Apples & Pears – Working Lives Below Stairs – More Information
By: Rachel Riggs
Original sound design by Elsewhere/Rebecca
Hidden within the festival is a secret garden where sculptures, made from old household items, come alive with stories of working lives gone by.
An atmospheric soundscape brings the garden alive in the dark, with whispers, giggles, rhymes & magical nature sounds. Explore with torches, lighting up sculptural shadow play installations with diorama stories hidden in the dark of the garden. Watering cans, baskets, pots and pans, lampshades and brushes, old dolls and bike wheels, and a flapping washing line – all come together to make a magical garden come to life.
Can you find the secret garden? And when you do, can you find the gardener, the cook, the maid and the servant boy…?
The artwork is part of Judges’ Lodgings 400: Voices from Our Community, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Working with artists, community groups and people connected to the house, the project uncovers new stories and hidden histories, offering a glimpse into working-class life at the Judges’ Lodgings. The lives of paupers, vagrants and the accused, alongside those of the servants working below stairs, are now represented throughout the house including the newly refurbished Wash House.
-
Fish Are Jumping - More Information
By: Studio Toer All Toer’s creations begin with the freedom of play. Toer is a multidisciplinary design studio based in the Netherlands, founded in 2011 by Castor Bours and Wouter Widdershoven. Characterised by a strong exploratory and experimental approach, Studio Toer pushes the technical and aesthetic boundaries of design across a wide range of applied arts, from light installations and ...
Read more -
Sandcastle - More Information
By: leo&hyde In collaboration with “2099 will be fine :)” leo&hyde is led by writer Leo Mercer, who leads on the concepts and creative direction of the work. He then works with a range of collaborators, from composers, sound designers, visual artist, creative technologists, actors and theatremakers. Regular collaborators include resident sound designer Dan Mawson, composer Stephen Hyde (...
Read more -
Animals - More Information
By: Ivo Opl and Suren Manvelyan: ARTshifters (Czech Republic and Armenia) Ivo Opl / Czech Republic – Innovator and creator of interactive installations and design projects. He currently works at the Faculty of Art and Design named after Ladislav Sutnar of the University of West Bohemia, where he deals with the development of artistic projects based on interaction and new technologies. Suren ...
Read more -
Crystal Tide - More Information
By: Anne Bennett Crystal Tide was developed with co-commissioning support from Light Up the North in 2026. Creative Team: Technical Lead, Installation Technician and Lighting programmer: Neil Duncan Original Soundtrack Composer and Producer: Ben Elliot, working to the artist’s creative brief. Our Future Coast is a partnership project helping communities explore and respond to the changing coastline around Morecambe Bay ...
Read more -
Damselflies - More Information
By: Rubbish Artist Tracey Graham Tracey Graham is a trained sculptor who breathes new life into the discarded trappings of consumerism, the detritus of our times. With irresistible wit, an artist’s attention to detail and the kind of professional build quality which separates her from the flock, Tracey has a proven track record of creating original pieces and environments ...
Read more -
Noctilucent - More Information
Noctilucent explores how intangible materials like light, haze and fog can interact to create forms and volumes that appear almost tangible. The work is an exploration of understanding these materials’ behaviour and discovering how much control can be achieved in shaping them through light. Rather than projecting onto an object or surface, the imagery is projected into the atmosphere itself, ...
Read more -
Why I Walk - More Information
Behind the Scenes Since June 2026, Lancashire Youth Challenge, led by filmmaker and creative practitioner Ashley Murphy, has been supporting a group of resettled refugees and people seeking sanctuary to develop their skills as storytellers, filmmakers and animators. Through a collaborative and participant-led creative process, the group has been producing a series of short animated films that capture their personal experiences ...
Read more -
Garden of Shadows - More Information
By: Jony Easterby The artist responds to our relationship within the natural world with a series of intimate installations exploring the cultural remnants we have created through our complex relationship with nature. Spread across the sublime landscape of Williamson Park this promises to be a night to remember! Jony Easterby is an artist, designer, maker, producer, director, performer, a passionate ...
Read more -
Puddles - More Information
By: idontloveyouanymore Commission Credits: Light Up Lancaster, Light Night Wigan, Illuminate Oldham Creative Team: Main artists: Davi Callanan & Anna West Associate Artist: Archie Grove Fabricators: Filament Creative Studio To check out more of idontloveyouanymore’s art you can follow them on instagram idontloveyouanymore_insta or go to their website https://idontloveyouanymore.co.uk.
