What's on at the Light Up Wakefield Event This November?

As the nights draw in this November, something special is happening in Wakefield. The city is set to transform into a massive outdoor gallery of light and sound. That's right, Light Up Wakefield is back from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November, and it sounds like it's going to be the biggest one yet. Wakefield Council has announced a full schedule that’s packed with amazing sights and fun things to do. Forget your standard Christmas lights; this is a full-on light art experience with loads of interactive installations you can actually get involved with. It’s the perfect way to kick off the festive season.

The big light switch-on

Everything officially kicks off with the big light switch-on. Mark your calendars for Friday 21 November at 5:30 pm. The place to be is the Cathedral Precinct, right by the beautiful Wakefield Cathedral. But it's a good idea to get there a bit earlier, as the fun starts from 4 pm with some warm-up entertainment. It’s the moment the whole city starts to glow, and it sets the stage for the entire weekend of light-based adventures. This is the official start of the festive activities in the city.

What's new for Light Up Wakefield?

This year, the event is taking things up a notch. The famous light art trail is expanding across the city centre, with more installations than ever before. What makes it extra special is how many of them are interactive. This isn't just about looking at pretty lights; it's about playing with them, changing them, and becoming part of the art itself.

Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, shared some excitement about the event:

“We’re looking forward to Light Up Wakefield - the line-up looks brilliant. The light art trail is bigger than ever before with installations across the city centre - there really is something for everyone to enjoy. So come along and get your festive season started.”

Your guide to the light art installations

The main event is, of course, the trail of incredible light art installations dotted around the city. Here’s a little sneak peek at what you can expect to find on your adventure. There's a real mix of things, from high-tech gaming to beautiful, thoughtful pieces of art.

• Let’s Draw (County Hall): Fancy drawing on a massive building? With this installation, you can. Just by using your phone, your doodles can appear live on the building's facade. Imagine collaborating on a giant piece of art with dozens of other people at the same time.
• Interactive Gaming (opposite Wakefield Cathedral): Gamers, this one’s for you. A local building near the Cathedral is being turned into a huge gaming platform. This is done with something called projection mapping, which basically uses powerful projectors to turn any surface into an interactive screen. It's proper, hands-on gaming on a massive scale.
• Ship of the Gods (The Shed, WX): Inspired by a Norse myth about a magical, shape-shifting boat, this piece uses 3D laser scanners, film, and amazing light and sound effects. Ship of the Gods looks like it'll be a truly epic and atmospheric experience.
• Rhythm of Rhubarb (The Bull Ring): This one is pure Wakefield. A garden of giant, glowing rhubarb stalks will light up The Bull Ring, paying tribute to the area's famous Rhubarb Triangle. And get this – the rhubarb stalks react to sound. So when you talk or clap, you'll see the light change. It’s a brilliant, interactive light and sound installation.
• Marbles (Coronation Gardens): Remember playing with marbles as a kid? Now picture a gigantic, rotating marble run filled with light and sound. That’s what Marbles is. It’s a mesmerising mix of geometry, movement, and light that’s bound to be a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
• Wandering (The Factory, WX): This installation, called Wandering, uses photos of Wakefield's own buildings and people. It tells a story about how the area has changed from its industrial past to a greener future. It’s a piece of light art that’s really connected to the city.
• Rever (Cathedral Precinct): ‘Rever’ means ‘to dream’ in French, and this piece aims to take you on a journey into your subconscious. Using the kind of lighting you’d see on a concert stage, Rever creates an immersive world of dreamscapes with audio and visuals.
• The Public Dream (The Art House): Hosted at The Art House, this installation combines drawing, text, and light. The Public Dream is described as a poetic piece that explores dreams, history, and what the future might look like.
• The Relic of Mirchwood Forest (Wood Street): This installation tells a magical story about the last living ferns from a mythical forest that was forgotten. It’s both a beautiful thing to look at and a gentle reminder not to take nature for granted.

And apparently, there are a few surprises planned along the way, so keep your eyes peeled as you explore the light art trail.

More than just lights

While the light installations are the stars of the show, there's even more going on. A group of event partners, including Trinity Walk, Wakefield Library, The Art House, and The Hepworth, are joining in with their own festive activities. This means you can also expect to find craft workshops, a Santa's Grotto for the little ones, and even face painting to get everyone into the festive spirit. It turns a simple walk around the city into a full-on festive experience for the whole family, making Light Up Wakefield an unmissable event.