Hundreds of people descended on Gibsons’ Winegarden Park on Saturday for the town’s first Lantern Festival.
“We had a constant stream of people making lanterns from 4 p.m. right until the end, which I did not expect,” said organizer Verna Chan.
“I was overwhelmed.”
The festival acted as a placeholder event for the town’s annual Sea Cavalcade, which was cancelled this year. Chan speculated the open weekend, the event’s family-friendly nature and lots of advertising resulted in a larger-than-expected crowd. Between 750 and 1,000 people participated.
People picnicked on the lawn and gathered at the amphitheatre where the lantern-making workshop took place. On a temporary stage across the park, the Toronto-based Lester McLean Band featuring Michael Occhipinti played to dancers and spectators.
“It had a great vibe, there were so many people there,” Occhipinti told Coast Reporter after the set. Saxophonist Lester McLean said he was “very happy to be part of it and to have our band play as part of a launch.”
Launches don’t come without lessons, however, and for Chan the biggest one was safety. “You want to make sure that everyone is safe… We needed more volunteers to do that.” Chan said about 10 people in reflective vests helped manage the procession as it wound its way along the seawall from Winegarden Park to the gazebo on the government wharf.
The procession started at sundown, and was led by Duane Burnett, adorned with lights and who walked alongside a silver shooting star. “The decorated lanterns all look gorgeous,” he said. “[It’s] something new for Gibsons and the entire Sunshine Coast.”
While some children took part in the procession, which began after 9 p.m., Chan said the earlier August evenings might lend themselves better to the festival if Sea Cavalcade returns, which would make it easier on parents.
Jayme Snyder and her young daughter, both from Gibsons, were among those who stuck it out. Neither attended a lantern festival before. “It was fun,” said Synder’s daughter, who said it took about 10 minutes to make her paper-bag lantern perforated with star-shaped holes and elongated by multi-coloured tassels. Snyder said she appreciated the quieter atmosphere. “It really brought the community together.”
Others sought a deeper meaning. Some brought lanterns as memorials for loved ones who have died.
Not everyone was clear on the purpose of the procession. “I did hear one comment about, ‘Is this supposed to represent something?’” said Chan.
For Chan, the festival represented community.
“That was nice and surprising, that so many people got involved and it became a really good community event. It was exactly what I wanted. I was pretty darn happy about that.”
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