Read more -
ARC - More Information
A Collaboration between Company Fox and Sound Intervention Originally Commissioned by National Trust for Winter at Sizergh Creative Team: Hannah Fox, Dan Fox Dan Fox is a multi-skilled artist, musician, inventor and maker. He learned his trade growing up on the road with Welfare State International and, for over 30 years, has worked internationally with theatre companies, bands, festivals, organisations and ...
Read more -
Dear Earthling... - More Information
About imitating the dog imitating the dog (ITD) is a pioneering digital performance company based in Lancaster, creating work with story at its heart. Established in 1998 and now led by Co-Artistic Directors Andrew Quick and Simon Wainwright, the company’s vision is to move people to question their relationship with our ever-changing world. Through theatre productions, public-space interventions and work ...
Read more -
Apples & Pears – Working Lives Below Stairs - More Information
By: Rachel Riggs Original sound design by Elsewhere/Rebecca Hidden within the festival is a secret garden where sculptures, made from old household items, come alive with stories of working lives gone by. An atmospheric soundscape brings the garden alive in the dark, with whispers, giggles, rhymes & magical nature sounds. Explore with torches, lighting up sculptural shadow play ...
Read more -
Chill-Out Zone
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat The DukesNeed to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the festival? Grab a drink from The Dukes cafe-bar and chill out for a while in The Gallery space on the ground floor, until you’re ready to go back out and experience some more of the wonderful artworks and installations! Please note: there may be other events taking ...
Read more -
Twist and Shine: More Information
Twist & Shine Kaleider invites you to twist and shape our glowing light sculptures! Twist & Shine is a landscape of interactive light sculptures. They are made out of interconnected prisms that can be twisted into thousands of different shapes. Work together to change the landscape and add to the sculpture’s story, or watch others playing. Have fun! Access ...
Read more -
Apples & Pears – Working Lives Below Stairs
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Can you discover the secret location?By: Rachel Riggs Original sound design by Elsewhere/Rebecca Hidden within the festival is a secret garden where sculptures, made from old household items, come alive with stories of working lives gone by. An atmospheric soundscape brings the garden alive in the dark, with whispers, giggles, rhymes & magical nature sounds. Explore with torches, lighting up sculptural shadow play ...
Read more -
Pig Farm - More Information
By: Ladislav Sutnar: ARTshifters (Czech Republic) The installation was created by students of the Faculty of Art and Design named after Ladislav Sutnar of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic, representing the Department of Design and Applied Arts.
Read more -
Demonz - More Information
By: INITI Interactive: ARTShifters (Czech Republic) INITI is a platform of visual artists, musicians and technicians who are involved in technically advanced public space projects. The collective focuses on interactive site-specific projects based on the symbiosis of visuals and sound. The essence of their audio-visual installations lies in the transformation of real space into an illusionary environment of virtual reality ...
Read more -
Preston City Mela Collaborative - More Info
Preston Mela is Lancashire’s celebration of South Asian arts, culture and community, bringing people together through live music, dance, food, workshops and family activities. Showcasing everything from traditional performances to contemporary cultural experiences, the festival creates opportunities for people of all backgrounds to come together, share stories and celebrate the rich diversity of the region. Through its vibrant programme ...
Read more -
Magical Night Market
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Market SquareCurated by: LESS Visit Market Square and enjoy hot food, cakes and drinks on offer from a local street food market. Mini Donut Pod @minidonutslancaster Fresh mini donuts with sugar or melted chocolate toppings Chester’s Cocker-Tails @chesterscockertails Coffee and alcoholic hot chocolate Eat Dutch Lekker @damlekkeruk Dutch streetfood: loaded fries, Dutch Frikandel buns, bitterballen and gouda bites Foodcomo @foodcomo_...
Read more -
Street Aquarium - More Information
Street Aquarium by Marge Bradshaw, commissioned by Light Up Lancaster and Put Big Light On, Bolton. Production Manager/Creative Tech: Simon Fletcher and James Sewell Soundscape (recorded at the aquarium): Lizzie King. Editor: Laura Spark With thanks to Pete Liptrot, Collections Access Officer (Aquarium) for all his support. Image: still from Street Aquarium cyanotype animation, made from 990 hand printed cyanotype ...
Read more -
Raving With Power - More Information
By: Ludus Ludus Dance is a Lancaster-based dance organisation that has been inspiring creativity through movement for more than 45 years. Alongside performances and participation projects, Ludus works extensively with schools, young people, community groups and artists across Lancashire and beyond, using dance to improve wellbeing, build confidence and bring people together. Their programme includes youth dance companies, artist development opportunities, ...
