The festival promises an immersive experience for residents and visitors, showcasing Barnsley’s vibrant communities through a diverse range of light art installations and live illuminated performances across ten different venues.
The Glass Works Square will feature '12 Giant Days', a large-scale projection installation by Illuminos, retelling the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' carol with performances by local groups including Frumptarn Guggenband, Horizon Community College, and Barnsley Drummers.
Barnsley College is set to host 'Museum of the Moon', a seven-metre touring artwork by Luke Jerram, displaying detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface accompanied by an atmospheric sound composition.
Highlights throughout the town centre include an immersive light experience at Barnsley Town Hall, inspired by the 'Cleopatra and the Queens of Egypt' exhibition, and the Yorkshire Rose sculptures, which will animate with voice notes created by Barnsley residents.
Interactive activities will be available at Library @ the Lightbox, while the Alhambra Shopping Centre will host the Space Dome, a mobile planetarium. St Mary's Church will present 'Noctilucent', a projected light installation within haze.
Additional attractions include 'Firefly Field', simulating the movements of nocturnal fireflies, and 'Waves' at the Digital Media Centre by local collective Limit Zero, an artwork that visualises sound.
The festival remains free to attend, family-friendly, and fully accessible. The Goodysphere Sensory Bus will be in The Glass Works Square, and a bookable British Sign Language guided tour will be offered.
“"It's thrilling to see Barnsley Bright Nights back for its ninth year and see our town centre transformed once again with colour, creativity and incredible art installation across ten different venues. Barnsley Bright Nights always brings a brilliant atmosphere and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our town at it's very best to mark the start of the Christmas season."
Barnsley Bright Nights is presented by Barnsley Arts & Events and supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It is part of Light Up the North network.
