Arts Derbyshire

27.03.2023

New Mills Festival Lantern Procession – Town decision

New Mills voted at the Town Hall meeting to continue the New Mills Festival Lantern Procession this year with a ticket price of approximately £6 per person to cover the running costs. Thank you to all those who came out in the rain to make your views known.

New Mills Festival Co-ordinator, Kate told the extraordinary story of how the community built something amazing together over the years, and how the pause button had to be hit in 2022.

A lot of conversations with community groups and individuals have taken place this year to find out what people think. From this came four viable options which were put to the community last night for a decision. These were signed as follows (in no particular order):

  • Slow down – community fund raising to bring the Lantern Procession back, not this year, but whenever we’ve made enough money.
  • Toll ahead – the costs of the Lantern Procession are shared by all who attend, making it a ticketed event costing approximately £6 a head. We’d do our best to raise funds in order to be in a position to offer subsidized £1 tickets to the more financially vulnerable in our community.
  • Stop – don’t hold a Lantern Procession
  • Change Lane – a Commercial event running for profit which could hopefully help to fund projects for the town. Ticket pricing could be £13 or more.

The outcome was that a majority of nearly 90% made the decision of “Toll Ahead”. So that’s what the focus will now be; a New Mills Festival Lantern Procession with a ticket price that shares the cost of running it.

We’re going to need volunteers to make it happen, and people to support fund raising which will be used to subsidise tickets for those in financial hardship. So get in touch if you can help.

Relight the Lanterns!

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