Advertorial blog for Experience Wakefield
It’s time to say goodbye to summer and welcome the festive season… Look no further than the Wakefield district this autumn for non-stop family fun! With Christmas lights, street entertainment, festive markets, live music, Santa and much more, start planning your Light Up adventure today.
18-20 November 2022
Light Up Wakefield
Get ready for 3 days of family festivities in the city centre! Get cosy at the tipi bar, head to the festive market to pick up the perfect present, visit Santa Claus at his grotto and be captivated by street entertainment including Ghost Caribou! And don’t forget to come along at 5pm on Friday 18 Nov for the spectacular traditional Christmas lights switch-on.
And the Light Up fun doesn’t end there… this year’s event features a trail like no other that will allow you to discover the city in a whole new light! Experience mesmerizing light installations throughout the city including Dennis the illuminated fire truck, Trinity Walk’s brand-new Christmas lights, lit up inflatables at the Ridings Shopping centre, as well as light pieces at The Art House and along Westgate. Get your camera at the ready as Bezerker the giant monster makes a special appearance in the city centre before heading back to the cathedral precinct to view Futures, an immersive space brought to us by Lucid Creates, to experience illusions and create long lasting memories.
PROGRAMME:
FESTIVE MARKET
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
TIPI BAR WITH ACOUSTIC MUSIC
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
STREET ENTERTAINMENT
Ghost Caribou: Friday – Saturday, 4pm – 4:40pm, 5:10pm – 5:50pm, 6:20pm – 7pm
Thingumajig Theatre’s new street act showcases giant illuminated creatures, part caribou, part spirit as they roam a mystical world after dark, accompanied by a wild herdsperson.
LuminArt: Saturday, 4:45pm – 5:30pm, 6pm – 6:45pm
Using clever electronic circuitry, LuminArt tell stories through illuminated walkabout puppetry that appear and disappear magically.
PARTNER ACTIVITY:
THE RIDINGS SHOPPING CENTRE
Friday : 9am – 5:30pm
- Come and see Santa roaming the centre and handing out free treats
- Free face painting
- Pop up Christmas Fayre
- Letter to Santa writing station and taking post box
- Live music
- Pop up prosecco bar with Wakefield’s own Stealia Heart
Saturday: 9am – 5:30pm
- CAPA college performing
- Christmas Tree decorations decorating with GBBO and Wakefield legend Karen Wright
- Pop up Christmas Fayre
- Letter to Santa writing station and taking post box
- Live music
- Pop up prosecco bar with Wakefield’s own Stealia Heart
Sunday: 10:30am – 4:30pm
- Pop up Christmas Fayre
- Letter to Santa writing station and taking post box
- Live music
- Pop up prosecco bar with Wakefield’s own Stealia Heart
TRINITY WALK
Friday: 3pm – 7pm
- Free face painting with Donna
- Meet our new Santa for free in his grotto by The Entertainer/above Sainsbury’s
- See Santa’s Air Force Elves and their illuminated magic machine (GREAT for pics)
- Meet MoonBot the giant lit up robot (PERFECT for selfies)
- Lights illuminated at 5pm along with rest of city centre
Saturday: 11am – 3pm
- Free face painting with Donna
- Meet our new Santa for free in his grotto by The Entertainer/above Sainsbury’s
- Come face-to-face with a Polar Bear and friends (appearances with breaks)
- DanceXplosion performing live here at 10:30am and 2:15pm
Sunday: 11am – 3pm
- Free face painting with Donna
- Meet our new Santa for free in his grotto by The Entertainer/above Sainsbury’s
- See everyone’s favourite ice-loving princesses Anna and Elsa who’ll be meeting shoppers and maybe doing a few songs too…
WAKEFIELD LIBRARY
Friday: 10am
- Join Wakefield Library for a winter-themed story time.
Saturday: 10am – 12pm
- The fun continues as Wakefield Library host a range winter-themed drop-in crafts, board games and chess club.
Saturday: 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2pm
- Watch a performance of A Winter’s Tail – Filled with all the wonders of winter, this interactive show features puppets and shadow puppetry as the garden animals share their stories. A Winter’s Tail is aimed at 3-7 year olds and their families (please contact the library at 01924 305376 to book).
THE ART HOUSE
Friday: 4pm-7pm
- Festive food & drink
- Free creative activities
- Glow-in-the-dark henna face and body painting
22 November 2022
Light Up Castleford
Join us from midday to explore the craft market and treat yourself to some street food and family entertainment. Take selfies in the giant snow globe and enjoy the fairground rides before visiting the one and only Santa Claus. Don’t miss the iconic Christmas light switch on from 5.30pm!
25 –27 November 2022
Illumine at National Coal Mining Museum
Santa is arriving to collect his coal for stockings – visit Santa Underground and his magical grotto found 140 metres below the surface! Take part in the lantern making workshop and experience a torchlit trail around the galleries before enjoying a festive treat at the Christmas Fair. Catch some live music from the brass band and choir whilst exploring the Museum’s lit up buildings and structures.
25 –27 November 2022
Light Up Pontefract
First up, Light Up heads to Pontefract Castle for 2 days of festive cheer including a tipi bar and a whole host of family activities. Get ready for an experience like no other as we illuminate the grounds and welcome Futures, an immersive experience of light, sound and illusions.
Visit Pontefract town centre on Sunday 27 November for live stage entertainment, a Christmas market, incredible street entertainment from ‘LuminArts’, fairground rides and of course the traditional light switch-on. Marvel as town centre buildings are lit up but watch out! The Naughty Little Elfers will be causing mayhem as they escape Santa’s grotto and take over the town.
Find out more about all these events and more at www.expwake.co/LightUpWF
