Regional lantern festivals to feature community art and light shows

Various regional cultural festivals featuring lantern displays and community art are scheduled for upcoming dates.

In Albany, the ‘Carrying the Fire’ event is set for November 7, 2026. This project, a collaboration between FORM and Southern Edge Arts, will feature thousands of handmade lanterns stretching along the coastline from Emu Point to Binalup/Middleton Beach. The artwork incorporates Menang cultural motifs, including banksia, sea stars, and moodjar flowers, to explore themes of resilience and connection to place.

Maitland will host the Maitland Riverlights festival, beginning with a week-long school holiday program from October 6 to October 9. The festivities culminate on October 10 with a lantern flotilla and a light show on the Hunter River. The event includes cultural villages, live performances, and various community activities at locations such as The Levee and the Maitland Regional Art Gallery.