Countdown on to Beeston’s first Light Night

From fire spinning and samba bands to neon artwork and light-up sea creatures, the streets of Beeston will be full of colour and music next Saturday (January 29^th).  

Designed to bring a touch of sparkle to the town during the long winter months, the event will also see the unveiling of a brand new piece of artwork – a neon sign at the tram interchange which reads ‘#AlightinBeeston”

Local resident Jeanie Barton has been organising the event, with support from Broxtowe Borough Council. She said: “We’ve had such a fantastic response since we first announced we were planning this event and the line-up is greater than we could ever have imagined.

“The community have really taken it to their hearts and there are events planned right across the town.”

Highlights will include:

• An LED sculpture workshop
• Nottingham Samba Collective
• Circus-themed performers
• A video and light installation in the Parish Church, Middle Street
• A torchlight parade from Beeston Rylands along the canal
• Fire spinners
• Giant light-up sea creature puppets 
• A display of neon motivational signs in the Square

Andy Holdsworth, lead performer at Circus Wunderbar, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of such an exciting new event for Beeston. We’re sending two of our top jugglers to entertain the crowds at Beeston Light Night. They will be roaming around with their light up juggling clubs, performing some daring tricks, and I’m sure they’ll be a massive hit.”

The Light Night concept, designed to entice people to explore town and city centres on darker winter evenings, began in Europe and has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past few years, with Nottingham holding one every year since 2008.

This is the first time Beeston has held its own Light Night. It comes as the town centre has undergone a £50m transformation in the form of the Beeston Square development, which is already home to a multiplex cinema and will soon house a number of new bars and restaurants.

Ruth Hyde, CEO of Broxtowe Borough Council, which funded the new Beeston Square development, said: “This has been quite a year for Beeston, with the opening of the new Square helping to give its residents the town centre they deserve. It’s a wonderful town with a really thriving, creative community and we’re looking forward to celebrating this during Light Night.” 

For more details on what’s happening where/when there is a Google map showing the location of all events (opens in new window).