News and events

Celebrating the year

Published 22 December 2010
Event 21 December 2010

After last year's disappointing cancellation due to bad weather, this year's Burning the Clocks was a huge success.

Same Sky, the Brighton-based community arts charity, invited people to summon the sun, embrace the winter and celebrate the passing year with family and friends with a solstice parade and fireworks show in Brighton.

The event was sponsored by the University of Brighton, and the university's events manager, Hugh Jones, said: "It was a brilliant spectacle and immense fun to take part in."

University staff with their lanterns

The event marked the shortest day and ushered in the new sun, as lantern makers invested their hopes and fears and passed them into a bonfire.

The lantern parade started in the early evening and comprised about 700 participants and attracted 10,000 spectators. Dancers and bands led the parade.

The procession worked its way through the old town before reaching Madeira Drive along the seafront where people gathered to place homemade lanterns onto a bonfire. The parade concluded with fireworks and music.

Annie Carroll, University of Brighton student equality and diversity adviser, said: "It was the first time I've been in the parade and it was great."

Annie Carroll from Student Services at the lantern building workshop

Annie Carroll at the lantern building workshop

University volunteers took part in a Same Sky, Burning the Clocks, workshop.

Jo Lucas said: "When I first saw the Burning the Clocks parade it left a huge impression on me and my children. The atmosphere was almost magical and the lanterns beautiful. When the university became involved with the Same Sky sponsorship I felt really privileged to have the opportunity to participate in actually making one of the larger lanterns and to take part in the parade itself, and I feel lucky to have been chosen on three occasions.

"The parade has become an important and very popular part of Brighton's winter calendar and attracts thousands of spectators to both the parade and fireworks every year, indeed many people believe it is an 'ancient' tradition rather than being only a few years old."

The lantern parade through the city

Katie Warrener said: "The workshop was amazing. The atmosphere was great, the instructions were easy to follow and we ended up with some really good-looking and highly individual pieces which will look great in the parade. The last time I attended, I took my then four-year-old son with me and he had the most amazing time."

Rebecca Wells: "An excellent opportunity to unfurl the creative feathers and get sticky in the studio again. Thanks to the wonderful folks at Same Sky who are always so friendly and inspiring. Great to meet up with uni' friends too."

Poppy Shields said: "Burning the Clocks really is a fantastic experience, and that is just the workshop! The people who work for Same Sky are really nice, friendly and helpful. They really encourage you to make wonderful sculptures, even if you don't feel that confident.

"I have been going to the Burning the Clocks parade since I was very small. It is great fun and really exciting feeling part of something so big and getting involved with everyone.

"The work that Same Sky and the participants do always surprises me. It is so amazing and it gets even better year after year!"

Fireworks ending the event on the beach

To find out more go to www.burningtheclocks.co.uk.