This February, Dorking is set to glow with a brand-new community celebration: the inaugural Dorking Festival of Light. Designed to bring warmth and connection to the final weeks of winter, the event will see the town centre transformed by a procession of handmade lanterns on Friday, 20th February.
Organised by Hello Dorking, the festival focuses on creativity and togetherness. “When the nights are still dark and winter feels long, we’re creating an evening that brings people together,” says the Hello Dorking team. “It’s about local groups and residents making something beautiful and lighting up our town when connection matters most.”
The Main Event: Friday, 20th February
The celebration kicks off outside Dorking Halls at 5:30pm. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment and refreshments, including a mobile pizza truck from Monte Forte and hot drinks from the Dorking Halls Café.
At approx 6:15pm, the glowing procession will begin its journey along the High Street. Participants and spectators will make their way toward St Martin’s Church, culminating in a community gathering that celebrates the “heritage and heart” of the town. Further details here.
Making a lantern
We have now run all our community workshops and distributed all lantern kits. We have a family workshop on Friday 20th February from 2 – 5pm at Dorking Halls. All pre-booked spaces are full but there will be some drop in spaces available on a first come first served basis.
Planning Your Evening
We recommend walking into town if you can or taking public transport.
If you have to drive then please do consider car sharing. Parking is recommended at St Martin’s Walk or South Side car parks, which are conveniently located near the end of the route. The event is expected to be busy so please allow plenty of time if you are driving and park considerately. Outside of the town there is parking at the station which is a short walk from the town centre.
The map below shows the procession route in red from Dorking Halls to St Martin’s Church. It will involve walking along the pavements, crossing the High Street via the pelican crossing near Mountain Warehouse, Walking through St Martin’s Walk and into the Churchyard. You will then be guided into St Martin’s Church via the West Doors and will walk up the aisle. You can leave your lantern there for others to view and then come and collect it from late afternoon on Saturday or during the following week.
We will set the procession off in small groups to ensure that everyone can enjoy a leisurely stroll with their lanterns, so please be patient and be advised by our marshals when to go. The walk will involve crossing a few roads so please be vigilant and cross safely. Listen to our marshals so that we can all have a safe and enjoyable evening.
Where to watch from
The lantern procession will wind through the town centre and we can’t wait to see you all lining the route and enjoying yourselves. If you’re planning to watch, these spots are especially good for seeing the procession pass by:
Opposite Dorking Halls by the Thomas Cubitt statue
Outside Knox (wider pavements and good visibility)
Outside the old Post Office opposite Dene Street
St Martin’s Walk, where the procession passes through before heading into the churchyard
A quick safety note while you’re planning your viewing spot:
The roads will remain open, so there will be cars as well as pedestrians moving through town. Please choose a safe place to stand, keep clear of the road, and be mindful of others using the pavements – especially in narrower areas.
If you’re bringing little ones or prams, the wider spots above will be the most comfortable places to watch.
Meeting point and First Aid
We will have a Hello Dorking Gazebo outside Dorking Halls which is where St John Ambulance will be stationed and if you get separated from your group is a good place to meet.
Need a quiet or more accessible space?
If you want a calmer way to enjoy the evening (maybe crowds aren’t your thing or you want a shorter walk), we’ve created a quieter meeting point.
You can gather outside the United Reformed Church (URC) on West Street from 5:45pm, or inside from 5pm where marshals will guide you on a short, level walk to St Martin’s Church to join the final moment of the festival.
Entertainment and Hospitality
We have entertainment around the town at the following points
Dorking Halls – Bloco Do Sol Samba Drumming Band and Ace Circus Stilt Walking and LED Lights
St Martin’s Walk – Rampant Rooster Morris Dancers
St Martin’s Churchyard – The Wild Choir
St Martin’s Church – Music from the church
Refreshments
At Dorking Halls Monteforte Pizza will have a truck serving their excellent Neapolitan Pizza. Both Dorking Halls and the Sports Centre will be open for hot drinks and snacks.
The Christian Centre will also be serving refreshments at the end of the route.
Visitors are encouraged to make a night of it by exploring Dorking’s renowned food and drink scene after the procession.
