In every ‘odd’ year our village, Slaithwaite in West Yorkshire, celebrates the village’s Moonraking Legend with a Lantern Festival. In 2021 as we were in COVID Lockdown, instead of a lantern parade around the village, we created the Moonshine Festival and asked residents to create and light an illuminated picture in their windows over 3 evenings, to be enjoyed by local people taking their exercise walk and live video broadcasts.
We supported participation with materials, ideas, on-line workshops and ‘How to’ videos created and delivered by community artists. A network of volunteer street ambassadors liaised with their neighbours to encourage them to take part and supply materials.
Over 450 windows were created across the community, with a further 75 as a fringe event regionally, nationally and abroad, keeping the Moonshine bright until we can once more Rake out the Moon in Slaithwaite.
Moonshine Round-up Video
Click here to see BBC Look North news feature on the project
If you have enjoyed following and participating in the Moonshine Festival 2021 please consider donating to the Just Giving appeal launched by festival supporter Kath Shackleton to raise funds for Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival community events.