Fairytale theme for Midwinter Carnival and lanterns

AS THE longest night approaches, the organiser’s of Dunedin’s Midwinter Carnival say the procession of lanterns will wend its way through the city streets on a new route this year.

The carnival will take place on June 30, with the theme ‘‘A winter tale’’, bringing together characters and creatures from different fairy tales.

For the first time the pro cession will travel from First Church, down Moray Pl, up Stuart St and around the Octagon, before returning to First Church via Princes St.

Event manager Keir Russell said the route was longer and was intended to give people a better view of the carnival creations.

‘‘Given the annual success of the event, routinely attracting up to 20,000 people, it felt like we had outgrown the Octagon.’’

Creating it was a ‘‘complex and technical’’ process, and had become possible with support from the Dunedin City Council and Dunedin Charitable Trust.

Workshop bookings can be made through the Midwinter Carnival website.

Lanternmaking workshops will be held on the three weekends leading up to the Midwinter Carnival event and the lanterns made will reflect the theme.

Event publicist Jordan Dickson said it was a ‘‘great opportunity to participate in the Midwinter Carnival’’ by making smaller lanterns.

‘‘The cornerpieces of the carnival procession are giant lanterns which are created by our art team and workshop assistants,’’ he said.

In previous years they had included a unicorn and a whale.

People were encouraged to dress in costume — but he suggested they dress warmly.