Saturday 12 October 2013

Bury Light Night

We decided that a 5 year old, 3 year old, a man recovering from Meningitis and a woman with a broken leg were the perfect ensemble to go to an event where you walk round for 2 or 3 hours ~ so we spent this evening at Bury Light Night. We've been to the previous 2 and our 5 year old remembers them vividly, so they're important memory-making events, and great fun, and we just didn't want to miss out.

A 'Light Night' for those of you unfortunate enough never to have experienced one, is a free event where a town centre is shut off to traffic and filled with light - flames, candles, torches, spotlights, LED's, projections and fairy lights. Millions of lights......and maybe a bit of music and street theatre....and food....

My photo's are a bit sketchy in parts because it's not easy to take spur of the moment shots with crutches!


We arrived at Kay Gardens in Bury Town Centre at the perfect time, at dusk, and everything was just being switched on....
The next thing we saw were these projected canisters with moving body parts. You never know what you'll find....


We walked through the shopping centre and paid a visit to the Bury Road Traffic Safety people, who gave the children free reflective stickers and armbands, and a really cool magnetic reflector that fastens round the edge of any clothing. We made light up windmills with the 'Street Pastors' and were given some radiator reflectors to save us some money by the 'Keep Warm, Keep Well' people.


Up to The Rock and there was a big crowd gathered to watch 3 people dressed in white dancing inside giant snow globes. I have to say it - very surreal.


We walked all the way down the main street from there to the Parish Church at the other end.....via  hot dog seller and a delicious cupcake stall, and the amazing fire display that has been there each year on top of the coffee shop...




Outside the Church was a gorgeous candle garden - which my boys nearly missed because they were too interested in the flashing tat stall.


Bury Light Night

Inside the Castle Armoury was another surreal moment - a huge circle of chairs and tables, with couples dancing in their finery in the middle, and with a real tango quintet playing!


Outside though was one of my highlights. A huge projection onto the side of the building with animation and music accompanying.

Lancashire Rose Projection Bury Armoury

These were gorgeous Lancashire roses 'growing' up the walls, although sadly the red doesn't really show up in the photo's.

Two years ago one of the highlights was a hot air balloon in the East Lancs Railway yard, and it was due to be back, but it was far too windy today. We were really lucky though, because it gave us the highlight of the night. The balloonists had brought out everything but the balloon, and were very obliging to all who came over to see them.

Outside Bury Botlon Street Station

Onward to the Library Gardens and storytelling inside a giant peach.

Bury Light Night

Beautifully coloured fog round a fountain


An amazing flower covered waterwheel lit from all angles...


Lights in the trees....


And balls and sounds in the trees....


And then we'd walked probably further then 3 of us needed to, so it was time to go...it was also 9.30pm....

Flags and lights

We had  great time. I enjoyed it better than last year, but I still miss the tealights in jam jars from 2 years ago, and torches in ladies tights strung from trees so that children could pull them and watch them dance....

We will be back next year. Nothing could stop us this year...We've all made some more memories....and bought some more fabulous flashing tat....


I'm linking to Country Kids because although it was in a town - it was very definitely Outdoor Family Fun!
Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall


18 comments:

  1. Wow that looks amazing. I've never heard of anything like it before!

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    1. It is super lovely. It's so nice to see places you know in a totally different light - literally!

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  2. That looks fantastic, what a shame nothing like that happens near us

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    1. That is a shame. It's only the 3rd year here and I know they have them in a few other places, hopefully it'll catch on and there'll be one near you :)

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  3. wow! what a great event! tell me next time when they back. would love to come!

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    1. It's always sometime in October Eileen - I'll remind yo next year :D

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  4. I would love to go to that! Don't think we have anything like it here but like Eileen said we might even come up for it - could combine to another visit with our family in manchester, it looks really worth seeing! :D

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  5. It doesn't have to be in the country to have great outdoor fun - and your post proves this! What a fab event for the town to host, I am a bit jealous as it looked like a brilliant evening. Thanks for linking up and sharing your wonderful photos with Country Kids and here's to a speedy recovery for you both.

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    1. Thank you, we're both doing great now. When we're fit you won't be able to stop us :P

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  6. WOW! that looks amazing, I don't think we have anything like that here, but I will have to keep my eyes peeled. I can see all kids drawn to the tat and not the fun stuff! Glad you managed to enjoy it despite everything.

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    1. It was brilliant - well worth the effort. Once we'd paid for our light up swords they kindly lost interest in the flashing tat man :D

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  7. I've never been to a light night but I would love to go to one one day

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    1. Do it Angela - look them up and find the nearest one. They're special :)

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  8. I love this idea for this time of year. It looks super. And alas you did not avoid the flashing tat ;)

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  9. This looks amazing! I must pencil that in the calendar for next year as it wouldn't be too far for us.

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    1. It's well worth it, it makes a lovely night out, and what's more it's free! Well....after the hot dogs and flashing tat ;)

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