Christmas Lights Switch-On

Join us as Barnsley Bright Nights kicks off with the traditional Christmas Lights Switch-On.

See the two giant LED Christmas trees and lights in The Glass Works Square come to life. There'll be a special show from The Lips - a luminous outdoor singalong with a sprinkling of festive hits.

Look out for illuminated winter wonderland birds, energetic bouncing elves and elegant light belles before exploring the illuminated light trail across the town centre.

Location: The Glass Works Square, May Day Green, S70 1GW
Date and time: Thursday 24 November, 6pm with performances by The Lips at 6pm and 8pm

PLUS...

Glass:Werk by Shaun Colins

Be dazzled by a giant disco ball reflecting the long history of glass making in Barnsley.

This new light sculpture by artist Shaun Colins will be shining bright for all three nights of the festival in the heart of The Glass Works Square.

Bright Nights Illuminated Parade

Catch the colourful parade as it weaves through the town centre for the Barnsley Bright Nights finale.

Look out for the futuristic robot drummers from Global Grooves, a travelling giant compact disco glitterball and the crazy Granny Turismo Chrismo shopping trolley display team.

Discover new illuminated creations from community groups from across Barnsley. It includes a giant Eldon Street beast and This Is Tomorrow artworks as well as moving banners inspired by the current Jeremy Deller exhibition at Barnsley Civic.

The parade starts at Mandela Gardens/The Civic before weaving its way down Eldon Street and Cheapside before reaching the Glass Works Square for the big finale.

Location: Mandela Gardens to The Glass Works Square
Date and time: Saturday 26 November, parade starts at 6pm

Lantern making workshops

Get creative and make your own lantern for the Bright Nights illuminated parade.

Join artist Gordon Banks and create a unique polyhedral at our free lantern making workshops. Workshops are free and places must be booked in advance. Use the following links to book.

• Saturday 19 November, 10am to 12pm
• Saturday 19 November, 1pm to 3pm
• Saturday 26 November, 2pm to 4pm

Luma by Air Giants

Come and meet Luma, a 9 metre long snail who loves an audience!

This interactive, beautiful blow-up robot looms above visitors with a welcoming and otherworldly presence. Luma is a joyful and hopeful work which champions both nature and technology, and reimagines what robots can be used for.

Location: Barnsley College, Old Mill Lane Campus, Church Street, S70 2AX
Date and time: Thursday 24 November from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Brains in a Dish by Charlie Murphy

Discover a series of light-based sculptures and projections that aim to illuminate our understandings of the brain.

Inspired by the pioneering dementia research of Barnsley born Professor Selina Wray, artist Charlie Murphy uses glass, robotic lights and digital tools to create a series of playful works.

Meet the artist and experiment with light and colour on opening night (Thursday 24 November, 5pm to 8pm only).

Location: Cooper Gallery, Church Street, S70 2AH
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Christmas Tree Festival

See the splendid St. Mary’s Church filled with twinkling Christmas trees. They're all beautifully decorated by local schools, charities and community groups from across Barnsley.

Location: St. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s Gate, S70 2AH
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

This is a free event. Donations to Yorkshire Air Ambulance are welcome. Donations continue to be taken until Thursday 1 December.

Delivered by Harris+Co chartered accountants.

This Is Tomorrow

A broadcast from the people of Barnsley and a declaration of their future…

This Is Tomorrow is a unique rally that takes inspiration from Jeremy Deller’s print and poster exhibition ‘Warning Graphic Content’ currently on show at The Civic.

Collaborating with three local groups - Creative Recovery, Barnsley Young Writers and Barnsley SEND Youth Forum - artists Nelson and Woodward, The Merrie Collective, Fraser Briggs and Sarah Li have produced a series of works pitching declarations with their thoughts for their future and thoughts for Barnsley’s future.

The artworks will be on display in light boxes and moving billboards, with copies of posters given away to audiences during the evening.

