Popular Greater Manchester festival to return in 2024 after bringing 'Northern Lights' to town centre

An international festival which saw the northern lights recreated over Bolton town hall will return in 2024, it has been announced.

After the huge success of the first Put Big Light On festival in Bolton, the team behind the magic have confirmed the popular light art trail will be returning once again next year. Over six evenings in late November and early December a fantastic display of light art installations from around the world lit up the town.

The festival featured Borealis by Dan Acher, Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram and Evanescent by Atelier Sisu. Those installations were accompanied by Our Spectral Vision, Aqualux, Peep Hole Wall and Sound Intervention Projector Bikes, with the trail a spectacular array of activity and colour.

Street entertainment decorated the town, alongside fun children’s activities and a vast programme of live music in The Albert Bar. Residents and visitors were treated to the free, spectacular event and it didn’t disappoint, with amazing feedback from the public, schools and community groups that came to visit and took part in the activities.

Executive cabinet member for culture, Coun Nadeem Ayub, said: “I am delighted that the festival was such a huge success, the town was once again bustling and seeing families enjoy the free event was fantastic.

“Being able to bring this experience back next year is a great achievement and as part of the new cultural strategy is a taste of things to come. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for visiting our much-loved events and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.”

Put Big Light On is curated by Things That Go On Things.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.