Heather’s plea to save Halloween lantern night
FOR the past five years, a lantern parade in a small Levenshulme park has dazzled children and adults alike with luminous and creative designs hanging from the trees.
But this year the event might not be able to go ahead on the usual scale due to funding cuts.
The West Point Lantern Parade aims to bring the community together through the power of art and design. It also just happens to take place on Halloween too.
Heather Skowood, 46, who organises the event each year at West Point Gardens, said the parade has become a tradition with local residents.
“A lot of people show up for it,” said Heather, who is originally from Philadelphia.
“It has become something very important to my community. This is something I’ve always done because I wanted to be part of the community and give something back.”
The parade started after Heather moved to Levenshulme six years ago and wanted to connect with the people in her community.
“The reason this started was that we had only been in this neighbourhood for a year and I wanted to get to know my neighbours,” Heather said.
“Also, being an American, I just happen to love Halloween too.”
Heather said she has now taken to fund-raising online in a bid to ensure this year’s event is able to go ahead as planned.
“I know people will be really disappointed if we don’t do anything at all.”
If she is able to reach her goal of £1,700, the event will feature a samba band, music and performers from Longsight’s Circus House.
However, Heather has said the event will still go ahead regardless of whether they can reach their target, though it will have to be scaleddown quite dramatically.
“It will still happen, but it will just mean we won’t be able to do as much as we want.”
Heather says that the work by her artist partner Claire Eden, who created the central garden in West Point Gardens, would also not be able to be made without donations.
The event features lanterns, usually made from recyclable materials, that are hung up around the park alongside LED lights to create a fun spectacle for families to enjoy.
“Art reaches out to people, it brings people together,” she added.