11:20am Friday 27th November 2009
HUNDREDS of people thronged through Newport last night with the welcomed return of the lantern parade.
They joined hundreds more in John Frost Square for a music event featuring performers exhibiting a wide range of styles.
More than 250 school children from Bettws, Maindee, Pill and St. Woolos took part in the lantern project with the help of Malarky Arts, who helped the children make lanterns used in the parade.
They set off from Riverfront Theatre at 5.30pm grasping their lit laterns, with a variety of mythical creatures, including an ice queen and even a yeti, following them into the city centre.
The children and the creatures were greeted an hour later in John Frost Square with music from Newport Gospel Choir, Côr Casnewydd and samba band 'Batatan'.
Dancers from the GLD School of Dance and cheerleaders the Newport Devils also entertained the crowds.
Mayor Glyn Jarvis thanked sole sponsors Newport Unlimited for allowing the event to return this year.
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