The 2016 Light Water Drums Festival is on January 23rd from 5:30pm-9pm in Hastings Park. The event is organized by the Hastings North Community Partners Group. The Light Water Drums is a Winter lantern festival celebration of the dark and wet of Vancouver winters and the joy of Hastings Park’s restored natural beauty. The festival combines the theme of light using fire, lanterns, artistic light and installations in the park. Water which is the rain, pools, ponds and the underground stream running through the park, lastly the Drums make the joyful noise of celebrations. Enjoy popcorn and hot chocolate with a mininmum donation of $1 for each item 
“On January 23rd, 2016, gather between 5:30 and 6:00 pm at the NE corner of Hastings and Renfrew to enjoy live entertainment prior to a music-filled lantern procession with Carnival Band and Bloco Energia beginning at 6:00pm. 
After the lantern procession around the Sanctuary at Hastings Park, enjoy popcorn and hot chocolate (minimum $1 donation for each item) while watching an amazing outdoor fire performance set to music by Radiant Heat fire performance troupe. Warm up inside the Garden Auditorium next with lots of fun and interactive activities including Tetsu Taiko Drummers, a drumming circle celebration with Ron Stelting, and CircusWest performance and activities until 9pm. Join us for our free community workshops in January. Kiwassa Neighbourhood House will be hosting our drumming workshops and Hastings Community Centre will host our lantern making workshops. Local schools will be hosting various workshops during school hours and Hastings Community Centre and Kiwassa Neighbourhood House will be hosting workshops during their after-school programs. Everyone can get involved! Remember, this event is rain or shine, so dress for the weather to stay warm and dry! Bring your lanterns, lighted umbrellas and your galoshes. Please note, while we welcome pets on leash during the procession, only service dogs are permitted into the Garden Auditorium.” Key areas on Map:
- A. NE Corner of Renfrew & Hastings: Event starting point (between 5:30 and 6:00pm)
- B. Garden Auditorium: Indoor activities (after lantern procession and fire performance are over) /indoor restroooms
- C. Hastings Room: First aid room and Lost & Found. Green Room for artists, performers & volunteers
If you want to get involved they are always looking for neighbours, friends, local artists and performers to become part of this exciting community event. Everyone can become involved! For information on becoming part of the organizing committee or an event volunteer, please contact info@lightwaterdrums.ca.