Bury residents celebrated the winter season with a vibrant parade to spread good cheer throughout the town centre.

The first Bury Lantern Parade saw children, families, artists and musicians hold a procession which travelled from The Met, on Market Street to M&S at The Rock yesterday, Sunday. 

Bury Times: Musicians leading the Bury Lantern Parade 2023Musicians leading the Bury Lantern Parade 2023 (Image: Danny Crompton)

The parade featured lantern designs created by children from local schools as well as music and dancing by parade goers.

The afternoon culminated in a magical gathering at Kay Gardens.

Bury Times: Gifts on roller skates at the Bury Lantern Parade 2023Gifts on roller skates at the Bury Lantern Parade 2023 (Image: Danny Crompton)

The theme of the parade is wildlife, with the lanterns and puppetry creating a magical natural takeover of the town centre.

Bury Lantern Parade has been commissioned by Bury Business Improvement District (BID), funded by the businesses of Bury town centre.

Bury Times: A giant bear lantern A giant bear lantern (Image: Newsquest)

Working in partnership with The Met, the event aims to welcome families and communities into the town centre for a wonderful wintry afternoon.

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Bury town centre held its first ever lantern parade last month!

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Ahead of the parade, town centre director Nigel Shields, of Bury BID said: “ The lantern parade is really important because it's bringing together communities and families and it's bringing a change, something new which we hope to do for the next four years and beyond.

Bury Times: A fox lantern joined the Bury Lantern ParadeA fox lantern joined the Bury Lantern Parade (Image: Newsquest)

“The Bury BID has put on a number of events like Comic Con and we’re looking at new events going into 2024.

“We’ve been out to local schools and community groups, I think 10 schools in all and they’ve been helping to design and put the lanterns together.

Bury Times: Children and their families made lanterns for the paradeChildren and their families made lanterns for the parade (Image: Newsquest)

“The Met are fantastic partners making it happen."

Nigel explained that funding for the parade as well as new Christmas lights came from businesses throughout the town centre.

Bury Times: The procession began at The Met on Market Street and went round The RockThe procession began at The Met on Market Street and went round The Rock (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “We’ve also got a number of bands joining us today to bring more of a multi-cultural feel, so its not about Christmas but more about a celebration of the festive period.

“Its also the yearly light switch on for us, we procured new town centre lights that you’ll see as your walking past, and the Bury BID made a commitment that its not just The Rock and Millgate but the whole of Bury town centre.”