe Arts Studio
The Waterside, Slaithwaite (barbers)
Ruddi's Retreat Cafe
The Clay Mill
Ryder & Dutton Estate Agents
Slaithwaite Post Office
Amour Hair and Beauty
Every Cloud Jewellery and Clothing Boutique
and
A New Leaf Bookshop .
Packs are £5 each and all profits support the next full lantern festival. The pack comes with materials and instructions to guide you through your own creative journey.
Just add a visit to our website, perhaps a few of your own materials and even the smallest pinch of your own creative flair and hey presto you'll have a story fit for your window in no time. Great fun for all the family!
(Do get in touch if you want a pack but can’t manage £5- we understand many people are feeling the pinch at the moment and don’t want anyone to miss out on the chance to join in.)
https://www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org.uk/
