Carterton will be lit up at the end of this month at the town's annual lantern festival, followed by the Christmas light switch-on. 

Lanterns will be paraded through the town in a spectacular procession, which will start on Friday, November 27 at 5.15pm.

People holding hand-made lanterns will begin their half-mile walk from Carterton Community College in Upavon Way, down Burford Road to finish at Carterton Town Hall on Alvescot Road, about twenty minutes later.

Spectators are welcome to watch and take part in the event, which is now in its sixth year.

Councillor Lynn Little, mayor of Carterton, said: “It gives me immense pleasure to be involved with the Carterton Lantern Procession which has increased in numbers every year - the creative ideas for the lanterns never cease to amaze me.

“The lantern procession is now a key feature in the Carterton Christmas lights switch on so please come and join in the festivities on November 27 where all the Lanterns will be on parade in the market square.”

  • Start and end points of parade

Last year 350 lanterns lit up the sky through the procession. 

Councillor James Mills, cabinet member for leisure & health at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Over 120 people attended the two free lantern-making workshops held earlier this month and the creativity and scale of the lanterns crafted by residents makes me believe this could be the town’s biggest procession yet. 

“The Carterton Lantern Procession is a great way to welcome in the festive season and I look forward to the community coming together to celebrate the countdown to Christmas.”

The project is being organised and funded by West Oxfordshire District Council, Carterton Town Council, Carterton Community Centre, Green Square Housing, Cottsway Housing and Carterton Lions. The project is also supported by Carterton Community College.