Blackburn Festival of Light

Alice Hiley

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Blackburn Festival of Light

17 December 2022

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

blackburn festival of light
Blackburn Festival of Light by Lancashire Telegraph.
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*details provisional

Blackburn Festival of Light is a lantern parade created by and for the whole community. In just five years the festival has gone from a small-scale arts event to a staple in the town’s cultural calendar.

In 2021, Blackburn teamed up with festivals across the North to commission emerging light artists to make a new exhibit, as part of the SHINE programme. Further details about the 2022 instalment will be announced at a later date.

The event has a strong carnival feel. When the parade starts you can take part in the carol singing, or stand back and enjoy an onslaught of entertainment, from fire breathers, jugglers and baton twirlers to drummers on stilts, dancers and gymnasts. Have your face painted and grab your glowsticks – people go all out with their costumes! 

Each year there is an impressive range of lanterns, from soaring owls to growling polar bears. There are animated projections illuminating the city’s buildings, so you can wander round the town and experience a large-scale gallery. There’s plenty of classic festival food to keep you going; warm up with a bag of churros or scoff a hearty burger from one of the stalls. It’s all finished off with a grand fireworks display in the centre of town.

Participation is key – Blackburn Festival of Light is full of workshops for young and old, hosted at The Bureau Centre for the Arts. You can make your own lantern to carry in the parade, or create cut-out cityscapes from paper to wrap around a candle. You can even learn to walk on stilts like the festival’s professional performers. The festival gets diverse communities to come together, from refugee organisations and local primary schools to young carer groups and nearby businesses. Whether you’re a local or from further afield, you’re bound to feel welcome.

Where to go near Blackburn Festival of Light

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Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There's ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and entertainment facilities, making for a great evening out!

Watch the latest film releases and enjoy the industry-leading Sony 4K Digital screens, boasting spectacular picture quality, along with enhanced audio quality courtesy of Dolby 'Profound Sound'. Stepped SuperVue seating means you will never miss a second of the action while VIP seating guarantees you an extra touch of luxury whenever you want to upgrade.

Three of the nine screens showcase the newest 3D releases while Vue Classical brings the latest stage sensations to the big screen, and parents can save as they go with Family Tickets and Kids AM screenings offering great value for money.
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Wen’s

Wen’s is a family owned Chinese restaurant specialising in authentic, home cooked cuisine.

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