Gainsborough’s Pilgrims Illuminate event this November

Pilgrim Roots Commemoration Receives Arts Council Funding.

Thanks to a grant from Arts Council England, Gainsborough will host its second Illuminate event on 21st November.

West Lindsey District Council have been awarded £15,000 for a second commemorative event to mark the heritage of the Separatists and Pilgrims, some of whom sailed on the Mayflower to America nearly 400 years ago, continuing the countdown to 2020’s anniversary.

Cllr Sheila Bibb, Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee at the council said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to have a town centre lantern parade here in Gainsborough again this year, and look forward to new and exciting developments for our arts-led Illuminate heritage project.

“There will be the opportunity for all to take part, with free lantern-making workshops in the coming weeks for members of the public to join and create their own lanterns with the chance to come and join the parade through the town centre.”

Workshops are also taking place in schools in the area with professional artists who specialise in willow art, lanterns and festivals. Training sessions for the leaders of uniformed groups are also planned, so that more people can take part in the making and parading. This year’s theme is ‘Pilgrim Children’.

Free public workshops will take place at the following locations and times in Gainsborough:

• At the X-Church Expo on Wednesday 24 October from 10am-2pm
• Trinity Arts Centre on Thursday 25 October from 9.30am-12.30pm
• The United Reformed Church on Saturday 10 November from 10am-4pm
• Connexions Community Hub on Saturday 17 November from 10am-4pm.

The event will begin for participants with registration at the United Reformed Church from 5.30pm before a performance involving new dance project ‘The Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400’ at 6pm. A lantern parade through town will follow from 6.30pm, gathering in the grounds of All Saints Parish Church on Wednesday 21st November.

The parade will stop at Gainsborough Old Hall, before moving to the Market Place and finally ending in Marshall’s Yard.

A combination of performances, music, lanterns and artist commissions will create an exciting event for this year’s Illuminate in Gainsborough, which is also supported by Gainsborough Town Council and Bassetlaw Christian Heritage.

As part of the national Mayflower 400 partnership, Illuminate events will be happening across the country during the third week of November, coinciding with Thanksgiving in America.  Places as far apart as Plymouth, Dartmouth, Southwark and Southampton will each stage Illuminate events.

Retford’s parade will be on Tuesday 20 November as part of Bassetlaw Christian Heritage’s ‘Pilgrims Festival’, and Boston – also connected to the Pilgrims’ story – host their parade on Thursday 29 November. It is through collaborative working with Transported in Boston alongside Arts Council England funding that this year’s parade has been made possible. This year will also see an Illuminate event in the Pilgrim village of Scrooby, led by Bassetlaw District Council.

Find out more about Gainsborough’s Pilgrim heritage and West Lindsey’s partnership in the official Mayflower 400 project at www.mayflower400uk.org and www.pilgrimroots.org.

For the latest news on West Lindsey District Council visit: www.west-lindsey.gov.uk

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Photo credits: Electric Egg