On 4 March two magical processions walked through the darkening streets of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. Hundreds of excited children carrying amazing lanterns met up in Southwark Park for music and dancing around the bandstand.

This event originated on Thanksgiving Day in 2016, when St Mary’s Church Rotherhithe held a concert and service to celebrate their historic local link with America. Christopher Jones, Master of the Mayflower, had sailed from here in 1620 and was buried in the churchyard in 1622.

The idea was then developed into a wonderful annual festival, made by and for the people of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. Lantern-making workshops, dance classes, food: all free for everyone.

There was a Covid gap. But this spring the festival was revived with the theme of TREES, in honour of Ada Salter. 

Wes Viola recited his specially commissioned poem about people, trees, Ada and Alfred: ‘Animals Live in My Lungs’, and Sarah Vaughan launched the Salter Centenary.

Read the full story on the Illuminate website.