Bolsover Shines Bright with Light Show & Lantern Parade!
Bright Winter Nights & Bolsover Lantern Parade
Bolsover was shining bright this weekend, with two stunning light events kicking off the festive season.
This was the third year that Junction Arts has brought two illuminating events to Bolsover: Bright Winter Nights at Bolsover Castle and the Bolsover Lantern Parade, now in its 32nd year. On Thursday 27 and Friday 28 November, Bright Winter Nights saw almost 2,000 people flock to the immersive light shows at Bolsover Castle. This year’s theme was “Hear My Voice”, with all artworks co-created alongside young people from Bolsover. Working directly with professional artists, they shaped three new art installations, with their ideas, perspectives and voices taking centre stage.
This Is Me Talking was commissioned by Junction Arts in partnership with Videoclub and served as the large-scale centrepiece of Bright Winter Nights, projected onto the Little Castle. Boza Youth — a Bolsover-based youth club — worked alongside visual artist Rebecca Smith of Urban Projections to explore what mattered most to them. These conversations, along with designs created by the group, helped shape the powerful artwork.
Crescendo, a project funded by the Bolsover Partnership and undertaken by students from Shirebrook Academy, who worked with internationally renowned visual artist Barrett Hodgson, was projected onto The Terrace. Our Digital Tapestry, a projection-mapped animation inspired by young people from Stubbin Wood School and families attending Neurohub, funded by Wesco Anixter in Chesterfield, was shown inside the Riding School.
On Saturday, hundreds of people joined the Bolsover Lantern Parade with their lanterns, while thousands more lined the streets to watch one of the UK’s biggest and longest-running light processions. Following a month of lantern-making workshops in the community and local schools, more than 400 lanterns featured in the parade. Among the many creations were a giant Shrek accompanied by Donkey, the Stickman and his family, Pudsey Bear, a giant octopus with moving legs, Paddington, a herd of reindeer and a group of beautiful angels.
Another standout moment of the evening was the debut performance of Bolsover’s brand-new Samba Band. Created by Junction Arts, Bolsover Beats was formed to spark a fresh musical legacy for the town. Despite having no prior musical experience, the 30 members had been rehearsing since May in preparation for their big moment. Their vibrant energy set the tone for the festivities as they brought the party atmosphere and led the parade into the town centre.
The parade marked the finale of the Bolsover Winter Festival — a weekend of festive fun that included a traditional Christmas market and a day of festive food and entertainment in the town centre.
Chesterfield-based charity Junction Arts organised the events in partnership with Bolsover District Council, Old Bolsover Town Council, English Heritage and other community partners.
Junction Arts Managing Director, Emily Bowman, said: “We had an amazing three nights in Bolsover. These events celebrated art, technology and local people, with every piece of content co-created by the community and professional artists. Their success is a reflection of the fantastic creativity and strong community spirit that exists in this brilliant town, and we feel so proud to have been part of it. Thank you to our funders, supporters, partners, volunteers, artists and everyone who made a lantern or turned out to support these fabulous events.”