A NEW look finale has been organised for this year's Ulverston Lantern Festival with a huge street party planned in the town centre with fireworks lighting up the night sky.

Organisers hope the change will get more of the town's businesses engaged with the event as the crowds remain within the centre for the big finale. The move also addresses concerns expressed last year over the time taken to get crowds in and out of Ford Park.

The festival takes place on September 16 and this year has the theme ‘Outer Space’ which means lantern makers can let their imaginations run riot with spaceships, aliens, planets, stars and ideas inspired by TV and films from Thunderbirds and Dr Who to Star Wars and Star Trek.

Lantern Festival Committee chair Chris Nelson said: “We try to keep the festival fresh and holding the finale in Ulverston seemed a perfect way to spark up the event.

"Ford Park will still be involved with the festival because we are hoping they will be able to provide easier parking for visitors, with arrival and departure times unaffected by the street closures around the town. Safety is our primary concern and we are liaising closely with the police and business owners to ensure the event does not cause any issues.

One of the challenges will be collecting donations from people who turn out in their thousands to see the event. We will be collecting as the parade progresses through the town and we hope to raise the money we need to continue to stage the Festival in the future.

“The Ulverston Lantern Festival is the biggest of its kind in the UK, and is a fantastic family event. The new focus on the town centre will give people more opportunity to see the Lanterns on display around the town, and to chat to the people who have made them.”