Launch the Lights! – All you need to know

All you need to know about the Haverfordwest lantern Parade 2024 from Lantern Collection to Times, Road closures and more.
SPAN Arts invites you to join us for the return of the Lantern parade on the 26th of October . Funded by the UK Government, we are thrilled to be bringing back this beloved event to Haverfordwest for 2024. With the community’s choice of theme, that after a close vote saw local artist Harriet Davies selected with her Boat Lantern to lead this year’s procession, we invite you all to share in the making of individual lanterns and to join us at the final parade.
The Haverfordwest Lantern Parade 2024 will involve the whole community and schools from each ward, with an estimated 500 people carrying lanterns and around 2000 people gathering to watch across the route and join the parade. A giant boat lantern and a Samba band will lead the parade, Cor Pawb choir will be singing in Castle Square and it will end with a fire performance in the Skate Park, by the Pembrokeshire Fire Spinners.
Launch the Lights!
Date:
Saturday October 26
Time:
Lantern bearers gather from 5pm, Parade sets off 6pm
Where:
Haverfordwest, starting at St. Thomas’s Green and ending at the Skate park.


Lanterns:
School groups will be bringing their lanterns with them.
Participants who made them at the Community workshops can collect theirs from the Albany Church Vestry on St. Thomas’s Green from 5pm.
If you don’t want to take your lantern home at the end of the parade, please drop it off at Haverhub on Quay Street.
Watching:
We ask that only people carrying lanterns, and their families gather in St. Thomas’s Green, with spectators lining the route or joining along the way.
Parking:
Pay and Display available at County Hall, Scotchwell , St Thomas Green, Rifleman’s Field, Castle Lake, Perrot road (Maximun 2 hours).


Road closures:
Between 5pm and 7.:30pm the roads below will be closed. Please plan ahead if you are planning to park.
Bush Row, Upper & Lower Market Street: From its junction with St Thomas Green to High Street
High Street: From its junction with Castle Square to its junction with Market Street
Bridge Street : Its whole length
Swan Square : Its whole length
Old Bridge : Swan Square to Riverside Quay
Quay Street: At the junction with High Street to its junction with lane leading towards footbridge.
Advice:
This is an outdoor event. It will be dark, there are slopes, bollards, twists and turns on the route. Please wear appropriate footwear if you are walking with the parade. We will be standing on grass at the Skate park so it could be muddy or slippery
Weather:
Please wear or bring appropriate clothing in case of rain.


Stewards:
There will be SPAN Marshalls and Stewards to help you keep to the route and stay safe. They will all be wearing hi-vis jackets and lanyards.
Dogs:
Due to high numbers of participants expected, please leave dogs at home.
Accessibility:
Please contact info@span-arts.org to discuss your access requirements and options for the parade.
Route map
- Arrows parade walk.
- Red: Road closures
- Blue: Car parks

Click the picture below to open a shareable and printable PDF of the all you need to know guide.
Click the picture above to open a printable PDF of the all you need to know guide.
For more information email info@spanarts.org.uk .
You can also discover more about the parade on social media by searching for #HaverfordwestLanternParade or follow us on Instagram @spanartsnarberth and Facebook at facebook.com/spanarts to get updates, and behind the scenes developments on our artists and contributors as we get ready to set sail.