Nottingham
Nottingham proudly presented its first Light Night event on Friday 8 February 2008, which brought a unique evening of entertainment, illuminations and late night opening of arts and cultural organisations that animated the City centre.
The Nottingham Eye Giant wheel opened on the evening and was a major focal point of the City centre activities.
Nottingham currently has a population of 280,000 residents and many thousands of annual visitors to the City each year.
Music and Performance
The Old Market Square, one of England's largest public squares, hosted a musical concert featuring Nottingham Music School groups, choirs and performances by young people of Nottingham. The concert was accompanied by stilt walkers and characters dressed in carnival costumes and climaxed with a spectacular pyrotechnic and fireworks display from the roof of the adjacent Council House. Street entertainers, musicians and installations animated the City centre.
Trail of Light
There were trails of light across the City centre linking the Old Market Square, Nottingham Castle, the Theatre Royal, and Broadway Cinema, St. Mary's and St. Peter's Churches and the Albert Street areas of the City. The churches offered visitors seclusion from the busy night life of Nottingham with enchanting light installations and candle lit sculptures. The Library, Museum and Art Galleries along the trails opened their doors much later than usual in order to welcome visitors. Guided tours of hidden historical Nottingham at night and saw the City in a new perspective. The grounds of Nottingham Castle were bathed in light and Robin Hood statue was encased and illuminated in vibrant gold.
Prior to the event Artists led workshops involving children and community groups created canvas artworks which were illuminated and displayed along the light trails.
Cultural Offers
A host of Nottingham's City centre attractions restaurants, cafes, galleries, cinemas and leisure operators along with public transport providers offered a range of discounts and promotions
Attendance
Light Night attracted 45,000 people into the City centre and was extremely well received. It was pleasing to see such a diverse audience including many families and older people out late into the evening enjoying the illuminated trails and activities. The atmosphere across the City centre was warm and welcoming and undoubtedly the Light Night changed the perception of the City centre at night for families, people of all ages and visitors to the City after dark.
Light Night 2009
Nottingham's Light Night 2009 is scheduled to take place mid February and it is intended to build on the success of Light Night 2008 with more installations, activities and partnerships involving businesses and communities within the City.