Read more -
British Sign Language Guided Tours of Light Up Lancaster
Sat 7 Nov, 5pm or 7pm Meet 5pm at Williamson Park or 7pm at The DukesLight Up Lancaster is delighted to welcome Martin Glover to the festival, who will be offering British Sign Language (BSL) guided tours to d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors. He will highlight the meanings and the processes behind the creation of the artworks and installations. Specialist facilitator Martin, who is himself deaf and a BSL user, and also a light artist, ...
Read more -
Puddles
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Storey GardensBy: idontloveyouanymore Commission Credits: Light Up Lancaster, Light Night Wigan, Illuminate Oldham Creative Team: Main artists: Davi Callanan & Anna West Associate Artist: Archie Grove Fabricators: Filament Creative Studio Puddles, by idontloveyouanymore, returns to the studio’s digitisations of water. A series of artworks that have all found a home here at Light Up Lancaster over the ...
Read more -
Garden of Shadows
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Williamson ParkBy: Jony Easterby A collection of works featuring animated landscapes sourced from grassland and forest, hedgerows, bonsai trees given the gift of scale, woodland sprites and slomo flying creatures. The audience is invited to follow a trail of installations that fill the park with a series of ethereal electronic animated encounters with the natural world. For Jony Easterby, the contrast ...
Read more -
Preston City Mela Collaborative
Performances at 7.00pm on Fri 6 Nov and 6.30pm on Sat 7 Nov Market SquareAbhi Dance Academy – Bollywood Dances Abhi Dance Academy has trained Bollywood dances who bring the vibrance of Indian film dances to the audience. The dances include props and colourful costumes which lighten up any occasion. The performance involves audience participation where members of the audience are quickly trained and encouraged to perform along with the mainstream dancers. Performances 7.00pm – Friday , 6...
Read more -
Dear Earthling...
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster PrioryBy: imitating the dog With James Hamilton Creative Team: Artistic Director & Video Design – Simon Wainwright Composer – James Hamilton Musicians – James Hamilton, Emma Johnson Performer – Matt Prendergast Lighting Designer – Andrew Crofts “You know, although I am up here floating above the earth, I am still an earthling. I feel the pain of separation and the pride of a father.” ...
Read more -
Why I Walk
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat The Olive Bar at The GregsonBy: Ashley Murphy Commission Credits: Lancashire Youth Challenge Global link Creative Team: Ashley Murphy Participants from Global link DEC Guy Christiansen Gisela Renolds Rachel Parsons This project was produced as part of the Lancashire Youth Challenge RESTORE: Creative programme supported by the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund. Why I Walk is an immersive installation created by Lancashire Youth Challenge ...
Read more -
ARC
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Moorlands Church, near High StreetA Collaboration between Company Fox and Sound Intervention Originally Commissioned by National Trust for Winter at Sizergh Creative Team: Hannah Fox, Dan Fox Two striking shadow carousels throw large-scale scenes around the courtyard walls of Moorlands Church, creating a fleeting folkloric parade. The carousels’ stainless steel fretwork cylinders, each lit by a single central lamp, gently revolve to cast playful ...
Read more -
Crystal Tide
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster Canal, WaterwitchBy: Anne Bennett Crystal Tide was developed with co-commissioning support from Light Up the North in 2026. Creative Team: Technical Lead, Installation Technician and Lighting programmer: Neil Duncan Original Soundtrack Composer and Producer: Ben Elliot, working to the artist’s creative brief. A mirrored lighthouse stands among towering crystal shards that sparkle in daylight before glowing with the colours of the ...
Read more -
Damselflies
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster Canal, White CrossBy: Rubbish Artist Tracey Graham My work explores the potential of reclaimed materials and found objects, using humour and creativity to inspire sustainable thinking. I believe playfulness is far more effective than finger-pointing when encouraging reflection on our environmental impact. I aim to reframe how we perceive waste, inviting viewers to find beauty and value in the discarded and using ...
Read more -
Noctilucent
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Moor SpaceBy: Nurul Wardani Noctilucent is an installation that explores the perception of volume in space through light, atmosphere and movement. Using projected light within haze, the work creates shifting forms that occupy space, inspired by natural patterns and atmospheric phenomena.The installation invites visitors to experience light as a physical presence within the environment. https://nurulwardani.com/ Instagram – Nurul Wardani ...
Read more -
Raving With Power
Every evening Roaming - you never know where the power might appear!By: Ludus Ludus Dance returns with its 2026 piece, Raving With Power — a collective dance work where young people and young professionals come together in their own pop-up celebration of collective POWER. Featuring moments of lightsabre-like torchlight and powerful unison movement, Raving With Power explores what power can look and feel like for young people today. Together, we believe we can ...
