Nottingham loves Light Night so much that this year’s festival has been extended to a two-date event. For its thirteenth year of dedicated displays of luminosity, there will be over a hundred different activities and performances spanning across Friday 7 - Saturday 8 February...
Old Market Square
When Light Night sends you on a kaleidoscopic trail through Nottingham, there’s never a better place to start than the heart of the city. Nottingham City Council has shaken hands with Nottingham BID and Arts Council England for this year’s eclectic eye-candies that will span the city. Make sure to get yourself down to Old Market Square to see the Council House draped in a 200ft projection of light graffiti to start off your tour of 2020s Light Night; never will a council house look quite this funky.
‘Skate of Nature’ installation + Other Sneinton Market Shenanigans
Touring light night by foot is so old-fashioned, why walk when you can skate? That’s exactly what Skate Nottingham and INSTAR are planning for their collaborative UV-lit takeover of the Sneinton Market Plaza. They’ve been grinding (not on skateboards for once) long and hard for the past few weekends slaving over the designs and production of skateable installations with the help of skatepark builders Opus Skateparks. Nottingham Street Food Club will be taking over the Avenues, Primary Gallery-based Pete Ellis and eco-artist Sarah Turner will host a ‘deep sea’ workshop and Soul and Flare have a sustainable fashion show planned.
Late Night Light Night at Surface Gallery
The Sneinton Market party will round off with the Creative Quarter’s shindig at Surface Gallery. They’ve roped in the help of two up-and-coming Notts bands, Megatrain and Cinema Gold, plus a DJ set from Soul Buggin from 8pm onwards.
A Postcard to the Future
Fancy having your artwork projected for the entire city to see? Enjoy this interactive workshop and live performance experience at The Carousel.
St Mary’s Church
The traditionally candle-lit scenery of St Mary's Church will be the host to an array of electronic extravaganza through the Light Night weekend. Swan Song kicks things off with a performance by Orchestra of Opera North, telling the story of migrating swans with an immersive light show among the trees. Flock carries the aviary theme with an ephemeral display that bounces off a screen of mist that explores themes of togetherness in this tale of migration. If birds aren’t your thing there’s always the light sculptures and projection art to feast your eyes upon backed by the timeless chorus of the choir of St Mary’s. Swan Song: Friday 5-9:30pm/Saturday 5-9:30pm, Flock: Friday 6-10pm
Kiddo Dis-Glow
If the young’uns want their own part in the light show this weekend then bring ‘em down to the Kiddo Dis-Glow at Malt Cross for a glow stick dance party. What a better way to escape the chill of a February afternoon than a non-stop boogie surrounded by enough glow sticks to shake a (glow)stick at while enjoying some roasting hot chocolate on the side. Let’s face it, this is a good time for kids and adults alike. Friday 4-8pm.
Luminous at Debbie Bryan
A two-in-one celebration where the spectacles of Light Night and Chinese New Year collide in lantern-lit matrimony.
Plankton
Plankton are undefeated when it comes to a light show in the natural world and the folk at Enter Edem are putting on an illuminating, interactive installation at the Goosegate in their honour. Enter the brimming micro-ocean and discover this rather untapped sector of the aquatic eco-system with this dazzling performance with playable puppets. Events entirely dedicated to plankton? This is why we love Light Night. Friday 6-6:30 + 8-8:30pm, and Saturday 3-3:45 + 5-5:45pm.
Your Time to Shine
Experience the songs, poems, and writings from a one-off open mic for ArtSpeak’s mature creatives
Ice Skating under the Lights
Ice Skating? DJs? Falling over? Ok maybe that last one is just for us but count us in any way! The National Ice Centre is putting on an absolute corker over the weekend with a number of skating sessions where the lights go down and the music is cranked up. Ever wanted to dance while hurling around a pitch of ice to absolute bangers from the resident DJ? Put your dancing shoes (or skates) on then! Friday 7:30-9:30pm and Saturday 11:00am-5pm.
Illumaphonium
If you’ve ever had the incredibly specific dream of serenading the Robin Hood Statue with a sculpture that can also be played as an instrument through the magic of digital sensors and lights then this may be your one chance to fulfil that fantasy. Inventor Michael Davis has created a visuo-audio experience that hosts hundreds of illuminated chime bars for you to batter about to create some satisfying symphonies which hopefully ‘ol Robin will enjoy.
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