Aldgate in Winter Festival returns for its seventh year!

Join us on Friday 8th December in Aldgate Square for a jam-packed evening of music, dance, light, and celebration.

This year will see the return of everyone’s favourites including the Lantern Parade, live performances on The Aldgate Stage, Community Feast, creative workshops and more. The Aldgate in Winter Festival remains one made for and by the community, and we at Aldgate Connect BID feel very privileged to have such an amazing and enthusiastic community around us to bring the festival back to life in 2023!

Get involved in the festival fun and keep up to date on the latest activities through our Instagram and Twitter channels: @AldgateConnect #AldgateinWinter

Event Programme

Friday 8th December 2023, 3:30-7:30pm
Aldgate Square

Join us in Aldgate Square for the return of Aldgate in Winter Festival. A fantastic programme of music, dance, and performance will kickstart at 3:30pm, before the return of the Lantern Parade at 5:00-6:00pm and the Community Feast at 6:00-7:00pm outside of The Aldgate Tap. Don’t forget that our Creative Workshops for lantern making and postcard decorating are running from 12:00-5:00pm.

Download the full event programme below and explore all the incredible activities taking place throughout the festival!

Make your own Lantern!

Aldgate in Winter Festival and the Lantern Parade returns on Fri 8^th Dec – why not create your own paper lantern at home to display in the parade! With thanks to Mr. Roe at The Aldgate School, below is a tutorial on how to make your own. You can collect your free lantern pack from one of our partner venues.

Have a large group? You can contact alice@lacuna-projects.com for a special order.

Partner Venues: Saint Botolph without Aldgate (Monday – Thursday), Portsoken Community Centre, Artizan Street Library & Community Centre.

Postcards from Aldgate

As part of this year’s Aldgate in Winter Festival, we’re launching Postcards from Aldgate, a project that seeks to connect the local community through lovingly designed postcards and written messages, distributed to the residents of Aldgate.

Join us in free creative workshops on Friday 8th December (festival day!) drop in between 12-5pm  and Tuesday 12th December lunchtime book in workshop and design your own postcard to send to a local resident. Or you can pick up a blank postcard from St Botolph without Aldgate and follow our step-by-step guide!

Postcards from Aldgate will be exhibited through a projection in Mallon Gardens from 8-14th January 2024.

Let’s have fun and spread some cheer this winter!

Festival FAQs

Looking to join us for the Aldgate in Winter Festival? Read our festival FAQs to help you prepare for the evening.