Diwali Festival of Lights
Here’s a lovely one for the family calendar. Northampton’s Diwali Winter Festival of Lights is coming back to the Market Square on Saturday 31st October, and this year marks 26 years of the town coming together to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
It falls on the Saturday at the very end of October half term, so if you’re looking for something a bit different to finish off the week, this is a brilliant one to have on your radar. A spectacular parade, live performances, stalls and delicious food, all right in the middle of town. What’s not to love?
Diwali in Northampton: key details
- Date: Saturday 31st October
- Time: 10am to 8pm
- Where: Market Square, Northampton town centre
- Organised by: the Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation (IHWO) Northampton
What’s on at this year’s Diwali festival
The festival runs all day, and the organisers have promised:
- A spectacular parade
- Live stage entertainment
- Stalls and activities
- Cultural food and drink
The full programme and parade timings for this year haven’t been shared yet, so keep an eye on Northampton Town Council’s Diwali page and their social media for the latest updates as the day gets closer.
What to expect if you haven’t been before
To give you a feel for the day, last year’s festival included cultural food stalls, community stalls, henna painting, arts and crafts, saree dressing and performances from local community groups and young people. As it got dark, there was a Diwali lantern parade through the town centre featuring giant puppets, including Harminder the elephant, before everyone gathered back in the Market Square for the switching on of the lights and a fireworks finale, with bhangra music and dancing to finish the night.
This year’s line up may be different, but if the giant illuminated puppets on this year’s poster are anything to go by, the parade is going to be something the kids will remember.
What is Diwali? A quick explainer for the kids
If your little ones are asking questions, Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights. It’s celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world and is all about light winning over darkness and good winning over evil. Families decorate their homes with small clay lamps called diyas, create colourful rangoli patterns, share sweets and enjoy fireworks.
For many Hindus, Diwali remembers the story of Rama and Sita returning home after defeating the demon king Ravana, with people lighting lamps to guide them back. It’s a lovely story to share with the kids before you go, and it makes the lantern parade even more magical when they understand what it’s all about.
Tips for visiting with kids
- Wrap up warm. It’s the end of October and the best bits happen once it gets dark, so layers, hats and gloves are a good idea.
- Plan around the parade. With the festival running until 8pm, you might want to arrive later in the day with younger children so they’ve still got energy for the evening.
- Bring some cash. Handy for food stalls and activities, just in case not everyone takes card.
- It’s also Halloween. If you’ve got trick or treating planned, check the programme once it’s released so you can fit both in.
- Plan your travel. The town centre is likely to be busy, so sort out parking or public transport before you set off.
The details listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official website and event poster. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official Northampton Town Council website before making plans.
If you’re planning the rest of your half term weekend, have a look at my Halloween events and days out for more ideas, and sign up to my free weekly newsletter to get family events like this one sent straight to your inbox every Thursday.
