After the huge success of last year’s Trees and Tales event, the Newquay Lantern Parade and Trenance Cottages Light Switch-On are back for their second year, bringing festive magic to Trenance Valley on Friday 21 November 2025 from 5:30pm.
This beloved community celebration is organised by Newquay BID, Blystra Arts, and Trenance Cottages, and invites everyone to wrap up warm, grab a lantern, and join a beautiful lakeside parade that kicks off the festive season in true Newquay style.
A Magical Evening in Trenance Valley
Last year’s move from the town centre to Trenance Valley was a resounding success, with record crowds turning out to take part and watch the illuminated procession wind its way through the woods. The stunning lakeside setting added a whole new level of atmosphere, creating a truly enchanting start to the festive season.
This year, the lantern parade will once again set off from Trenance Car Park at 6:00pm, making its way through the valley towards Trenance Cottages. The Light Switch-On, hosted by Radio Newquay, will take place at around 6:30–6:45pm, followed by live entertainment from crooner Andy Marshall. Families can stay on to enjoy food and drinks from The Garden Café, which will be open throughout the evening.
Community Creativity at Its Heart
Throughout November, Blystra Arts will be working with hundreds of local school children and families to create handmade willow lanterns that will light up the night. Every Newquay school will take part, parading their creations through Trenance Valley.
This year’s creative programme has been made possible thanks to support from Experience Newquay (a Cornwall Council-funded project), Coodes Solicitors (main business sponsor), and Newquay BID, who will once again be supporting with parade logistics and management. The Light Switch-On has also been supported by Cornwall Council’s Community Chest Fund.
New for 2025: The “Stories from the Station” Train Lantern
This year, Blystra Arts have gone a step further by linking the parade to their Stories from the Station project, a Great Western Railway-funded initiative celebrating community stories and creativity. Workshops have been extended to include Youth Art Connect, Age UK, and Treviglas Academy, who are building an impressive five-carriage steam train lantern made entirely from willow. This stunning piece will take pride of place in the parade.
Join the Fun – Make Your Own Lantern
You can make your own lantern at the Blystra Arts Community Lantern Workshop at the WI Hall on Crantock Street on Saturday 15 November (10:30am–3:00pm).
It’s a relaxed drop-in session with no need to book. Simply turn up, get creative, and make a lantern to bring along to the parade.
A Community Effort
This year’s event has been made possible thanks to funding from:
- Experience Newquay, part-funded by the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- Coodes Solicitors
- Newquay BID
- Cornwall Council Community Chest Fund
- Great Western Railway
Get Involved
For more information about the parade, light switch-on, or lantern-making workshops, contact Ellen Moule at
[email protected]
Mark your calendars for Friday 21 November and come celebrate Newquay’s community spirit, creativity, and festive sparkle in the heart of Trenance Valley.
