Here is your Outdoor Arts roundup – find out what’s happening over the next few weeks…

Ongoing…

Middlesbrough | Until 3 Dec | Nightfall is a magical outdoor event produced by Stellar Projects for families at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough with a trail of colourful and engaging light artworks complemented by music, storytelling and performance. As the trail comes to an end, visitors enter a dwelling space where they can listen to live music, participate in hands-on workshop activities, take a break and share some warming refreshments with their friends and family.

Doncaster | Until 3 Dec |  This year Doncaster Festival of Light (Right Up Our Street) will showcase three artworks from Universal Everything inside the Minster of St George. For the opening weekend only there will be additional artworks on the grounds of the Minster.

Midlands | Until 9 Dec | Festive Fabuloso is full of festive fun, seasonal silliness and merry mayhem. With performances by local dance groups and choirs alongside street theatre, illuminations and lights as well as the amazing Fabuloso Organ and a silent disco, the event is designed to spread some seasonal joy and light across the Wolds!

  • Spilsby | Town Centre – Saturday 2 December 12-5pm, as part of Spilsby Christmas Lights Switch On
  • Louth | Cornmarket – Thursday 7 December, 4 – 7pm
  • Horncastle | Market Place – Friday 8 December, 4 – 7pm
  • Alford | Market Place – Saturday 9 December, 4 – 7pm

Bolton | Until 9 Dec | Put Big Light On is a light festival where you’ll get to experience the mysterious Northern Lights over Victoria Square, see the moon up close and immerse yourself in a world of colourful and interactive artwork. There will be installations created by artists from around the world including Borealis by Dan Acher, Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram, Stringed by Gijs Van Boon, Sound Intervention, Projector Bikes by Dan Fox Sound and Evanescent by Atelier Sisu, alongside performances by The Show Globe, Thingumajig Theatre, Artemis Productions, The Vortexes and Worldbeaters. 

Horsham | Until 21 Dec | Leonardslee Illuminated – produced by Robin Morley, walk through the beautiful grounds of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens as they come to life with spellbinding illuminations, projections and interactive installations. Experience the gardens awash with light, sound, and colour and feast on wonderful seasonal food and drink.

Knutsford | Until 23 Dec | Yuletide is an incredible glittering adventure produced by Wild Rumpus at Tatton Park Gardens this Christmas – fall into a world of folklore, festive tradition and rituals as the characters and creatures from winter myths and stories come to life! Expect an incredible illuminated trail with winter witch goddesses and shapeshifting snow hares, dance to wild folk bands, crown your family’s ‘Lord of Misrule’ and gather round the fire for wondrous tales.

Scarborough | Until 23 Dec | Scarborough Lights is the first event in The Scarborough Fair programme and will see the whole town sparkle and shine from 15 November through to 23 December, with many free light displays to enjoy. The event launches with a fabulous drone display over the stunning Scarborough Castle and there will be a brand-new winter lights trail that will see Peasholm Park illuminated like never before.

Llanarthne | Until 24 Dec | Luminate National Botanic Garden of Wales is a spectacular illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, to delight and enthral your senses returning to National Botanic Garden of Wales this winter!

Norfolk | Until 24 Dec | Luminate Sandringham nestled deep within Sandringham Estate, as darkness descends, join them on their enchanting journey, as they weave a captivating light trail through the Royal Parkland at Sandringham.

Greater Manchester | Until 30 Dec | RHS Garden Bridgewater Bring all the family for a magical evening, where the garden will be filled with breathtaking illuminations lighting your way on the spectacular Glow trail, a stunning halo light show by Jago Juggling Arts, as they create mind-blowing effects that the whole family will love and magnificent trees and shrubs bathed in a spectrum of light.

Wales | Until 31 Dec | Luminate Wales returns to Margam Country Park and Castle this Winter! This fun, illuminated trail is filled with installations that will delight and enthral your senses.

Chester Zoo | Until 31 Dec | Lanterns and Light – bigger, better and brighter than ever – you will discover never-seen-before light and sound experiences that will surround you in festive magic.

Hampshire | Until 31 Dec | Light Up Trails is set to transform Sir Harold Hillier Gardens yet again, you’ll find spellbinding lasers in Himalayan Valley, a multi-sensory, spectacular light show around the pond and a mirrored world that will enliven the senses. The shimmering Winter Wonderland presents the perfect opportunity to snap a selfie with giant illuminated reindeer, snowdrops and icicles.

Coventry | Until 2 Jan | Luminate Coombe is a great, illuminated trail, full of excitements and curiosities. Immerse yourself in our mesmerising mile-long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music.

