This year's torchlight procession focuses on peace with yourself, each other and future generations

 

(c) Petra Photography

In the year that Valkenswaard celebrates 80 years of liberation, the annual torchlight procession has chosen the theme "Peace, with yourself, each other and future generations." On Christmas Eve, Valkenswaard will be holding the "Torchlight Procession for Tolerance" for the 7th time. The annual procession starts at café de Fantast on Frans van Beststraat. After the Torchlight Procession, the evening continues with the annual Christmas Ball with wonderful live Christmas music by Valkenswaard's warmest musicians.

On Christmas Eve, the torchlight procession traditionally focuses on tolerance. The organization is taking a broad approach to the theme this year. Geerten Linsen: "We must never forget that peace is not something to be taken for granted. We have been working hard on it every year for 80 years. But if you listen to today's conversations, whether they are about politics, a sustainable future or diversity in values, they increasingly and more quickly degenerate into conversations about what we are against, why the other is wrong and what is no longer allowed."

The organization wants to create space for positive stories. By starting a conversation about what is possible, what can be gained in a sustainable world, it expects that parties will find common ground more easily. In the run-up to the Torchlight Procession, and also afterwards, these stories will be collected and shared. Not without ambition Geerten says: "In 2016, Valkenswaard was a shining example for the entire country with the Evening for Tolerance and all the activities surrounding it. We were in the newspaper, appeared on Pauw and Witteman, were on Powned. Residents were proud of each other. We want to unleash that positive energy again."

The Torchlight Procession starts with an atmospheric opening of words and music. This is followed by a joint walk with torches through the village. Afterwards, participants will be treated to soup, a snack, hot mulled wine, coffee and tea at the Fantast. For the children who join in, there are marshmallows to roast above the fire baskets.

Anyone who wants to join in can buy a torch or LED candle from 6:00 PM for 5 euros (including soup, coffee, tea, mulled wine and a snack afterwards). Around nine o'clock, the evening will continue in the cozy Christmas ball inside the Fantast. The Torchlight Procession is an initiative of the "Evening of Tolerance." The initiators organize activities to draw attention to the importance and power of standing together. Christmas in particular is an ideal moment to show as a group that we want to embrace differences and thus connect people, cultures, beliefs and generations.

Will you join in?

Program

18:00 Torches for sale (on site, 5 euros per person including hot chocolate, mulled wine, soup and snack, preferably to be paid in cash)

18:30 Opening of the evening in café de Fantast with the “Ode to Peace” and lots of live music

19:00 Torchlight procession

20:00 A cozy get-together in café de Fantast while enjoying a drink and a snack and live music by the O Denneboom Band.

21:00 Followed by a live program by the Kerstbal organization (also in the Fantast)

More info about the location on www.mooiopdestatie.nl