A much-loved light festival is set to returning later this year, promising to be a spectacular time for families.

The Rivington Festival of Light is to return to the borough in October and organisers are excited to showcase the lantern craft on the various trails.

Rivington Heritage Trust has put on the festival since 2019, which saw the Italian Lake, the Pigeon Tower and Levers Bridge light up for two nights in March.

Last year, the show was a sell-out.

And now this year's event is expected to be just as amazing include a range of lanterns created by volunteers such as Marvel and sea creatures, music, a laser and light show, and a whole host of entertainment.

Chair of Friends of Rivington Terrace Gardens, Vanessa Ashcroft said: “It is our favourite event, it certainly is a fantastic event, everyone loves it, and it is so much better than the other kind of light trail events in the North West.

“You have got the professional side of it where we light up the woodland, so it is beautiful and we get a professional company to do it all, so we light the woodland, we light up all of our wonderful Grade II listed structures such as the Pigeon Tower and that all looks beautiful.

“But what makes it so different is that we have volunteers who will work months in advance to build the light trail and we build willow lanterns.

“So, there is a light trail with willow lanterns and there is another light trail, a UV light trail all completely built by the volunteers.

“And this year we have a solar system with planets, spaceships and Martians, we have got Marvel characters, in the UV section we have got eight feet tall eight feet wide butterflies which are just glorious when they lift up and for the Queen’s passing we built a five foot tall and wide crown that was lit up as well as a Paddington and some Scot Guards with bear skins, but we also have all kinds of lanterns on display.

“These are all built by the volunteers, so it really is organic and that is the charm of it.

“It looks great, and you see families walking round and their faces are just full of wonder, and it is an event that brings real joy to those who see it and to those who built it.

“We will have entertainers as well.”

The Rivington Festival of Light will take place from October 26 to 28 from 6pm until 9.30pm, the second weekend of half term for most schools.

Tickets can be bought from the website priced at £18 for adults, £9 for children aged between 6 to 16 and five and under go for free.

People can also become volunteers, crafting, and making lanterns for the community event.

If anyone wants to help with the craft side, they can get in touch via Facebook or via the website.

To book tickets go to https://www.rivingtonterracedgardens.org.uk/whats-on/festival-of-light/

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.