Community Events in Chichester: A Family Guide to the 2026 Lantern Parade

Chichester’s 2026 lantern parade: the essential details

Chichester City Council’s Lantern Parade and the Mayor’s Proclamation will take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The parade leaves the Council House on North Street at 4:00 p.m. Chichester time. Participants should gather outside the Council House from 3:50 p.m. The route goes to the Market Cross, continues along East Street, and ends in Priory Park. The council expects the event to conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m.; that is an estimate, not a guaranteed finish time.

On the event date, Chichester is on Greenwich Mean Time, GMT (UTC+00:00), so 4:00 p.m. in Chichester is 16:00 UTC. The UK’s clocks go back on October 25, 2026, according to GOV.UK’s clock-change calendar. That change happens the Sunday before the parade, so travelers should use GMT for Saturday’s schedule.

How the procession route works

The starting point is the Council House, North Street, Chichester, PO19 1LQ. From there, the lantern procession heads to Market Cross. The Mayor gives a proclamation there to mark the City Council’s 800th anniversary, followed by a blessing for the city. The parade then travels along East Street to Priory Park. Petworth Town Band and the Mayor’s Party lead the procession, according to the official Chichester City Council event page.

For families, this route creates two different ways to take part. Walking with the procession means joining at the Council House and staying with the group through Market Cross to Priory Park. If a child would find the full walk tiring, consider watching from one point instead. Market Cross is where the proclamation and blessing are scheduled; Priory Park is the procession’s destination. The council has not published a designated viewing map, so ask an event steward about the best place to stand and keep access clear.

Children can join without attending a lantern workshop

Workshop attendance is not a requirement. The council says everyone is welcome to join the parade, including people who did not attend a lantern-making session. Families are encouraged to make a lantern at home and bring it along. A limited number of ready-made lanterns will also be available at the Council House before the procession, so children who did not make one can still participate. Because that supply is limited, bringing a homemade lantern is the more dependable option.

If you plan to use the face-painting table, allow time before the parade: the council lists it from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Lost-child wristbands are available from the Council House portico from 3:30 p.m. These are optional, but they may help families agree on a simple plan before entering a busy event: choose a meeting point, make sure children know which adult to approach, and keep the group together when the parade moves off at 4:00 p.m.

Decide whether to walk, watch, or stay afterward

Joining the full procession is the best fit for families who want the shared lantern experience and are comfortable walking along the published route. Arrive by 3:50 p.m. rather than aiming for the 4:00 p.m. departure; late arrivals may miss the group leaving the Council House. Watching from a single point can be a better choice for families with young children, strollers, or mobility needs. The route is public, but the event page does not provide step-free access details or a separate accessibility plan. Contact the council or ask stewards if you need specific access information.

The parade can also be one part of a longer Halloween visit. The council says Fenwicks Café will serve pizza and hot drinks until 5:30 p.m., while the Spooky Disco at the Guildhall is ticketed and runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. If you want to attend the disco, check its ticket information separately; participation in the parade and entry to a ticketed activity are different plans.

What to confirm before leaving home

• Recheck the City Council event page for any schedule or participation updates.
• Use the local Chichester schedule: Saturday, October 31, 2026, GMT (UTC+00:00); the 4:00 p.m. start is 16:00 UTC.
• Choose whether your family will walk from the Council House to Priory Park or watch at a single point along the route.
• Bring a homemade lantern if possible; ready-made lanterns are limited.
• Treat approximately 4:30 p.m. as the expected finish, and leave flexibility because the council has not assigned an exact end time.

This community event is designed for broad participation, not just for families who attended a workshop. With an early assembly, a clear route, and a lantern prepared in advance, visitors can choose the level of involvement that fits their children and still enjoy the proclamation at Market Cross and the arrival in Priory Park.