A night of magic and spectacle: Spring Awakening 2018

The annual Spring Awakening event is coming up from 6 to 9pm on Friday 7 September at the Cessnock TAFE Campus and everyone is invited to join this celebration of magic and spectacle.

In 2018 we’ll also be taking a moment to celebrate some of our local feathered friends! The Regent Honeyeater is a striking and distinctive, black and yellow honeyeater endemic to our local area. Sadly, its prevalence has diminished dramatically in the last 30 years, with the forests around Cessnock recognised internationally as a key biodiversity area for the critically-endangered species.

This year, as part of Spring Awakening 2018, we’ll be celebrating these beautiful native birds. You’re invited to make your very own Regent Honeyeater mask at Cessnock City Library's Honeyeater Mask Workshop on Wednesday 5 September from 4 to 5pm, just in time for this year’s Spring Awakening Lantern Parade! While this is a free event with all tools and materials provided, due to demand pre-booking is essential - contact the library for more information.

Our local libraries will also be hosting free Lantern Making Workshops. Come along to Cessnock City Library on Monday 3 September from 3:30pm to 5pm; or Kurri Kurri Library on Tuesday 4 September from 3.30 to 5pm. All materials will be supplied and again pre-booking is essential.

If you want to get an early start on decorating your lantern, the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre have some great lantern kits for sale, just waiting to be turned into wondrous creations. Each kit contains a beautiful coloured lantern and light for just $7. If you have your own lantern you can pick up a light for just $2.50.

Our local schools community are on board again this year, with Cessnock West Public School and Koe-nara, Cessnock Schools as Community Centre getting involved. The kids have been getting very creative and working on their lanterns for this year's parade.

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent is encouraging everyone to come along to this family friendly event and to get involved in the lantern parade.

“Spring Awakening continues to get bigger and better each and every year and it is always so wonderful to see local people enjoying themselves at this fantastic community event.”

The Lantern Parade departs from Cessnock Performing Arts Centre and continues in a dazzling procession of light and music via Vincent Street all the way to the TAFE grounds. Don’t forget the parade will leave at 5.30pm sharp!

Use the hashtag #SA18Cessnock to share your photos of the parade on Instagram and Facebook!

Spring Awakening is an initiative of Cessnock City Council, designed and developed by the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre. For further information please contact Cessnock Performing Arts Centre on 4993 4266 or visit www.cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au.  

 8/24/2018