Kendal Torchlight needs to meet fundraising target of £10k

Thousands parade down the streets of Kendal every September for Torchlight. One of the organisers Annette Ritson said it is 'more than just a parade, it is a celebration of our community's resilience and creativity.' 

The organiser said it was 'more than a parade' (Image: Submitted)

The free event needs a large sum of money to fund key factors that help the festival run smoothly such as road closures, lantern workshops, entertainment and safety equipment. Annette described the fundraising process so far as 'tough.' 

A GoFundMe page has set a fundraising target of £10,000 for the festival. 

Women in fancy dress for a previous parade (Image: Submitted)

"Organising such a magnificent event requires immense effort and resources. The dedicated team of volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes are now at a crossroads. With fewer hands-on deck and rising costs, the future of the Kendal Torchlight hangs in the balance. We need more volunteers, more entries, and most importantly, more support from our local community," Annette said. 

The workshops have already started preparing this year's decorations (Image: Submitted)

"Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed the event over the years. If everybody gave a pound, funding would not be an issue anymore," she added. 

Torchlight has become an annual 'tradition' for Kendal (Image: Submitted)

Annette described the fundraising process as 'tough.' However, she said with work that has been going on in the workshop, the festival is already 'on the cusp of being fab' and now it 'really needs people to stand up for it.' 

READ MORE: Kendal Torchlight's first ever drone display lights up the night skies

Schools, care homes and refugee groups are involved in designing the costumes and mascots (Image: Submitted)

Kendal Torchlight has been running since 1970 and is an annual tradition in the town. This year's event is themed around the elements and features refugee groups creating lanterns based on birds from their home countries. Workshops have also been held involving children and elderly people in care homes such as Summerhill. 

The parade has been running since 1970 (Image: Submitted)

The festival changed its name to Kendal Torchlight Gathering in recognition of its 50th anniversary to 'highlight its role as more than just a carnival but a true community event.' 

This year it is motor vehicle-free meaning that lorry floats and cars will not be part of the parade. 2023 featured the first-ever drone display for the procession. 

Visit LINK to donate to the fundraiser.