- Tranquility in a Time of Turmoil -
15th annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival

The Secret Lantern Society's 15th annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival celebrates the return of the sun on Sunday, December 21 with evening lantern processions and free community events in six neighbourhoods: Granville Island, Yaletown, Strathcona, Chinatown, the East Side, the West End and Coal Harbour.  Honouring many cultural traditions, the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival illuminates the longest night of the year with a magical celebration of lanterns, singing, drumming, music, fire, dancing – and skating!  Take a meditative walk through one of the three beeswax candle labyrinths of light.

Pre-festival lantern making and drumming workshops are offered to encourage people to participate in this well-loved Vancouver tradition.
For event and volunteer information, visit the festival website at www.secretlantern.org <http://www.secretlantern.org/>

_*15th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival*_
*Sunday December 21, 2008*
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Locations:
Granville Island, Yaletown, Strathcona/Chinatown, East Side/ Commercial Drive, West End, Coal Harbour

www.secretlantern.org <http://www.secretlantern.org/>

_*Eastside/Commercial Drive*_

*LAST MINUTE LANTERN WORKSHOP* (optional)
2256 Parker St.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Drop into this neighbourhood home and make a simple lantern to carry in the procession. In the true spirit of the In The House Festival <http://www.inthehousefestival.com/>, enjoy participatory singing with East Side Enchantment before the procession heads down Parker St. to Britannia in time for the opening ceremony at 6:00pm.

Only $5/lantern

*BRITANNIA COMMUNITY CENTRE*
1661 Napier St.

6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Bring your friends, families and lanterns to celebrate the return of light in the commercial drive neighbourhood. Leave your car at home, come with your lanterns lit and join the procession along Parker St. or choose your own route to the Britannia courtyard for the ceremonial lighting of the amazing Swedish Fire at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy music, songs, hot chocolate, and come explore the Labyrinth we're building out of 700 pure beeswax candles!
*


Volunteer for the Eastside/Commercial Drive Winter Solstice Lantern Festival*
Enjoy solstice by helping with this community celebration! Sign up to serve hot chocolate, lead a procession, set up lantern installations, be a candle-keeper in the Labyrinth of Light or celebrate the longest night by staying late to help clean up.

Volunteers are needed the day-of (Sunday Dec. 21) and day-before (Saturday Dec. 20th)
to help create magic for families in the neighbourhood.

To Volunteer, or for questions,
Contact Basil- Secret Lantern Community Artist Facilitator, at

:  l.basil.mcmahon@gmail.com l.basil.mcmahon@gmail.com>