Banbury holds its first lantern parade over the Winter Solstice

Castle Quay and Banbury BID are running craft workshops for the solstice lantern parade

The winter solstice is marked in Castle Quay, Banbury this year by a stunning community lantern parade.

The shopping centre has teamed up with Banbury BID to celebrate the shortest day of the year with two craft workshops where children can create their own beautiful lanterns.

There will then be a spectacular and moving musical parade where the children can show off their lanterns.

Children are invited to the workshops from 10am - 3pm on Saturday December 14, Friday, December 20 or Saturday, December 21 (the actual solstice day) to create their own beautiful lantern at the craft workshops which will take place at The Imagination Station opposite Tiger at Castle Quay. They are free to participate.

Once complete, children will be able to take their lantern away to enjoy at home. But from 5pm on Sunday, December 22 families are invited back to Castle Quay to celebrate the solstice with live music and festive cheer as they parade their lanterns through Castle Quay and around Banbury.

Lanterns will then be displayed in Castle Quay after the event.

Rebecca Deeley, retail liaison manager at the shopping centre, said: "Parking at Castle Quay costs just £1 all day on Sundays, so it’s the perfect opportunity to finish off any last minute Christmas preparations and get together with family and friends to start the season’s celebrations.

“We wanted to bring the Banbury community together to create a unique and memorable event in the run up to Christmas that everyone can have a hand in. We hope that everyone enjoys making their lanterns and celebrating with us on December 22.”