MEMBERS of the Isle of Thanet Arts group and the district council are staging the annual Wishing Lantern parade in Margate on Saturday, December 15. The artists are working with children from seven Margate primary schools to create more than 250 star-shaped lanterns for the procession.

The lanterns will form three ‘boats’ on a journey to the lost island of Lomea - a mythical land that is reputed to have disappeared off the coast of Thanet in the eighth century.

The procession will start at 5.30 p.m. from the Old Town Market Place. It will follow a route from the bottom of the High Street, up to the pedestrian section of the High Street/Centre and Mill Lane. It will eventually finish at Hawley Square with a firework display. The Wishing Star procession has been commissioned as part of the council’s regeneration and development programme.

Musical accompaniment will come from street bands Busker Du and West African drumming and dance group Saneko. There will also be support from Thanet Youth Music’s Junk Chariot. Large illuminated sculpture lanterns produced by students from Hartsdown Technology College will also be on display.

Council deputy leader, Cllr Iris Johnston, said: “The parade is a real community initiative, and I know that the children involved gained enormous satisfaction when they see their work come to fruition. Spectators are always enthralled by the Procession and I hope it becomes a regular fixture on Margate’s events calendar for many years to come. I’m very grateful to the council’s Christina McQuaid and IOTA’s Philip Oldfield for making the procession such an amazing success.”