Lantern Making & Stories from Across Europe

Led by artist Ruth Pigott and joined by the Crafty Coffee Club, as well as artists Dovile Sakalauskaite (Lithuania) and Madara Vimba (Latvia), the evening will combine hands-on creativity with an opportunity to share traditions, memories, and stories connected to the changing seasons across Europe.

The workshop will form part of Boston’s Illuminate celebrations, with participants helping to create beautiful swan lanterns to carry in the town’s winter parade later in November.

Event Details
Date: Monday 17th November 2025
Time: 6pm-8:30pm
Location: Pescod Hall, Pescod Square Shopping Centre, Boston, PE21 6EB

This session is a chance to connect, talk, and celebrate the many Central and Eastern European communities who call Boston home. As participants build their lanterns, conversations will explore seasonal traditions and crafts from across Europe:

• In Latvia, winter solstice, or Ziemassvētki, is celebrated with handmade candles and traditional decorations.
• In Lithuania, families craft intricate straw ornaments and wreaths for Užgavėnės, marking the end of winter and welcoming spring.
• In Poland, Wianki (summer wreaths) are floated on rivers during midsummer celebrations, often decorated with flowers and herbs.
• In Bulgaria, traditional embroidery and woven crafts accompany seasonal festivals, reflecting the rhythms of agricultural and religious life.

These seasonal crafts and celebrations illustrate how communities use creativity to mark the passage of time, celebrate light, and connect with one another, and the workshop invites participants to share their own stories and traditions, helping to bring these rich cultural practices to life in Boston.

The session also aims to shape future arts and crafts opportunities in the town. The Crafty Coffee Club, who regularly host creative activities for local residents, will work with Dovile and Madara to develop new cross-cultural projects, inviting people of all ages to contribute their stories and inspire a new programme for 2026.

All ages and abilities are welcome, and no previous experience is needed

Also check out other Arts events in Boston, Festivals in Boston, Workshops in Boston.