Location: Mandela Gardens, Hanson Street, S70 2HZ

Date and time: Thursday 24 November, 4pm to 6pm

See the This Is Tomorrow rally as part of the Bright Nights Illuminated Parade and finale on Saturday 26 November from 6pm across the town centre.

Secret Blues of Eldon Street

Look up and discover the untold stories of Eldon Street and The Victorian Arcade via a series of illuminated alternative blue plaques.

Created by students from Horizon College, the plaques take you on a journey linking colourful characters and surprising stories with the buildings of the present.

Download the free map to create your own walk and see the historic Eldon Street and beautiful Victorian Arcade in a new light.

Part of the Eldon Street High Street Heritage Action Zone.

Location: Eldon Street and The Victorian Arcade, Eldon Street, S70 2JL
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Neon Whirled at the Lightbox

Immerse yourself in a unique UV light installation by artist James Brunt.

Best known for his outdoor nature-based intricate designs, James heads indoors to create a black light space and optical illusion inspired by his outdoor works specially for Bright Nights.

There’s lots more activities happening at the Library @ the Lightbox for Barnsley Bright Nights including neon face painting, lantern making and illuminated craft activities.

Location: Library @ the Lightbox, The Glass Works, S70 1GW
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Also, don’t miss Bright Night story and rhymes sessions at 5pm on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 November at Library @ the Lightbox. Free to attend, no booking required.

Chromatic Woodland by The Colour Foundry

Get hands-on with nature with this unique 270 degree, three-wall animated projection specially created for Barnsley Bright Nights.

Featuring augmented reality and interactive audio, Chromatic Woodland uses characters and habitats inspired by nature to create a fun experience for anyone with a sense of adventure.

Location: Barnsley Museums Digital, The Glass Works, Cheapside, S70 1GW
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Brick by Brick

Explore the Brick by Brick exhibition by night, with stunning Lego artworks by 18 artists, designers and photographers on display.

Get hands-on with a Lego graffiti wall, build tables and a selection of Lego related games.

Then create a mini 'stained glass' window with artists Brick Box using transparent Lego to form part of a large-scale illuminated artwork.

Location: Gallery @ The Glass Works and Barnsley Museums @ The Glass Works,
Cheapside, S70 1GW
Date and time: Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November, 4pm to 8.30pm

Within by Wayne Sables

See the famous Barnsley Town Hall come to life... indoors... in colour... in miniature. This new projection mapping artwork by Wayne Sables explores the concept of 'buildings within buildings' and the blurring of hidden thresholds.

Location: Alhambra Shopping Centre, Cheapside, S70 1SB
Date and time: Thursday 24, 9am to 8pm, Friday 25, 9am to 6pm and Saturday 26 November, 9am to 8pm

DJukebox

The Djukebox is a human Wurlitzer with a live DJ ready to play the songs you most desire.

Scroll through dozens of classic hits from every era and pick your favourite for the DJ to play.

DJukebox brings the party to The Glass Works Square for the Bright Nights finale that includes the Illuminated Parade.

Location: The Glass Works Square, May Day Green, S70 1GW
Date and time: Saturday 26 November, 5pm to 8.30pm

Hot Glass Workshops and Demos

Learn the art of glass blowing and make your own glass ‘Selina’ cell with specialists ‘Mini-Melt’ as part of the Brains in a Dish activities.

Places are limited and booking is essential. Book your place on the Hot Glass Workshops.

Location: Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar, S74 8HJ
Date and time: Friday 25 November and Saturday 26 November. See website for times.

Moths at Work: Moon... On Tour

Look out for some mysterious illuminated moths coming to a street near you!

Pif-Paf Theatre’s mobile cart of wonder (complete with Moon on a stick!) will be gathering and sharing joy and light across the borough from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 November.

Locations:

• Monday 21 November - Grimethorpe
• Tuesday 22 November - Wombwell
• Wednesday 23 November - Penistone

We can’t reveal the exact location of where they’ll be, but you won’t miss the moths if you see them!