A Lantern Affair will shine a stronger light on multiculturalism at this year’s seasonal festival at Place des Arts.
And the Coquitlam venue has rebranded the celebration to become Reflections: Lantern Making and Storytelling to reflect the change.
Sunday’s event, which is in partnership with the Coquitlam Heritage Society, will feature the usual lantern making, music and historical-themed activities “but we are going even deeper with how we celebrate Coquitlam’s cultural diversity,” said Michael Fera, Place des Arts’ programming and events co-ordinator, noting, “It seems in these very trying times this theme resonates more than ever.”
This fall, First Nations spoken word artist-in-residence Molly Billows worked with Place des Arts students and around the community on how to tell stories about identity and the meaning of home.
Fera said Reflections will include the short spoken-word poems written by more than 400 participants in Billows’ workshops; they’ll be mixed with live music for a theatrical show, between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m.
The entertainers are under the direction of Shelby Simmons with piano accompaniment by Place des Arts teacher Isaac Juarez-Flores.
• The free all-ages event runs from 2 to 5 p.m. at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
