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LAITHWAITE’S now-famous biennial Moonraking Festival will light up the village on Saturday, February 25, following a half-term holiday week of lantern-making workshops, events and rehearsals.

The theme for this year’s festival is mechanical movement. Festival organisers, who have collected wheels, chains and cogs, are offering additional workshops so that participants can make moving lanterns. It is, says lantern workshop artist Rachel Ellis, “an exciting development”.

She added: “Lantern making is great because people of all ages can do it. We create prototypes around the theme for people new to workshops, but many come with their own ideas.”

As well as showcasing lanterns made by members of the public in a parade through Slaithwaite, the festival has received lottery funding to commission lantern sculptures from artists Dave Chadwick and Dave Young.

Gill Bond, festival co-ordinator, says the aim of the festival is to bring the community together. This year she’s looking for budding actors who’d like to be a Moonraking Mechanical and join a troupe of street ‘mummers’ directed by Satellite Arts (see details below).

If you want to be part of the action, then our guide tells you all you need to know. clock takes him to the moon. Tickets are £4 and £6 (under twos free).

The Co-up is hosting a Film and Food Event on Friday, February 24, from 7pm – to book visit co-up.co/events

Lantern making is great because people of all ages can do it

Lane for the moonraking and grand parade. The parade processes along Canal Side, Howgate Road, Bank Gate, Royd Street, Hill Top Road, Crimble Bank and back down Carr Lane, where there will be a firework display.

There’s a fundraising family ceilidh from 8pm to 11pm at the Colne Valley Leisure Centre to round the evening off. Tickets are £5 and £8 on the door (children under five go free). Five venues in the village – Little Bridge, The Commercial, Co-up, The Swan and Shoulder of Mutton – are also hosting music events.