Musicians on trams, multi-sensory art installations, a silent disco and a lantern parade will all feature in the Robin Hood Energy Light Night programme, which is now being finalised.
The popular event will take place on Friday 10 February, with new venues for the event’s tenth year including the Arboretum and Nottingham Tennis Centre.
The Wheel of Light will return to the Old Market Square. There will be free entry to Nottingham Castle and Brewhouse Yard. Families will be able to enjoy live music, puppets, theatre, dance, UV-face painting, fun exercise classes, poetry and a variety of artworks and entertainment at indoor and outdoor locations across the city centre and further afield. Most of the 50 or more activities will be free. There will also be food, drink and crafts on sale.
The deadline for inclusion in the printed programme has now passed, but late additions can be sent to arts@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for listing on the website: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/lightnight.
The annual event is organised by Nottingham City Council in partnership with community groups and city venues, with funding from Arts Council England. The council is looking for volunteers to give directions, assist artists or sell the Light Night badges that help fund the event. They should be 18 or over and available for at least three hours during the evening. Anyone who would like to help should send their contact details to arts@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
Light Night started in 2008 and has become increasingly popular, this year attracting over 50,000 people to the city. It will, again, be sponsored by Robin Hood Energy, a not-for-profit company that offers low tariffs to help tackle fuel poverty and make energy more affordable for all households in England, Scotland and Wales.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “The tenth Light Night will open up our Purple Flag city centre – and locations further afield – to thousands of people, with a wide range of mainly free, exciting activities. Since our first Light Night, in 2008, we have had to rely increasingly on the many organisations and venues in the city that make the programme so vibrant, so I would like to thank all those taking part for their fantastic contributions. I would also like to thank our sponsor, Robin Hood Energy.”
Chair of Robin Hood Energy Councillor Alan Clark said: “As more and more things get confirmed for Light Night, it makes the whole event even more exciting. Being the lead sponsor of such a great Nottingham event makes us very proud. As the country’s first not-for-profit energy company, we’re proud to be from Nottingham and hope to save the people of Nottingham money on their energy bills. If people come and see us at Light Night our staff will be on hand to see if they can save money on their bills.”