Return of Scarborough Lights event puts sparkle and shine in town's festive celebrations
See Scarborough sparkle and shine with light installations, illuminations of the town’s landmarks, and take part in free light-based activities for all the family as Scarborough Lights returns from Thursday November 12 until Sunday December 20.
Highlights from this year’s programme include Scarborough: 400 Years and Beyond at St Mary’s Church.
Featuring a series of animated projections showing aspects of Scarborough's history, the exhibition explores how the 400th anniversary of the first seaside spa town in England fits into the wider context of Scarborough’s history.
It includes handmade illuminations and lanterns on themes chosen by the public, exploring the town’s history and also looks forward to what people’s hopes and wishes are for the future.
The finale event – Glow in the Park – promises magical circus acts in Falsgrave Park.
Be wowed by aerial acrobats and underwater mermaids, marvel at LED jugglers and hula-hoopers and take part in a drumming circle.
The acts will be dotted around the park, with a designated route along tarmac paths to follow. Take your time looking at each act.
Tickets are priced at £5/£3.
The night sky also gets a focus at two events run by Astro Dog, including an Aurora Experience at St Columba’s Church from Monday November 16 to Sunday November 22 with atmospheric lighting, timelapse footage, film screenings, astrophotography exhibition and a science and discovery area.
The second is the opportunity to go Stargazing at Scarborough Castle at a reduced rate of £10/£8, from Wednesday December 11 to Friday December 13.
Have a laser-guided sky tour and learn constellation navigation in the open skies of the Castle headland.
Catherine Goble, festival manager, said: “We have 28 activities and illuminations as part of this year’s Scarborough Lights programme with a wide variety of events on offer from UV mini-mini golf at Jam Jar Wine and Pinball Lounge and a UV art exhibition in the Market Vaults, to a community-created miniature market light display on the Market mezzanine and the ever-popular dino-bouts in Vernon Road.
“The creativity in this town never fails to astound me, with some wonderful ideas and enthusiasm coming together to create a winter festival of light.”
"In addition, as we Countdown to Christmas, there will be three different trails in the town centre.”
Choose Your Own Scarborough takes the methodology of Choose Your Own Adventure books and translates it to an interactive illuminated trail across various locations through the town.
A Christmas Carol tells the Dickens story through silhouettes in business windows and an installation of the three ghosts in Scarborough Market Vaults.
Sherbatella’s Seaside Sparkle will see illuminated fairies popping up and a live character appearing in participating businesses.
These will be supplemented with free street entertainment in Westborough on the afternoons of Saturday December 5, 12 and 19 December.
Countdown to Christmas is supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.