ST JOHN'S LANTERN FESTIVAL 2026
THIS YEAR WE ARE HOSTING OUR FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS LANTERN FESTIVAL!
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December at St John’s Church, Merrow.
We are going to fill the church with lanterns and invite the whole community into church over the weekend, to spend time and enjoying walking around surrounded by the beautiful lights and lantern designs!
There will be refreshements and, with the larger lanterns, a chance to vote for your favourite!
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO TAKE PART THIS YEAR (details below)
and entries are open to everyone; families, individuals, local groups, schools and businesses.
The Festival will run from Friday 11th December to Sunday 13th December - with people entering a "Free Standing Lantern" dropping them off on Thursday 10th December. Opening times below:
Set Up: Thursday 10th December from 12:00 till 18:00
Festival Open to the Public for viewing and voting:
Friday 11th December 9:00-18:00
Saturday 12th December 9:00-18:00
Sunday 13th December 11:00-16:00 with prize giving
Whether you spend weeks creating something new or simply have a favourite lantern at home that you'd love to share, we'd love to see it lighting up our church this Christmas. The festival is FREE for all visitors but there will be a donation point in church if people would like to make a contribution.
Any fund raised during the festival will go towards to continued work of St John's and it's supported charities.
MAKE A HANGING PAPER LANTERNS
✨Help us fill the church with light!
This is a simple and fun way for children, families,
schools, groups and children’s groups to take part
in our Christmas Lantern Festival.
Download our paper lantern template (click below), decorate it however you like and return it to us before the festival.
We’ll do the rest — hanging your lantern amongst hundreds of twinkling fairy lights between the pillars of the church.
✨ How to take part:
1- Download and print the lantern template.
(Click here for step by step Lantern Instructions)
2- Decorate your lantern — be as creative as you like!
3- Write your name or group name on the back.
4- Drop your finished lantern off at the Church Centre by Thursday 10th December.
5- We’ll hang it in the church for everyone to enjoy!
This is not a competition —
it’s a chance for everyone to add their own little light
to our Christmas celebration.
Open to everyone but suitable for individuals, families, schools,
children’s groups and community groups.
FREE TO ENTER
CREATE OR DISPLAY A FREE STANDING LANTERN
✨Could your lantern be the one everyone votes for?
Your lantern can be something you’ve made yourself,
something the children have created, a beautiful lantern you already own, or something you’ve spotted that you think
people would enjoy seeing. We want to fill the church
with all sorts of wonderful lanterns!
Visitors to the festival will be invited to walk around the church and vote for their favourite free standing lantern.
✨ The rules are simple:
1- Your lantern must be freestanding — it needs to stand securely on its own.
2- It must be no deeper than 40cm to fit on our display boards.
3- You must provide a battery-powered light to go inside it
(e.g. a battery tealight). No real candles or naked flames.
4- Your lantern needs to be delivered to
St John's Church on Thursday 10th December You can drop it in anytime from 12:00-18:00 and we will add it to the display.
Your lantern can be beautiful, traditional, unusual or completely bonkers and if it is Christmas themed, even better!
Open to everyone — individuals, families, groups, businesses, schools and community organisations. This is a competetion!
FREE TO ENTER
