A Truro Tradition

Truro's City of Lights festival and street parade was started in 1995 and has taken place every year since. Artist Tony Crosby, one of the co-founders, said he wanted to create a new tradition celebrating the local community. He certainly succeeded, the procession of lanterns made from 'withies' (sticks) and tissue has grown and become more spectacular with each passing year.

Christmas Lights

As well as year six children from local primary schools, community groups, colleges, artists and local businesses collaborate to make the themed lanterns.

The 2011 City of Lights festival and parade takes place On November 16, when Truro will once again light up in spectacular fashion. This year the artists’ giant character lanterns will take inspiration from a wildlife theme. The Christmas lights switch on will take place when the parade pauses for a grand countdown in Boscawen Street. The parade will finish between 8.00pm and 8.30pm.

This panorama shows students from University College Falmouth as they near the end of the procession in Princes Street with one of the three giant lanterns they created for City of Lights 2008 on the theme 'The Light Fantastic'.