Published Saturday 2 December 2023 at 21:25
The team behind the ever-popular Blackburn Festival of Light are set to bring a brand new event to the town centre this Christmas.
On Saturday, December 16th, ‘Share Your Light’ will feature Blackburn Festival of Light drummers, walkabout performers and light installations at The Firepit Tipis in Blackburn’s stunning Cathedral Square.
In fact, there’ll be a full day of festive family fun at the winter wonderland with a Santa’s Grotto there during the day, the Shine Your Light event from 5pm plus the Cathedral’s Christmas Spectacular from 7:30pm too.
There’ll also be a Kerrang’d live show at the Tipis that evening with a tribute show dedicated to 90s/00s to present day rock, metal, emo and alternative scene music.
And, visitors will also be able to enjoy tasty festive food throughout the day at Checks and Greys, Turtle Bay and The Firepit restaurant – with something to tease all taste buds!
Kerris Casey-St.Pierre, from the Blackburn Festival of Light, said:
This year we’re looking forward to doing something a little bit different.
We were planning to have a bit of a sabbatical from the Blackburn Festival of Light this year before starting to plan ahead to 2024, however we’re excited to be able to announce this new event working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and The Firepit Tipis.
The ‘Share Your Light’ evening event will bring Blackburn Festival of Light drummers, fantastic walkabout performers and light installations with a festival atmosphere to Cathedral Square.
We’re so looking forward to seeing our community come together once again to help make this a fabulous event.
Ahead of the event, there will be free workshops at the Blackburn Festival of Light hub in the Lewis Building, in Exchange Street.
Visitors will be able to make their own lantern or light-up hat ready for ‘Share Your Light’ or kits will be available for those who’d like to try it themselves at home.
The dates for the workshops are:
LED paper and willow lantern making workshops – Saturday, December 9th and Sunday, December 10th – 10:30am to 1:30pm and 2pm to 5pm
Drop-in paper bag lantern and light-up hat workshop – Saturday, December 16th – 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Be sure to check the Blackburn Festival of Light website for more details of how to get involved.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:
We’re working really hard to be able to offer free, festive fun for all in the run up to Christmas.
This will be a great event at The Firepit Tipis, which are already proving hugely popular, with the team behind the Blackburn Festival of Light.
We also have our new ‘Discover Christmas in Blackburn with Darwen’ campaign encouraging residents and visitors to support our town centres and we know events like this are hugely popular and a big draw.
There’s so much to do to in Cathedral Square and the town centre to make a day of it too, including food at neighbouring Checks and Greys, Turtle Bay and The Firepit plus the Christmas Spectacular at the Cathedral and live music late into the evening.
Be sure to check out our full guide to what’s on this festive season across our town centres at: www.discoverbwd.com/christmas.
Inside The Firepit Tipis – supported by the Council and through funding from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund – there’s a bar, bbq, dancefloor and, of course, a firepit!
The winter wonderland will be open right up until New Year’s Eve with live entertainment every weekend. There’s no need to book. Again, for a full rundown, please visit: www.discoverbwd.com/christmas
What’s on in Cathedral Square on Saturday, December 16th:
Santa’s Grotto at The Firepit Tipis – from 12 noon – £10 per child with a free gift – please ring 01254 839094 to book
Share Your Light, Blackburn Festival of Light – 5:00pm to 7:00pm – light installations and performance outside the Cathedral and Firepit Tipis
Blackburn Cathedral Christmas Spectacular – from 7:30pm – an evening of Christmas music with Cathedral choirs, brass and harpist Eira Lynn Jones – please click here for more information
Kerrang’d at The Firepit Tipis – from 8pm – the UK’s definitive tribute show dedicated to bringing the classic nostalgic sounds and live experiences of the 90’s/00’s rock, metal, emo and alternative scene back to the present day
Plus, places for food and drink in Cathedral Square:
Checks and Greys – serving food 8.30am-7pm
The Firepit – serving food 12-10pm
The Firepit Tipis – open for drinks from 12 noon until 11pm
Turtle Bay – serving food 11am-11pm