Ulverston Lantern Festival Organisers Look Ahead To 2027
Organisers of the Ulverston Lantern Festival are looking ahead to 2027 and are calling for continued community support to help secure the future of the popular annual event.
The festival returned to Ulverston on September 19, 2026, bringing thousands of people into the town for its famous River of Light procession and fireworks finale. The 2026 event followed the theme “Dusk Till Dawn”, with four separate processions starting from different parts of Ulverston before joining together at County Square.
The lantern processions created a River of Light through the town before continuing towards Ford Park, where the evening concluded with a fireworks display. The festival is run as a community event and is self-funding, with organisers relying on lantern kit sales, donations from spectators and support from local organisations to cover the cost of staging the event.
Organisers say around £10,000 is needed each year to run the festival, making public support an important part of ensuring the event can return. The festival also depends heavily on volunteers, who help organise the processions, manage the event and keep participants and spectators safe.
Organisers have previously stressed that more volunteers are needed if the festival is to continue for future generations. Even a small amount of time from additional volunteers can help spread the workload among the organising team.
Following the 2026 festival, local community information is already encouraging supporters to contribute towards making the 2027 event possible, with fundraising continuing after this year's celebrations. The festival has become an important part of Ulverston's identity, attracting visitors while also bringing together schools, community groups, local businesses and residents.
Its River of Light procession has become one of the town's best-known annual traditions, with handmade lanterns creating a distinctive spectacle through the streets. The event also provides an opportunity for people of different ages to become involved, with lantern-making workshops forming part of the preparations before the main procession.
With the 2026 festival now complete, attention is turning towards the work required to organise another event next year. Organisers are therefore encouraging people who want to see the Ulverston Lantern Festival return in 2027 to support fundraising efforts and consider volunteering. The festival's organisers say continued community involvement will be essential to keeping the event alive and ensuring that Ulverston's River of Light remains a feature of the town's calendar for years to come.
Got a news story or tip to share? Contact our editorial team by emailing news@lakelandpost.co.uk or call us directly on 0333 090 2080.