The allure of dark places lit in interesting ways can inspire imaginations, says the artistic producer of the returning Esquimalt Lantern Festival.
Once a puppeteer entertaining guests in the Gorge Park festival, Jessica Hickman takes the helm when the Township Community Arts Council event returns to Gorge Park on Friday, Sept. 13.
“Everyone loves to be in dark places that are lit really beautifully. You see it time and time again, drawn like a moth to a flame,” she told the Victoria News.
This will be the third year for the arts council hosting, after taking over from a community association that ran it on a smaller scale for the decade previous. Hickman acted as a giant caribou in the previous two years the festival filled a section of Esquimalt Gorge Park.
“It’s really a cozy event that has been growing every year,” she said.
Her previous puppeteering served as part of a giant beautifully lit display in Sherwood Forest.
“Lots of people were in awe of the magic of it,” she said. “You can’t tell from the outside what the experience is going to be when you enter the woods.”
The organization plans to build on that magic this year, expanding to the nearby Japanese Garden.
Broken into two sessions the 6 to 8 p.m. event offers a pre-sunset gathering with live music, roaming puppets, food vendors and music alongside things such as lantern making and face painting.
From 8 to 10 p.m. guests can explore with a lantern through the enchanted forest and magical garden. The trees will be lit with handmade lanterns and lights and feature giant glowing puppets alongside live acoustic music.
For Hickman that means days right now are filled with sorting, cleaning, repairing and modernizing scores of lanterns – many with years of wax layers are now being fitted for LED lights.
“They were all made to hold real flame candles and I can’t even imagine now thousands of lanterns with tea light candles,” she said.
Partnerships are also growing, several local theatre companies with glowing puppets and other objects are on board to perform alongside some of Greater Victoria’s best musicians.
“As people wander through there’s atmosphere. It’s going to be a very theatrical event,” Hickman said.
As the event grows so does the need for volunteers who can register to help online at townshiparts.org.
With parking at a premium, organizers recommend those who can, bike or bus to Gorge Park if possible.
Everyone’s encouraged to bring a lantern, but this year will also include lantern-making session for those without.
It’s also an opportunity to #keepesquimaltweird, Hickman said, encouraging folks to don a costume if they feel comfortable.
“Our theme is ‘Creatures of the Unknown’ … if you have a cape you want to throw on or some cat ears, we’re just celebrating everything that is weird and wonderful.”
