Map for Newcastle Northern Lights festival trail highlights new installations

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun as Northern Lights Newcastle returns to Leazes Park with its highly anticipated 2024 light trail.

With the reveal of this year’s map, visitors can now plan their festive journey through 15 breathtaking installations featuring a completely reimagined route alongside a festive Christmas Village. This enchanting event opening on November 22, is offering magical experiences that promise to captivate the whole family.

The 2024 light trail has introduced an array of new show-stopping installations, inviting guests to explore the illuminated park filled with artistry and imagination that seamlessly complements the natural beauty of Leazes Park.

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New Highlights include:

• Optical - An enchanting field of pixel-mapped fibre optic forms standing at varying heights. These mesmerising lights fill the space between the trees, which are also draped in glowing fibre optic strands. Set to captivating music, the field of blossoming lights comes alive with waves of colour and light, creating a breathtaking experience.

• Whispering Nights - Discover Whispering Nights, an ethereal installation featuring up to 2,000 flickering LED candles along a winding path. Each warm glow mimics the gentle dance of flames, casting soft shadows and inviting visitors into a tranquil space where light and serenity intertwine for a peaceful journey.

• Psychedelic Snails - Created in collaboration with the Alan Shearer Centre, this quirky installation features glowing, colour-changing snails with psychedelic fibre-optic trails weaving around the environment adding a playful touch for children and families.

• Mycelium Network - Made by South Shields artist Stevie Thompson, this fibre-optic installation mimics the intricate underground networks of fungi, with glowing tendrils pulsing through the landscape in a rhythmic, captivating show

Other exciting installations that guests can expect to see include Winter Skies, Festive Families, Beacons of Christmas, Framed, Vertica, and Light Garden, all of which promise to add to the enchantment of this year’s trail.

Emma St. Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at Northern Lights Newcastle, commented: "We’re beyond excited to be returning for our second year in Newcastle, and can’t wait for everyone to see all the work and creativity that has gone into this year’s installations.

"Bringing this festive experience to the North East, and working alongside amazing local communities, talented artists, and incredible charities has been a true privilege, allowing us to create something uniquely magical that brings the whole family together."

Alongside these spectacular installations, at the end of the trail visitors are invited to gather in the Christmas Village. Featuring nine top-tier local food vendors - with new traders already confirmed for Christmas 2024, the delicious offerings are set to transform the village into a flavour-filled destination.

Two themed bars also offering a delightful range of festive drinks and marshmallow-toasting stations will complete the festive experience, ensuring that the magic of Christmas comes to life through a captivating atmosphere.

With less than four weeks to go until the opening of Northern Lights Newcastle, excitement is building for a truly magical experience. With over half the tickets already sold, families and friends eager to embrace the festive spirit can look forward to an enchanting experience like never before.

To book tickets for Northern Lights November 22-December 31 run see here. They cost from £19.50 for adults and from £13.95 for three- to 16-year-olds while family tickets are also available from £59.50 and under-twos can be taken along for free. Time slots can be booked between 4.30pm (4.15pm from December 1) and 8.15pm.