The Department of Illumination is ready to light up the night with The Firelight Lantern Festival, a cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music will unfold at the Crystal Palace in Picton.

On Friday, November 3 the Firelight Lantern Festival will be a 19+ evening featuring live music and circus performances. Onstage you’ll find The Soul Motivators: a 9-piece, 3-horn deep funk explosion, with a rough, tough, and soulful flair. Dance the night away with us in the beautiful Crystal Palace! We’ll also be having our first-ever silent auction… housed within an art installation!

Saturday, November 4 sees the return of our beloved Lantern Parade in an all-ages event starting in Benson Park – gather at 6 PM for pre-show performances. The parade will depart at 7 PM and make its way down Main Street to the Crystal Palace, where psych-folk-rock band Beams will take the mainstage.

The Firelight Lantern Festival is known for its epic illuminated art installations in the Crystal Palace and this year is no different, with our artists responding to the year’s theme, “A Feast for Beasts.”

Both evenings will have performances from North Fire Circus, and DJ Ombudsman will be providing the beats to keep the dance floor moving. Both nights are fully licensed, and the food & beverage team from Base31 are putting together an incredible menu. Festival-goers are also invited to dress up in whatever wild and wonderful costume they wish – especially if it’s illuminated!

We invite our audiences to play an active role in the lantern festival by taking part in our community lantern-making workshops. These will be held in the Department of Illumination studio. You’ll be provided with all the materials and instruction necessary to make a lantern for just $10. Workshops take place Oct 14-29, see website for details.

Speaking of participation, we also love it when festival-goers get in the spirit and dress themselves in fabulous costumes and twinkly lights