CHILDREN will light the night's sky with a beautiful lantern parade through Worcester city centre which is returning for the first time since the pandemic.

The Starlight Parade is formed of invited students from local schools as well as a team of volunteers and creatives who will adorn the streets of Worcester with handmade lanterns.

It will take place on Saturday, November 25 at 4pm before the annual Christmas light switch-on ceremony in Cathedral Square.

The parade starts from The Hive and will make its way past the central bus station and Mode Nightclub.

Children will then pass the market stalls at Angel Place turning left onto Broad Street before making the final stretch down Worcester High Street and finishing at Cathedral Square.

Stephanie Jones, library manager at The Hive, said “We’re delighted to partner with Worcester BID, Worcester City Council, Crowngate Shopping Centre and Catt Standen to help convene the Starlight Parade and Trail this year.

"We’re extremely excited to see the fantastic lanterns and to celebrate the Christmas Lights switch-on as part of Worcester’s local community.”

At the Christmas lights switch-on there will be lots of family entertainment from 4pm until 7pm.

People can enjoy live music performances from city schools, choirs and appearances from the cast of the Swan Theatre’s Pantomime, Jack and The Beanstalk.

Catt Standen has also produced four lanterns for the Starlight Parade, funded by Worcester BID, which will stand 6 feet tall upon puppeteers.

A window art trail by Worcester BID will accompany the starlit event during November and December, with over 30 local business windows decorated by local artists.

A hidden word game has also been placed around the city’s painted windows to complete whilst you are visiting Worcester city centre.

After the parade, the lanterns will be exhibited at The Hive from Monday, December 27 until Tuesday, January 2, with free admission to all between 8.30am and 10pm.

There will also be multiple Meet the Artist events during December allowing the public to meet artist Catt Standen as she talks about the creation of the lanterns.

For more information on the upcoming parade see the Visit Worcester website.