We're just back from Light Night 2025. It seems that at the end of autumn and the start of winter, we like going to see light-based public art. We went to one of these a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. For some reason or other, we couldn't make it last year. The tickets are free, which is nice. Tonight was a sell out, and it was busy when we were there. We parked in town and walked out to the park.
When you walk in, the first thing you come across is a lit-up fountain squirting water to music. Great start, lots of ooohs and aaahs from the crowd.
We chose to follow the numbers on the little boards introducing each installation, so we went left. I've not put pictures of everything in this; get yourself along and enjoy it. Pictures very rarely do things like this justice.
The next installation, not pictured, was one of my favourites: LED eyes in the trees with the sounds of animals in the background. Lovely. We walked along the path running alongside Parsons Walk. About half way along, when you can see the pond, you get to look across to another cracker: balls on arms that bounce along a patch of grass between trees.
We headed back into the main area towards the bandstand. Youngest Tiggy wanted a drink, so we picked up some pop and enjoyed the atmosphere by the food bit.
Next up was The Magic Lantern. He had a big crowd so we did not stop for too long, but he was putting a reyt effort in, singing and playing an accordion. We headed up to the ice cream shop, which is adorned with another exhibit: "What's Mine Is Yours".
Throughout the park is artwork by kids from Wigan schools called Borough Icons. It's folk, some famous, from Wigan drawn by kids and reproduced life-size in LED wire. This one is my favourite: Susan, the lollipop lady.
We went round Tree Geometry, which is coloured LED bars in trees with background music and patterns, with a darkness and brightness finale.
Another favourite was Psychedelic Snails, which is snails with fibre optic trails. Way cooler than it sounds. I do worry that after seeing this, the people of Wigan believe this is why the internet has been slow the last couple of days. The trails have scrolling patterns through them; it looks a bit like a Saltire in the picture.
On the way out is Buckets and Buckets and Buckets of Light, which is buckets with lights in them stacked up. Up close, they're towers of buckets lit up. From a distance and at an angle, it's a low-resolution screen. Very cool and a great final installation to walk through on your way out.
I wouldn't be surprised if the event was sold out this year; it was tonight and it was rammed. It is worth checking the Light Night website to see if there are any tickets left. It is worth adding a calendar reminder for next year too. Good job, Wigs — another reason I'm happy to pay you my council tax.
