The 11th Dartford Festival of Light returned to the borough on Friday 18th October. The festival was organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Cohesion Plus. The aim of the festival was to celebrate what binds the communities together in Dartford through the values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality.

Some 2,000 people attended the festival and enjoyed the sights and sounds as musical performances took place on One Bell Corner. The lantern parade was made up 8 local schools, members of the community and performers which was led by the Deputy Mayor Cllr Rosanna Currans, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kelvin Holford and KCC Chairman Cllr Ann Allen.

The parade departed from One Bell Corner, went via Hythe Street and Suffolk Road into the Orchards Shopping Centre, left out on to the High Street and then turned right at the Holy Trinity Church heading back towards Central Park. The festival climaxed with a spectacular free fireworks display finale.

Gurvinder Sandher CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council, “At this moment in time when our nation is so divided it was so heart-warming to see Dartford come together as one and celebrate our annual Festival of Light. I always say that there is more that unites us than divides us and this event is a great of example of the positive impact the arts can have in bringing people together, young or old, faith or no faith and urban or rural. I am very proud of our positive working relationship with Dartford Borough Council and this has allowed the event to grow from strength to strength.”