Lantern Parade to light the way for Trenance Christmas switch-on

The Newquay Lantern Parade and Trenance Cottages Christmas Light Switch-On will return on Friday 21 November from 5.30pm in Trenance Valley.

Organised by Newquay BID, Blystra Arts and Trenance Cottages, the event invites the community to celebrate the start of the festive season with a lantern parade through the lakeside valley.

The parade will set off from Trenance car park at 6pm, arriving at Trenance Cottages for the light switch-on between 6.30pm and 6.45pm, led by Radio Newquay. Entertainment will follow from singer Andy Marshall, while The Garden Café will be serving food, giving families the chance to make an evening of it.

Throughout November, Blystra Arts is working with local schools and families to create willow lanterns for the parade. Community workshops are also taking place, including a drop-in session at the WI Hall on Crantock Street on Saturday 15 November, from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

In 2025, Blystra Arts plan to enhance the parade further by linking it with their Stories from the Station project, a year-long initiative funded by Great Western Railway. The project allows the team to open up workshops to a wider range of community groups, including Youth Art Connect and Age UK, with more to be confirmed. It will also give extra time for collaboration with Treviglas Academy, whose students will help create a five-carriage steam train lantern made from willow, which will feature in the parade through Trenance Valley as part of the project.

The event is funded by Experience Newquay, Coodes Solicitors, Newquay BID, the Cornwall Council Community Chest and Great Western Railway. It forms part of wider efforts to bring the community together, celebrate local creativity and mark the start of the festive season in Newquay.

PRESS PLAY to hear our conversation with Ellen Moule from Blystra Arts about the event...