Sunderland Festival of Light

National World - LocalTV

The Festival of Light has returned to Mowbray park in Sunderland bigger and brighter than ever before! We caught up with Councillor Beth Jones from Sunderland City Council about the festival and what the city has planned for over the Christmas period.

Transcript

00:00So we're currently in Mowbray Park in Sutherland City Centre and we are at the Festival of Lights.

00:05So this year we've seen the addition of more lights into the festival itself.

00:10We really have something for all the senses going on this year, be it lights, lasers, smoke, haze, noise.

00:18So each day from 4.30 we have a quiet hour for anybody with additional needs,

00:24including children with special educational needs, where it's a little bit quieter for them to come along.

00:30We see the festival continue with some of the traditional lighting that families and generations might have seen for a number of years.

00:38But this year we haven't reduced new experiences that people might not ordinarily get the chance to participate in.

00:45So this year we were able to commission two artists to do specific work in the park.

00:51Two internationally renowned artists, one from Poland and one from France.

00:56And they have been able to create pieces that we project onto the buildings around the park as well.

01:02Sutherland is a city that's under transformation at the moment.

01:05There's over £2 billion worth of investment gone into transforming the city.

01:09So we really are hoping that by hosting the Festival of Light in the city centre, families will come along.

01:15We have a fantastic time at the festival, but then go and visit local bars, cafes and restaurants.

01:21We have lots of upcoming restaurants and bars opening across the city, as well as our well-established bars.

01:28It really allows the city to come together. So we have people who come year in, year out.

01:34We'll have generations of families that come along.

01:36So for me, the Festival of Light, whether you're nine months, nine-year-old or 90-year-old, it really is something for you.

01:42And it really creates excitement, illusion, suspense.

01:46So it really does help to bring out the inner child in everybody.

01:49So delighted to have the Christmas light switch on in Keele Square on Thursday, the 21st of November.

01:58And we also have the Boxing Day dip.

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