Join Newbury’s Festival of Light

DATE

December 12, 2024

The illuminated parade takes to the streets of the town on Sunday, 15th December from 4pm in Market Place

The Corn Exchange Newbury is set to light up the streets of the town on Sunday 15th December, as their annual Festival of Light returns for another year to unite local people in an incredible illuminated procession.

From the terrific lantern making workshops, to opportunities to lead this phenomenal parade as part of their community Samba band, everyone is welcome to come together to celebrate the festive season.

The Festival of Light has seen over 30,000 people engage in the festival over the past 12 years, with 9,600 people having participated in the parade during that time. The parade will travel along Northbrook Street before arriving in the Market Place where locals can expect catchy live music.

The Corn Exchange have been running lantern making workshops at 101 Outdoor Arts and in local schools so pupils can ignite their creativity for the festive celebration.

Workshops have also been held for the community Samba band inviting as many people as possible to take part. Led by Reading based Music Charity Readipop featuring experienced drummers from Beatroots Bateria, they have guided participants through the process of learning the samba instruments, rehearsing the patterns and routines and forming a marching drumming troupe to perform at the magical winter parade.

Based on a former US nuclear airbase outside Newbury, 101 Outdoor Arts has grown to be a unique powerhouse for creativity, supporting the creation of hundreds of performances and installations destined to be showcased at festivals, major arts events and cultural programmes both across the UK and internationally. Whilst the Corn Exchange Newbury have been presenting outdoor events in Newbury for over 12 years, this year marks ten year since they opened the 101 National Centre for Arts in Public Space. With the support of Arts Council England and Greenham Trust, they host hundreds of artists every year in the centre’s unique facility, which includes residential accommodation and scenic fabrication facilities, and where the lanterns and festival programme will be created ready for the procession on the 15th December.

101 Outdoor Arts produces a year-round, free programme of national and international outdoor arts performances with the Corn Exchange Newbury, engaging thousands of audiences annually, and striving to involve thousands of local participants, volunteers and community groups across Newbury to widen the scope for creative engagement in the arts.

Corn Exchange Newbury’s Director, Jessica Jhundoo-Evans comments, The Festival of Light is always a highlight of the year for us; bringing together local people and volunteers to create beautiful lanterns and bringing our community together in an illuminated procession. It is a joy to see families and friends gather to enjoy this magical event and to know that people love it enough to keep it fixed in their calendars.


Latest posts

Share

RELATED STORIES

MORE STORIES

thumbnail

Win! A weekend for four at Berko Fields Festival – worth almost £400!

We’ve got four weekend tickets to Berko Fields Festival up for grabs!

READ MORE
thumbnail

Foodies Festival returns to Oxford’s South Park over the bank holiday weekend

See celebrity chefs, chart-topping music and plenty of tasty treats at this year’s Foodies Festival in Oxford’s South Park.

READ MORE
thumbnail

This free Bracknell book fair promises a brilliant day out for readers and aspiring writers

Book lovers and aspiring writers can discover their next great read at Bracknell Book Fair this September.

thumbnail

White Horse Festival returns to Wiltshire with classical music, countryside adventures and plenty of culture

The White Horse Festival returns to Wiltshire from 1–11 October 2026, bringing world-class classical music, food and family-friendly experiences.

thumbnail

DogFest is coming to Blenheim Palace for a tail-wagging weekend this October

DogFest brings wagging tails and royal treatment to Blenheim Palace this October, with dog shows, breed meet-ups, walks, activities and plenty of treats.