Light Night returns to the city on Friday 5 February, with over fifty wonderful free activities to be enjoyed.
The annual event, which is facilitated by Nottingham City Council, runs from 4pm till late, with a focus on fun free events, many of which are put on by local businesses, community groups and churches.
This will be the ninth year that Light Night has taken place in Nottingham, and the 2016 event is sponsored by Robin Hood Energy. A not for profit company ,Robin Hood Energy offers low tariffs to help tackle fuel poverty and make energy more affordable for all households in England, Scotland and Wales.
The 2016 programme takes in the work of collective artists, performers, musicians, singer songwriters, poets and storytellers along with specialist market stalls and a wonderful mix of light installations.
Visitors can save money with a £2 return travel offer on NCT buses (when using the Light Night voucher available at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/lightnight) and groups can travel to Light Night and back for £4.50 with Grouprider on NCT buses (two adults and up to three kids) and for £5 on NET trams.
Light Night will feature free activities and entertainment across the city centre at both indoor and outdoor venues. Highlights include:
- Free entry at Nottingham Castle, with activities including live music
- Choirs performing around the city, including the Revival Gospel Choir and Nottingham People’s Choir
- High Pavement will be closed to traffic to allow people to enjoy the illumination of the Galleries of Justice, which will host a Light Night food, drink and craft market and entertainment including live music, plus free Sheriff’s walking tours
- A sports village in the Old Market Square, where visitors can try glow in the dark archery, basketball and tennis
- City of Football will also be in the Old Market Square for an evening of free light up football fun, including the chance to see keepie-uppie world-record holder Dan Magness showing off his skills (In 2009 Dan became the first person in the world to keep a ball in the air for 24 hours without dropping it)
- A City of Miracles themed evening at Nottingham Contemporary, I Believe In Miracles Director Jonny Owen and a selection of players from Forest’s double European Cup winning triumph will be on hand for a meet and greet, plus fans can pose for a photo with the European Cup
- Free neon face painting to glow in the dark, at the Robin Hood Energy marquee next to the Left Lion
A heart-shaped Light Night light-up badge is now available to buy for £2 from various venues, including Nottingham Tourism Centre on Smithy Row. All proceeds from the badge will go towards funding future Light Night events.
Cllr David Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “Light Night is a highlight of Nottingham’s annual event calendar, and it’s so wonderful to see so many families and lots of older people enjoying the city centre on a Friday night.
“There’s a huge variety of great free activities to take advantage of this year, with some real standout events – get out there and enjoy them! We hope everyone wraps up warm and has a fun night out.”
Chair of Robin Hood Energy Cllr Alan Clark said: “We at Robin Hood Energy are absolutely delighted to be the first energy sponsor for Light Night. We operate as a not for profit company with low affordable tariffs. We believe that affordable energy should be a right not a privilege which is why our prepayment tariff is one of the cheapest on the market, giving power to the people to make a genuine choice. So if you’re paying too much for your energy come and find out more and take part in fun activities such as free face painting. We’ll be in the Old Market Square”.
For further information about the wide range of events and attractions on offer on Light Night, please visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/lightnight