Moon Lantern Festival continues to reinvent age old community celebration!
This local celebration of an ancient traditional Chinese and Vietnamese ritual is held each year at the Richmond Housing Estate to the delight of thousands. The Moon Lantern Festival has proved over the years to be a model of community cultural development and has found a place in the hearts of the 6,000 plus people who come together each year at this colourful event to celebrate and commune with their families and their neighbours, both within the estate and in the wider community.
Liss Gabb, Artistic Director of the Festival, says “On a recent trip to Vietnam I found that many of the Moon Lantern traditions are being eroded by the recent development of consumerist culture, so the Richmond Moon Lantern Festival is helping to both preserve and reinvent the ancient traditions of this age old harvest celebration. This year we will focus on creating lanterns and installations out of recycled materials that are associated with consumerism and the age of disposable products. We’re very lucky to have artist Amanda King, renowned festival and large scale installation artist directing the Lantern Parade and lantern making workshops.”
The Moon Lantern Festival is free and open to all members of the public. The day’s activities begin at 3pm and include the free lantern making workshops and activities for kids, followed at 6pm by the famously colourful and luminous lantern lighting and parade. This ritualised walk for all ages will pass a series of spectacular installations as it weaves its way around the Richmond estate at dusk. Multicultural food will be served all day, followed by a fantastic hip hop finale featuring African and Asian dance groups strutting their stuff and concluding with a spectacular fireworks display!
Moon Lantern Festival 2007 details:
Saturday 22 September, 3pm – 8pm, free
Richmond Housing Estate, Cnr Highett and Lennox Streets, Richmond
Melways 2G K3, Public transport: Train to West Richmond or North Richmond; tram 23, 24, 42, 109 to corner Lennox Street
All members of the public are welcome!
For interviews with Artistic Director Lis Gabb or Artist Amanda King or for photos please ring Karen Conrad Publicity on 0400 527 365 or email kcpublicity@optusnet.com.au
See you there!
xKaren