Lantern Making Workshops

DATE: 20 Sep, 2025 | TIME: 10am - 12 noon or 1pm - 3pm

Join Wilderland artist Tom Meskell and the Mayo Dark Sky Festival team for a lantern-making workshop for the Dark Sky Festival parade.

During this 2-hour workshop Tom will guide us through designing and making large 3-D lanterns. Participants will learn how to build a framework from locally harvested willow, and construct biodegradable, hand-held lanterns with tissue-paper and paper tape.

This introduction to lantern-making is part of a series of community workshops this Summer & Autumn, where you can develop your lantern-making skills and progress toward designing and making your own multifaceted lanterns.

The workshop is an opportunity to chat with Tom about The Night Hares, his Wilderland project to create a large bespoke lantern sculpture of two boxing hares forming a 14ft tall archway - the gateway to the Dark Sky Festival lantern parade on 2 November.

The lanterns we’ll make will be used in this year’s parade as part of Tom’s collaborative public artwork, and workshop participants are invited to return for the festival to become part of this evening event, where Tom will be unveiling his new sculpture.

You can also meet the Mayo Dark Sky Park team and learn about protecting our night skies and County Mayo’s progress toward becoming a Dark Sky Reserve.

FREE workshop

BOOKING IS REQUIRED. - book your place now - see Eventbrite links below.

Places limited.

All materials provided.

Please wear old clothes, or aprons can be provided if needed.

Adults only.

To book MORNING session, visit https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/lantern-making-workshop-registration-1695452326549

To book AFTERNOON session, visit https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/lantern-making-workshop-registration-1695693668409