Adelaide Hills Set to Shine for the 10th Annual Hills Winter Lantern Festival

Echunga, SA – As winter settles over the Adelaide Hills, the tight-knit community of Echunga is preparing to light up the season with one of the region’s most heartwarming traditions: the Hills Winter Lantern Festival. Now in its 10th year, the festival will return on Saturday, June 14, 2025, transforming Echunga Community Park into a glowing hub of artistry, music, and family celebration.

From 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM, thousands are expected to gather under the chilly sky to take part in this free, all-ages event. The highlight of the evening—a dusk lantern parade—will see hundreds of hand-crafted lanterns float through the park in a magical display of colour, light, and community spirit.

A Festival Born from Local Creativity

The Hills Winter Lantern Festival began in 2015 as a grassroots initiative by a group of local artists, educators, and residents who wanted to bring the community together during the colder months. With a strong emphasis on inclusion, sustainability, and creativity, the event was designed not just as a spectacle, but as a platform for hands-on participation.

Workshops, hosted in the weeks leading up to the festival, invite children, families, and schools to craft their own lanterns using natural and sustainable materials—locally sourced willow withies, biodegradable paper tape, and wax candles. This conscious choice to avoid battery-powered lights reinforces the festival’s commitment to tradition and environmental responsibility.

Over the years, the festival has grown from a small local gathering into a beloved regional event. Past festivals have drawn visitors from across South Australia, contributing to both the cultural vibrancy and local economy of the Adelaide Hills.

What to Expect in 2025

This year’s milestone 10th edition promises to be the most enchanting yet. In addition to the parade, visitors can look forward to:

• Live performances by local musicians and choirs
• Fire art installations and a dramatic flaming mural to close the evening
• A variety of food and drink stalls, offering everything from hot chocolates to hearty winter meals
• Children’s activities and roaming performers
• Lantern-making workshops in the weeks leading up to the event

The parade itself is a highlight not to be missed. As twilight descends, lanterns of all shapes and sizes—dragons, stars, animals, and abstract sculptures—come to life, carried by proud creators both young and old. The spectacle is accompanied by live drumming and culminates in a dramatic finale featuring a giant lantern burn, echoing ancient fire festivals that mark the turning of the seasons.

Did You Know?

• Each lantern is lit using a real candle, not LEDs—a deliberate nod to traditional lantern festivals from around the world.
• The event is entirely organized by HWLF Inc., a non-profit group of volunteers and artists who dedicate months of planning each year to make the festival possible.
• More than 30 schools across the Adelaide Hills have participated in lantern-making since the festival’s inception.
• All proceeds raised through donations go directly into keeping the festival free and funding future workshops, equipment, and permits.

Get Involved

Anyone can be part of the festival—whether by crafting a lantern, volunteering on the day, or simply turning up to cheer from the sidelines. Those interested in creating their own lanterns can attend one of several public workshops held at the Echunga Institute. Donations are welcomed online or on the night to ensure the event’s sustainability for years to come.

For more information, updates, or to register for a workshop, visit the official website: www.hwlf.com.au.

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In a world often dominated by fast-paced digital experiences, the Hills Winter Lantern Festival offers something rare—an invitation to slow down, come together, and light up the dark with handmade wonder.