The story behind south Bristol’s biggest community event 

It started out as a tiny parade in a corner of Bedminster 12 years ago but now it’s become the biggest event on south Bristol’s calendar.

With hundreds of school children taking part and thousands coming from all over Bristol and beyond to watch, Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade sees the streets of BS3 brought to life each year in a riot of light and colour in the darkest months of winter.

As the evening draws in one February night, children, parents, artists, volunteers and teachers descend on North Street and beyond, proudly holding hundreds of glowing hand-crafted lanterns aloft, a barrage of musical troupes and laughter filling the air.

Behind the scenes building up to parade night, which this year takes place on Saturday, months of hard work, dedication and fundraising is poured into the event, lovingly coined Bemmy Lanterns.

“It has become a rite of passage for year three pupils in south Bristol to make the lanterns,” Jackie Smith, one in the small army volunteers who makes the community event possible, told Bristol24/7.

“You see older children excited for their younger siblings to get involved. There is this real sense of ownership and pride in taking part.”

Jackie first got involved when her son made lanterns as a pupil at Parson Street Primary in 2011, the year when lead artist Alan May first made the idea a reality. Back then, it was part of a local community theatre, the Acta Centre, which included a small lantern parade as part of a project it was running.

All those years ago, Bemmy Lanterns was a bit more ad hoc, with a shorter route but no road closures in force. Luckily though, Jackie says, over the years “the only most major incident was that we had to let an ambulance in for somebody who had gone into labour”.

Schools involved in the parade on Saturday are Ashton Gate Primary School, Ashton Vale Primary School, Compass Point Primary School, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Victoria Park Primary School, as well as other community groups.

Chair of the parade is Ade Williams, head pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy on Cannon Street and recipient of an MBE in the for his services to the NHS and the community in south Bristol. Ade believes the need for the community to come together has never been more vital.

He said: “For the child’s experience, growing up in a community that is changing a lot, this event is so important.

“For them, there’s a sense of pride, and not just to be celebrated but also to create something is just amazing.”

With Alan retired, a cohort of artists make regular visits to schools in the area to guide them and their teachers in creating the lanterns, which are made with wet strength paper and willow and bamboo.

From giant luminescent fish and a huge, haunting angel to swarms of bees, the mostly seven and eight-year-olds work between November to January to get creative in making small, intricate pieces as well as larger, statement structures.

2023’s parade sees help to bring the designs to life from artist group Lamplighters and Adele Lippiatt (@bristolartjunkie).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoA1KXYsgJG/?hl=en

Bemmy Lanterns takes a huge effort from across the community in south Bristol all year round, requiring a minimum of £26,000 in funds raised locally and a organising team of volunteers and stewards – roles they are continually recruiting for. Sponsors for the vents range from Bedminster BID and Action Greater Bedminster to the Tobacco Factory, Toyville, Rare and Dandara Living.

“I think what makes it special is that it is organised by people who actually live in the community, understand the community and have contacts with the community,” said Jackie.

Despite it attracting thousands to watch, the future of Bemmy Lanterns is by no means secure and the team still need to raise funds to cover their costs for 2023’s event.

“People often don’t realise how much time and effort goes into fundraising because there is n central funding pot.

“We are conscious of the cost of living crisis so we’re very grateful for the support from local businesses – despite what they going through.”

“And honestly, every year, we do ask the question, ‘do we want to really go through this again?’ because I don’t think anybody who is not part of the organising committee can realise what what it involves.”

“But this year, we felt we had to put it on for the children because it’s it’s something for them to look forward to and to reflect back on in the years to come. My son still says it’s amazing: these memories stick with them for for years.”

@bristol247 Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade is back! The largest community project in south Bristol is a celebration of BS3. #bristol #bristol247 #bemmylanterns ♬ original sound – Bristol24/7

Looking to the future, the team want to continue involving schools, make it more diverse and engage more and more children and parts of the community south of the river.

“While our schools are very diverse, our parade is not diverse enough,” explained Ade.

“Some of the children will make lanterns but do not come out on the night to take part. It’s important to us that they all take part in coming out so that all of the community is made visible.”

This year’s parade takes place on Saturday. Live music and street entertainment will begin at a number of spots along the parade route from 4pm. The parade itself is expected to begin at 5pm, lasting about an hour and a half.

To donate to the crowdfunder, visit: www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/bedminster-winter-lantern-parade 

Main photo: Rob Browne

Read next:

• Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade makes a triumphant comeback
• What happened to the minster in Bedminster?
• My Bristol Favourites: Ade Williams

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