The Laurieton Lantern Parade was the concept of Camden Haven Music Festival Director Alvena Ferguson who employed local artists Claude Teyssier, Margrit Rickenbach, Lucy Pascale and Mary Tyquin to realise her vision.
The Parade was organised by Camden Haven Music Festival Management Committee with input from countless volunteers, including water safety coordinator Charles Troup, a veteran of over 20 Sydney-Hobart and other ocean races. Local boats from oyster punts to runabouts were commandeered into the Parade carrying 16 lanterns, made by various community groups and organisations. The Camden Haven Sea Rescue vessel “Rescue 2” led the Parade carrying a Peace Dove lantern. Small lanterns made by children and their families during the January school holidays decorated the Laurieton Marina which became one of the many vantage points.
Many thousands of people lined the Camden Haven River banks with large crowds at the Laurieton Marina, the Fishermen’s Coop Marina, Dunbogan Bridge, Dunbogan Boatshed Marina and North Haven. Long-time locals say there has never been a bigger crowd in Laurieton for a single event.
