The Art Kitchen 2026
A free weekly drop-in for artistic expression, healthy snacks and feel-good community vibes.
Macaulay Village Park
The Art Kitchen is a free weekly drop-in artmaking group at Macaulay Village Park on London Avenue, Picton (The Heights) every Monday from 4-6 PM until the end of September. Creative expression, healthy snacks and feel-good community vibes. Plus free books from County Kids Read! Bring a creative project to work on or make use of our art supplies. Don’t know what to work on? Our team of artists are happy to help guide you through a project. This is an all-ages group, kids and teens most welcome!
Supported by
MAKE A LANTERN
Making a lantern is fun and creative, and is suitable for most ages and skill levels
Join us in our studio for a lantern-making workshop! Making a lantern is fun and creative, and is suitable for most ages and skill levels, although younger ones will need assistance. Your lantern can be as simple or as complex as you wish, but it’s best to budget at least a few hours’ time to make one. No need to pre-register, just drop in when you wish on one of the following dates!
2026 Workshops:
October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 & Nov 1
10 am - 5 pm
We are located in the lower level of The Armoury, 206 Main St, Picton, all the way at the end of the hall. Please park on Main Street or the Mary Street parking lot.
The price is $15 + HST per lantern and we’ll provide you with all materials and instruction. You can also buy a lantern kit from us if you’d like to make one at home.
Can’t make it to a workshop? Maybe you’re coming from out of town? We’ve made some tutorials below so you can make a lantern at home with readily-available materials. There are lots of other types of lanterns, too - the only kind we don’t like are sky lanterns - they are polluting and a fire hazard.
Make sure to display your lantern in the lantern gallery when you arrive at the Crystal Palace!
Firelight Lantern Festival 2026
A cherished Prince Edward County tradition. Two magical evenings of arts and music, November 6 & 7, 2026.
14th annual Firelight Lantern Festival
November 6 & 7, 2026 ~ Crystal Palace, Picton
The Department of Illumination lights up the night with The Firelight Lantern Festival, a cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music will unfold at the Crystal Palace in Picton, Ontario. November 6 & 7, 2026. Friday night’s musical headliner is Grievous Angels and Saturday night’s headliner will be Cue The Funk! Save the date!
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2026 ~ 7PM to Midnight
GET YOUR ELBOWS UP WITH HEADLINERS THE GRIEVOUS ANGELS
Ages 19+ - Join us for the art party of the year!
Headliners are alternative Country band The Grievous Angels. Engage with installations from DOI artists, an illuminated performance from North Fire Circus, and as always, a few creative surprises throughout the evening.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2026 ~ 6 to 11PM
Headliners are hometown heroes Cue the Funk
The outdoor portions of the festival are FREE, but please consider dropping a donation into one of our donation boxes to support the festival.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6PM - Gather at Benson Park. Giant puppets, handmade lanterns and a performance by The Aurora Borealis Community Choir at 6:30. Dress warmly!
7PM SHARP - Community Procession departs towards the Crystal Palace accompanied by Spencer Evans & the Goat Steppers. Doors open at the Crystal Palace at 7PM in case you don’t want to or are unable to do the parade. DJ Ombudsman and DJ Balso will be spinning tunes while you take in the art installations made by Department of Illumination artists!
7:30-8:30PM - Kids craft inside the Crystal Palace with Sharon Hart
7:40PM - Fire show by North Fire Circus outside Crystal Palace
8:30-10PM - Cue the Funk - Main Stage Crystal Palace. Cue the Funk are a 9-piece, PEC and Belleville-based funk band, bringing the best, good-time-ready, and authentic live dance music to the party. Their love of funk, disco, soul and hip-hop grooves will keep the dancers burning up the floor all night long!
WHAT TO WEAR: Dress up in whatever wild and wonderful costume you wish – especially if it’s illuminated!
WHAT TO BRING: A lantern! Check back in September for a schedule of our lantern making workshops, or get on of our lantern kits, we will also have a limited number of handmade lanterns for sale at Kelly’s Shop just in advance of the festival.
EAT & DRINK: Both evenings are licensed inside the Crystal Palace; bar service by County Cider Co. and Kaleidoscope Catering serving from their food truck all night long.
PLEASE DONATE: The Lantern Parade and outdoor performances are all FREE, however donations are greatly appreciated and help keep this event going!
TICKETS
Available for purchase October 17
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
TICKETS FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6 (19+) - All tickets just $20 (HST inc). Buy wristbands at Kelly’s Shop (cash preferred - 197 Main St. Picton). Tickets available at the door while they last; no online tickets available.
TICKETS FOR SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7 - Adults $25, kids $5. Buy wristbands at Kelly’s Shop (cash preferred - 197 Main St. Picton). Saturday tickets online/at door: $30 adults, $10 kids. Watch here for a link for online tickets.
The Firelight Lantern Festival draws inspiration from traditions of many lantern festivals throughout the world which use light as a symbol to bring people together. The timing of our festival in mid-November coincides with the European tradition of Martinmas which originated in France in honour of St. Martin, a friend of children and patron of the poor. Martinmas is celebrated throughout Europe, its signature being children’s lantern processions. As fall ends and the darkness of winter descends upon us it is easy to feel isolated, especially living in a rural community. Our festival acts as a beacon to encourage our residents, both adults and children, to conjure their own light, bringing it into their hearts and homes to sustain them through the darkness. Making a lantern is a literal application of this metaphor, but in gathering people together to make lanterns in town halls, schools and living rooms, our camaraderie grows and we feel the warm glow of making beautiful things with our hands alongside friends and neighbours.
The 5th Annual 10x10 Show (2026)
The biggest show of small art!
The biggest show of small art in the County Returns for the fifth year! The 10 x 10 art show and fundraiser takes place at the County Arts Lab in the Armoury, from Thursday November 19th until November 29. All works are for sale for $110 plus HST. Sales are divided between the DOI ($60), County Arts ($20) and artists may receive $30 or donate their portion to the DOI.
If you would like to make a piece for inclusion in the exhibition, panels are currently available for purchase at our studio on the lower level of the Armoury building, 206 Main St. W. Picton, Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 and 4, or by chance or appointment. If you need to make an appointment to purchase a panel, please contact hri@deptofillumination.org
