Northumberland Lights announces winter festival

The award-winning Northumberland Lights team returns with its third installment of the popular winter festival - promising even more stunning outdoor experiences and the illumination of some of Northumberland’s most famous landmarks and locations.

From 2nd to 30th November - from Blyth to the Borders – this popular winter festival celebrates the county’s contrasting architectural and natural environments with shows to suit visitors of all ages, incorporating illumination, pyrotechnics, performance, film and sound. The audience will be taken on magical journeys by foot or by wheels, and will be treated to some of the UK’s finest visual and musical talents as they experience some of Northumberland’s most beautiful and remote locations in a whole new light.

The festival opens on 2nd November with the hugely popular Blyth in a New Light - a free day- long family oriented event entertaining audiences with stunning architectural lighting wizardry in the town’s Ridley Park and surrounding streets, followed by a spectacular pyrotechnics display on the Quayside courtesy of The World Famous fire workers. Blyth in a New Light is supported by Blyth Valley Borough Council and won Best Event in Northumberland at The Journal Culture Awards in 2006, receiving a further nomination from the public in 2007 as part of the overall programme.

Following the success of last year’s ‘Electric Forest’ at Cragside, Kielder – ‘Out of Water’ is another magical experience which takes place over two weekends between 8th – 16th November, where the forest meets the water. This unique journey treats the public to some of Britain’s finest visual and musical talents in one of Northumberland’s most beautiful and remote locations – exploring the special character of the Kielder Forest under a legendary night sky. This event follows an intriguing journey through the forest on the newly developed and fully inclusive Lakeside Way – allowing access to cyclists, walkers and those with less independent mobility to enjoy the same experience.

The festival continues on 28th - 30th November with ‘The State of Berwick’ – a celebration of the unique culture and heritage of Northumberland’s most northerly town. Highlighting Berwick’s character and resilience, the event coincides with one of this year’s key collaborators, the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival – entitled ‘Inner States’ – focusing on works exploring states of independence, turmoil and peace. The event will encompass a series of town centre installations in some of Berwick’s most intimate spaces to include film, music, the spoken word and sound experiences transmitted through the event’s very own radio waves, both on the streets and under cover. A legendary party for the whole family!

Guerrilla Lighting will continue to keep visitors gripped throughout the winter months, when the team will be lighting up the public’s nominated and favourite landmarks for one night only. The Guerrilla Lighting programme promises a series of breathtaking shows infiltrating surprise locations across Northumberland.

Northumberland Lights is part of North East England’s word-class programme of festivals and events developed by culture¹º. Northumberland Lights 2008 is project managed by Zoë Bottrell of Culture Creative for the Northumberland Strategic Partnership (NSP), creative design is by artist Phil Supple, with support from White Light project manager, Jack Thompson. National collaborative artists include The World Famous fireworkers, sculpture artist Graeme Gilmour, sound artist Dan Fox and Angus Farquhar from environmental arts charity, NVA. Northumberland-based groups will include Berwick upon Tweed Film and Media Arts Festival, Berwick Museum and Theatre Group and other community groups from across the county.

Janice Rose, Acting Executive Director for NSP, said: “Following highly successful events in 2006 and 2007, we are pleased to once again support the Northumberland Lights programme. The creative team have consistently delighted North East audiences with their spectacular displays and the programme has always been very well supported by the local communities. We’re certain that this year’s events will be even more inspiring and look forward to once again seeing Northumberland in a whole new light.”

Stella Hall, Creative Director, culture¹º programme of festivals and events said: “We’re encouraging everyone to look out for this year’s Northumberland Lights, which will bring striking illumination to our region’s most recognised icons and landmarks. The festival last year was stunning and I look forward to their new programme of displays which will bring light to Northumberland through the dark winter nights.”

Phil Supple, Creative Designer for Northumberland Lights, said: “I was delighted to be asked back, and am looking forward the third year of Northumberland Lights.

“2008 promises to be our most exciting programme yet, with our creative and production team hard at work putting together this unique series of events. Using the skills of some of the finest talents in Britain, we will be lighting up Northumberland once again this November, taking our visitors on a series of wonderful outdoor journeys through this country’s most beautiful landscape.”

For further information visit Northumberlandlights.com.