An area of the town centre has been closed off today, Tuesday, as Bolton prepares to shine in a winter light festival.

Crews have put up cutting-edge projectors that will illuminate the town hall for the "Put Big Light On" celebration a free art trail running from December 5 to 8.

The huge installation by NOVAK, called YARN: will transform the building into a series of scenes filled with colour, motion, and sound and will feature music by Ed Carter.  

Viewers will be treated to immersive scenes of Bolton’s history as it transformed from a small market town to a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution.

Dan Gray, director of Graymatter Video, said: “We have two nights to install the projectors and technology.

“And to line up the content to fit the map and shape of the building.

“It’s going live on Thursday night.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Put Big Light On was the first festival of its kind for the town last year. And is back again to great acclaim.

The four-day festival, curated by Things That Go on Things, will have include an art trail with displays across the town centre.

Bolton Museum will offer special exhibitions like GAIA – showing Earth in all its glory with large-scale NASA imagery.

And a recreation of the large neon sign outside Bolton's Ritzy Night Club, an iconic venue in the 1980s and 1990s.   

These can be viewed from Saturday, November 30 to February 23 in the museum’s temporary exhibition gallery. 

And the Octagon Theatre will capture the wonder of the night sky with The Stars Come Out Tonight.

An artwork by Stellar Projects that will be in the studio theatre.

Other Put the Big Light on events include:

  • Luminosi Tree: A large-scale, nature-inspired, immersive installation with music inspired by the Fibonacci sequence.
  • ROCK ON: Things That Go On Things invites the audience to be part of the piece by stepping on stage and unleashing their inner Rock God.
  • The Dancing Fountain: Engineer and kinetic artist, Alexis Richter, The Dancing Fountain brings visuals of sound in liquid form. Using proprietary algorithms, a high-frequency pump and a hand-machined turbine, the Fountain transforms music in real-time into a self-choreographed water dance.  
  • Spin Me a Yarn: To be based on Newport Street, this will showcase an oversized ball of yarn with a long trail that interacts with its surrounding area.