Birmingham | Until 2 Jan | Luminate Birmingham will take you on an enchanting journey along a captivating light trail through the stunning, historic grounds of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Milton Keynes | Until 25 Feb | Land of Lights South takes place in Milton Keynes, with 12 incredible worlds inspired by legendary fairy tales and iconic characters. From Peter Pan to Gulliver’s Travels, light up your imagination this winter with spectacular lantern displays.

New This Month…

Stafford | 1-24 Dec | Head to Luminate Shugborough this December for an amazing after-dark light trail through the Shugborough Estate grounds. A timeless experience to be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.

Saltaire | 1 Dec-1 Jan | This year, the Saltaire Living Advent Calendar has 56 windows that will open in the run-up to Christmas, with traditional and modern festive scenes, quirky characters and tales influenced by Saltaire, culture, and the window creators’ own lives and experiences – often with a good sprinkling of festive humour!

Various Locations | 1 Dec-1 Jan | ‘Christmas at…’ is back with a brand new light trail, bringing colour, lights and interactive play as you immerse yourself in a world of seasonal sparkle and festive cheer across different festive locations across England:

Monmouth | 1 Dec | The Monmouth Lantern Parade illuminates the streets of Monmouth town – there’ll be live entertainment until 8pm, a chance to meet Father Christmas, lantern workshops and a market at the Shire Hall.

Wolverhampton | 1-24 Dec | Take all the family along to Luminate Wolverhampton this December for a fun festive evening exploring the incredible illuminated trail through West Park in Wolverhampton.

Exmouth | 2 Dec | Exmouth Winter Festival’s theme this year is ‘Fire and Ice’! Visit The Strand for the Christmas Tree light switch on, and celebrate the start of the festive season with choirs, walkabout entertainment, late night shopping, the lantern parade and a fire show!

Reading | 2 Dec | Get ready for GLOW Reading Lantern Parade starting outside Blue Collar Corner and ending in Forbury Gardens with a fantastic light and music show.

Caerphilly | 2 Dec | Join in the fun at the River Of Light Lantern Parade, a fabulous festive parade in Caerphilly Town Centre, followed by a spectacular fireworks display above the skies of Caerphilly Castle!

London | 2 Dec-2 Jan | The Luminaze is a brand new art installation at Wembley Park this Winter – a reflective, light-based maze that will stun visitors of all ages. At the centre of the maze visitors can expect to discover a stunning, four-meter-tall sculpture The Hourglass featuring the new 3D show ‘We love this place’. Created in collaboration with artists Cristina Ottonello and Jo Paul and light wizards Illuminos. Produced by Emergency Exit Arts and supported by Wembley Park.

Salford Quays | 7-10 Dec | Lightwaves invites you to explore a trail of dramatic light art installations that animate and transform the urban waterside environment as part of the Quays Culture Programme. Visitors of all ages can enjoy illuminated works from established as well as emerging artists, local and national, bringing a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful. Includes work from Walk the Plank.

Aldgate | 8 Dec | Aldgate Winter Festival returns for its seventh year! This year will see the return of everyone’s favourites such as the lantern parade, live performances on The Aldgate Stage, The Community Feast, creative workshops and more. The Aldgate in Winter Festival remains one made for and by the community, organised by Aldgate Connect BID.

Ashbourne | 8 Dec | Ashbourne Lantern Spectacular is an annual lantern parade which will be led by drum theatre group, Worldbeaters, with breath-taking routines, pulsating rhythms and an amazing light show all of their own. Then there’ll be more entertainment, street performers and several other surprises to add more seasonal spice!

Ryde | 8-9 Dec | Audiences are invited to Merry and Bright after dusk to discover fantastic lantern creations and popup entertainment on a walking circuit of about one mile around the town. This year’s theme is ‘Ryde’s Polar Express’, following the Railway by the Sea project funded by South Western Railway, the town will be decorated with New Carnival’s fabulous lantern sculptures and light projections and there’ll be performances from Glow Circus, Huxley Magic and Wyldfire Group.

Newbury | 10 Dec | Soak up the atmosphere at Newbury Festival of Light and watch the hundreds of twinkling lanterns as the procession travels through the town centre. In the run up to the event, Newbury Corn Exchange will be offering lantern-making workshops with schools, community groups and the general public.

Brighton | 15-23 Dec | Step into a world of enchantment and wonder at Brighton Lights, a captivating winter light show this December. Immerse yourself in a mesmerising display of festive lights, carefully curated by local artists and brought to life by the creative spirit of Brighton. With installations from Murmuration Arts, ArtPod, Dan Fox, Martin Glover, Studio Fluff, and Jigantics.