Every year, the community at Kallista Primary School counts down the days to one of the most magical events on their calendar – the Belgrave Lantern Parade. And every year, the excitement radiates from the heart of the hills right up to the tips of the students’ glowing creations.
This year, the school’s much-loved lantern-making workshop, run by the dedicated Parents and Friends group, took flight with a special twist: birds. And not just any birds – brilliant, imaginative, hand-crafted lanterns inspired by the feathered visitors that frequent the school’s leafy grounds.
At the heart of it all was Grade 4 student Olivia, whose vibrant parrot lantern set the theme soaring.
“I tried to make it a parrot by using different colours,” Olivia said.
“I like parrots because they’re colourful, and we see lots of beautiful birds around our school, so we thought that would be a good idea.”
Olivia’s younger brother Jackson, in Grade 1, also tapped into his colourful imagination.
“It’s like a cockatoo, but with other colours. It can fly faster than a motorbike,” he proudly said.
“I liked those colours,” he said simply, when asked about his design choices. For Jackson, last year’s animal-themed lanterns were just as fun, but this year’s colourful birds have captured his imagination.
The love of the parade clearly runs deep in the community – and within families. Eight-year-old Harper, her older brother Jedediah, and her younger brother Huckleberry are all taking part this year with lanterns of their own.
“I like getting there early because then you get to hold up the big sign that says Kallista Primary School,” Harper said.
“I like marching with all my friends and seeing the other cool lanterns go past.”
Jedediah, in Grade 5, took a different route, designing a bold secretary bird. His creativity and curiosity shine just as brightly as the lanterns themselves.
“They squash snakes,” he said.
“They stomp on them and eat them. I think they’re interesting – they have feathers on their heads, and their legs look weird when they’re about to squash the snake.”
Meanwhile, little Huckleberry, who’s in Prep, brought his own playful energy to the occasion.
When asked about his favourite part of the festival, he giggled and said, “Running away from Mum and finding my way back… hiding my way back to Mum.”
His lantern – a colourful parrot in green, red and yellow – will no doubt be proudly paraded in front of his family.
Kallista Primary School’s acting principal, Stuart McLean, couldn’t be prouder of the students and the school’s strong community connection.
“Kallista Primary School has a long tradition of involvement in many local community activities,” Mr McLean said.
“We are all excited to see our students mark the shortest day of the year with their homemade lanterns in the upcoming Belgrave Lantern Parade.”
As the children prepare to carry their glowing creations into the winter night, one thing is certain – this isn’t just a parade. It’s a celebration of creativity, family, and the small but powerful joy of seeing your own handmade lantern light up the street. And for the Kallista Primary School community, it’s a moment of pride that brightens the darkest day of the year.