Read more -
Sandcastle
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster CastleBy: leo&hyde In collaboration with “2099 will be fine :)” Some castles don’t last for ever – and that’s OK! A joyful, playful reflection on the fleetingness of life, SANDCASTLE is a reminder to enjoy every moment we have – before the castle comes crashing down. Created by leo&hyde (Blink and You Miss It, Lancaster Priory 2025; They Were ...
Read more -
Street Aquarium
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat 80 Church StreetBy: Marge Bradshaw, commissioned by Light Up Lancaster and Put Big Light On, Bolton. Creative Team: Simon Fletcher James Sewell Editor: Laura Spark Soundscape: Lizzie King Street Aquarium transforms familiar architecture into a magical underwater world – luminous, dreamlike and visible only after dark. Made from hundreds of hand-printed cyanotypes, this playful animation invites you to take time out, relax, and ...
Read more -
Twist and Shine
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Dalton SquareBy: Kaleider Credits: Twist & Shine is commissioned by RHS Bridgewater for Glow 2023, and in 2025 by Lux Helsinki. It is a development of Let’s Twist, a commission by Rotherham, Children’s Capital of Culture. Twist & Shine is a beautiful landscape of interactive light sculptures. They are made out of interconnected prisms that can be twisted into thousands of ...
Read more -
Zero Knowledge - More Information
Zero Knowledge: Can We Share Without Revealing? As you watch fragments of language gather into poetry, consider this: can we create something together without revealing who we are? I’m Dr Zhipeng Wang, a Lecturer in cybersecurity at the University of Manchester. My research explores how we can benefit from artificial intelligence and shared information while protecting our privacy. ...
Read more -
Zero Knowledge
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Storey Music RoomBy: Ronan Devlin Creative Team: Creative Coder, Davy Smith Zero Knowledge is an immersive, interactive artwork that explores how we might create shared digital experiences without revealing who we are. Each audience member privately contributes a word to the artwork. These anonymous words enter a shifting constellation, meeting and combining with other contributions to create fleeting visual poetry, language fragments, ...
Read more -
Duplication - More Information
By: NA11 Can you believe what you see and hear? Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), increased computing power, and the availability of large amounts of data have made it possible to create highly realistic fake images, audio, and videos, commonly known as deepfakes. Although these techniques offer many useful application, they also make it easier to create misleading content ...
Read more -
Fish Are Jumping
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster CanalBy: Studio Toer Splash! You look. Too late. Nope. There it goes… Splash! YES!! I saw it. It starts with sound. The surface of the water breaks. Light jumps up. The light shines and doubles in the reflection. The light descends quickly. Splash again. Then darkness. Black. A slow ripple appears on the water. It is a play of light ...
Read more -
Pig Farm
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Dalton SquareBy: Ladislav Sutnar: ARTshifters (Czech Republic) Pig Farm brings a joyful, glowing herd to Light Up Lancaster — six ride-on sculptures crafted from upcycled water barrels by Czech artists. Each pig invites visitors to hop on and set it swaying, while a tap on the back triggers a colour change from soft white to vibrant pink. Like the festival’...
Read more -
Animals
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat Lancaster CanalBy: Ivo Opl and Suren Manvelyan: ARTshifters (Czech Republic and Armenia) Animals brings visitors face-to-face with the wild, one gaze at a time. Built from Suren Manvelyan’s hyper-realistic photography and staged as land-art by Ivo Opl, 40 recycled smartphones scattered across the place become the living eyes of 16 species — from the sharp stare of a Caiman to the depth ...
Read more -
Demonz
5pm - 10pm, Thu, Fri, Sat. Located in Sun SquareBy: INITI Interactive: ARTShifters (Czech Republic) Demonz by INITI Interactive turns a building facade into a giant, glowing battleground where the digital and the real collide. Mischievous creatures flicker to life on screen, daring participants to knock them out with soft balls — every successful hit triggering a burst of light, colour and sound, gone again in an instant. ...
Read more -
Duplication
5pm - 10pm Thu, Fri, Sat Storey GalleryBy: NA11 DUPLICATION is a participatory digital artwork by artist NA11, exploring how our faces, voices and personal data are captured, copied and manipulated. Created with people connected to Lancaster, the work begins with a simple filmed portrait. Each participant is recorded looking into the camera, speaking a short sentence and photographed from multiple angles. These images and recordings ...
Read more