Lantern Project

Stony Stratford Lantern Project 2025 – “Santa’s Sweet Shop”

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR 2025 – PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE BOOKING!
There have been major changes to the York House workshops this year. We are no longer able to store the lanterns at York House during the project due to the continued deterioration of the storage room to the rear of the building. We have made the difficult decision that the workshops will be for FRAME-MAKING ONLY and papering of all lanterns will have to take place at home (materials will be provided). Cost is £7.50 per lantern (not per person) and this year’s theme is ‘Santa’s Sweet Shop’.

PLEASE NOTE: we will no longer be using candles to light any of the lanterns. You can use your own battery fairy lights (we will have some for sale at the workshops and kit collection sessions – cash only) or you can use a torch. Sadly there will be no cafe available at the workshops this year.

Lantern making options for 2025 are (please choose the correct ticket type as they are non-transferable):
1) Make your lantern frame(s) at York House and then paper at home – tickets on sale at 8am on Wednesday 01 October from https://wegottickets.com/f/13950
2) Buy a lantern kit and make your lantern(s) at home – tickets on sale at 8am on Wednesday 01 October from https://wegottickets.com/f/13950
3) Make your lantern frame(s) at a school session, complete the frame(s) at York House and then paper at home – see letter in your child’s bookbag for the unique on-line link to buy your lantern/s.

All Lantern-Makers will join together for the annual Lantern Procession through the streets of Stony Stratford to the Market Square, ready for the switching-on of the Christmas Lights on Saturday 29 November.

York House Frame-Making Workshops – this allows your family to attend any of the York House frame-making sessions which are drop-in from 10am til 4pm on Sat 15 & Sun 16 Nov and Sat 22 & Sun 23 Nov. Volunteers will be on hand to help and advise you with your lantern design. Once you have completed your frame you will be given white tissue, glue, a sponge and instructions along with your choice of coloured tissue paper to take home and paper your lantern. Bamboo canes will be provided at York House on Switch-on Day to carry your lantern.

Make-at Home Lantern Kits – for those who prefer to make their lantern/s fully at home. Lantern Kits include full instructions and materials to make a basic lantern plus a bamboo cane and fixings so that you can bring your lantern along to the Lantern Procession on Saturday 29 November. Don’t forget you will need to add battery-powered fairy lights or a torch as candles are not allowed for safety reasons. You will need to collect your lantern kit/s at one of our designated collection sessions at York House: 4pm til 5pm on Sunday 02 November (main hall), 6pm til 7pm on Wednesday 05 November (front car park) and 2pm til 4pm on Sunday 09 November (front car park). If you want to make a larger/more complicated lantern, you can purchase an additional bundle of withies (willow sticks) for a £2 donation. We will also be selling rolls of masking tape for £1 plus a selection of fairy-lights with batteries (cash only).

After-School Frame-Making Workshops – there will be after school frame-making sessions for the families of children attending Russell Street School and SMSG North, you will need to take your lantern frame home between sessions. To book a school session, look out for a letter in your child’s book bag with a unique link. You will also need to attend a workshop at York House (at no extra cost) to finish off your frame and collect your materials to paper at home. NOTE – school tickets are not for a Lantern Kit. Bamboo canes will be provided at York House on Switch-on Day to carry your lantern.

If you have any questions, please email stonylanterns@gmail.com and join our Facebook group Stony Stratford Lantern Project for the latest project news.

Friends of Stony Lanterns 2025

Our fundraising scheme to support local families in need to join in with the project for free and to help fund future projects was first established in 2023 and has helped keep the project afloat during challenging financial times. Once you’ve selected  your lantern ticket/s just click on ‘Friends of Stony Lanterns 2025 – Optional Donation’ before you head for the checkout. Each donation is £5.00 (plus 50p booking fee) but feel free to give multiple donations if you feel able to!

DO YOU NEED OUR HELP? We know that some families are struggling due to the cost of living crisis but we don’t want any local children to miss out on taking part. We will be offering a limited number (one per family) of free lantern workshop spaces on a first come, first served basis. Please email stonylanterns@gmail.com for more information.

On Switch-On Day (Saturday 29 November) all lantern-makers bring your lanterns along and meet at York House from 3.15pm. Lanterns made at the York House Workshops will need to collect their bamboo canes from the Volunteers. If you’ve made your lanterns at home, DON’T FORGET the bamboo cane which was provided with your kit, the Volunteers will be happy to attach it for you if you need help. As darkness falls, the lanterns are lit and the procession leaves at 4.15pm to make its way through the crowd-lined streets of Stony Stratford to the Market Square in time for the switching-on of the Christmas lights at 5pm – magical!

Any questions? Email stonylanterns@gmail.com

School Sessions 2025 – please note that lanterns booked for the school sessions are not kits, all materials are provided at the session and at the follow-up public sessions at York House. 

St Mary & St Giles North Site –there will be an afterschool frame-making session for pupils and their parents/carers only which will be held in the school hall on Thursday 06 November, 3pm til 5pm. If you want to attend this session, you need to buy your lantern/s via the designated link which will be sent via a letter in your child’s bookbag. You will need to join the sessions at York House to finish off your frame and collect materials to paper your lantern at home.

Russell Street School – there will be an afterschool frame-making session for pupils and their parents/carers only which will be held at York House Centre (Main Hall) on Thursday 13 November, 3pm til 5pm. If you want to attend this session, you need to buy your lantern/s via the designated link which will be sent via a letter in your child’s bookbag. You will need to join the sessions at York House to finish off your frame and collect materials to paper your lantern at home.

A BIG thank you to all the Lantern Volunteers; to the Trustees & Staff at York House Centre and to our funders – Stony Stratford Town Council, Stony Stratford Business Association and those who made donations to the Friends of Stony Lanterns 2023.

Join the Stony Stratford Lantern Project Facebook Group for the latest project news.

Photo by kind permission of Safia Ali

REVIEWS OF RECENT LANTERN PROJECTS

Lantern Project 2024 – A Review

Lantern Project 2023 – A Review

Lantern Project 2022 – A Review

Lockdown Lantern Project 2021 – A Review

Lockdown Lantern Project 2020 – A Review

Stony Stratford Lantern Project 2019 – Review