WELCOME TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF EVESHAM WEBSITE.          

This is our new website - we hope you find it useful and interesting.  You can find out when and where we meet and some of what we are doing to support local and international causes.  We will be adding more about our activities, events and new stories as we go along.  

For information about the Lantern Parade, scroll down this page.

Why not come to one of our meetings?  They are a mix of club business, speakers and good fun, and you can be sure of a warm welcome.  Just use the contact form on this site or email our Club Secretary at secretary@eveshamrotaryclub.org.

The Evesham Lantern Parade, Thursday 27^th of November 2025, is coming and will be part of the Tree of Light Switch-on

The Lantern Parade

Join the annual parade, a fun family event prior to Christmas. The parade brings the community together, young and old, parents and children, family and friends. The Lantern Parade is a great spectacle to cheer up the dark winter days encouraging people of all ages to contribute, in whatever way, to an uplifting social event.

Make your own lanterns. Below you will find some instructions how to make lanterns, ranging from easy to more elaborate. Whatever you fancy. You can also join without having a lantern. Just come along and enjoy the event.  You might want to dress up, but you don’t have to. The theme could be ‘medieval’, in line with the biggest events in Evesham. It might be something produced for a school event, a cape, a hat, …. But any theme/style is OK.

All ages are welcome. Dogs are welcome on a short lead. It will be dark, but the paths have illuminated markers. The route is suitable for mobility scooters. The walk is around 30 minutes at a slow pace.

The event is organised as part of the Rotary Tree of Light Switch-on. The TOL project is about remembering loved ones around Christmas. For TOL details, see below.

Participants of the Lantern Parade gather in the town square between 5.30 and 5.45 pm. The Lantern Parade will be led by Simon De Montfort, Prince Edward and their knights. The lanterns will make a beautiful sight as they parade through the park. The EODs singers will make it all even more atmospheric. The parade starts at 5.45 pm, through Abbey Park. The parade will arrive at Workman Bridge around 6.15 pm. The Tree of Light Switch-on event will have just started.

Children and parents with lanterns will walk across the bridge and back again. Singing of carols led by EODs and accompanied by the Avonbank Brass Band. A few very short speeches and the count down for the Tree of Light switch-on, led by the Mayor of Evesham, will start. We hope that after that, everybody will participate in the event with music, drinks and food.

Stewards will guide the parade. But parents/adults are responsible for the children they bring to the event. So please stay together during the parade.

Making lanterns for the Evesham Lantern Parade on 27 November 2025

Welcome to information that will help you make a lantern:  pretty and simple or difficult and amazing - you choose. There are links to YouTube videos that you might find useful.  Happy lantern making!

First of all, NO FLAMES - electric torches and tea-lights only. NO Flying lanterns and NO Drone flying at the event.

Materials: Plastic Milk/water etc. bottles, Thin Paper (light must shine through), Paper lampshades, Paper bags or containers with holes cut in.

If you’re adventurous you can use garden wire or canes plus masking tape to make frames and shapes. Cover with tissue, growers fleece or florist’s tissue. 

Torches

The Range and other stores online have ‘COB’ torches. These are cheap and have good bright light. You can tell them by the yellow spot or patch that makes the light. Battery night lights are good - although not so bright. Christmas tree lights can be good - battery powered of course ! 

Advice

Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect. It will look lovely shining in the dark. Check that materials, paint, or felt tips etc let light through. Think about possible wind and rain when choosing materials.

Information on websites for Simple lantern designs

Lotus flower from a water bottle:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q7I7Uh4g4t8

Lampshades from water bottles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po7tXa-iCWU&t=680s

Painting paper lampshades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrnB1NkYKp0

A paper bag with cutouts: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cYqYx_k2uO

Simple lantern ideas pages: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v7x0jJJwD2lt6HHm6Fwpp7w9iFksofJvxa81vc4LS4U/edit?usp=drive_link

Or go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ef-kxVpJvCSdPtArl12JVc4oaLEn9zUUTKHMpJ-T_zY/edit?usp=sharing  for Gill’s lantern making starter ideas.

You can also cover a hat or jumper with lights ! Be careful about trip hazards from loose ends and do not wrap around your neck !  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRna8XEEr_0

Information on websites for Advanced Lanterns

Lanterns with a cane framework, called a Moon lantern but they’re pyramid shaped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV_aIlyDwR0&t=32s

A really advanced turtle lantern !! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q_bMHLQMG78

Websites for Other Parades - Lots of them with people’s great ideas

Gloucester parade 2017 – amazing  https://youtu.be/iX3kcG9hkVk?si=paV3HZRty452NSN6

Gloucester 2021 also amazing - great collection of lanterns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi_m2lo-cCQ

Bexley parade - some nice ideas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdKNj36u5N4

Stroud 2017  https://youtu.be/whjP5HQcr-Y?si=cVEXgHGUh9eDreyG

Bristol - some truly amazing lanterns!  https://youtu.be/yzaMTQSzOaM?si=HiZGhYJpr_qFnrrn

The Tree of Light (TOL) project

The TOL project has two main purposes:

1. To give people an opportunity to remember loved ones during the Christmas period. To celebrate life of those who passed away, family and friends.
2. To raise funds to support charities and community groups. The project started in 1999, and the Rotary Club of Evesham has raised more than £300,000 since then.

Strings of lights represent the loved ones who are being remembered.

Information about the TOL project can be found at www.therotaryclubofevesham.org.uk and forms to participate can be found at www.eveshamrotaryclub.org

A key event is the switch-on of the lights, starting at 6pm on the 27^th of November. The switch-on creates this iconic image of the Tree of Light at Workman bridge. It is truly the start of the Christmas period. The Lantern Parade plays an important role in this event.

The Battle of Evesham

The battle of Evesham team organises three main events in town. For 2026 these are:

1) Evesham Medieval Market and living history weekend, 16-17 May,

2) The Battle of Evesham Festival, 1-2 August and

3) Evesham Medieval Banquet, 1t October. For more information visit www.battleofevesham.co.uk