Lights In The City - Extended By Popular Demand
After a warm reception from city goers, the ‘Winchester - Lights in the City’ event has been extended until Sunday 13 February.
The event was created to support the recovering evening economy and has seen the city’s iconic buildings lit up to celebrate the theme, Winter into Spring.
Every day after 4pm those visiting the city centre can enjoy installations and projections at key locations across the city including Winchester City Museum, the Cathedral, The Square and Guildhall Winchester.
The giant tulip illuminations in Abbey Gardens are a 'must see' and the council is encouraging people to take ‘selfies’ and use the hashtag #WinchesterLights.
This week also saw the vacant Debenhams windows lit up as part of the trail. Backlit imagery of heritage attractions across the city has been displayed across the currently vacant frontage.
Cllr Martin Tod, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery at Winchester City Council, said:
“It’s been a really challenging time for local business and the city council has been working hard to get people back to our high streets right across the district.
The Lights in the City event has been a real hit. It’s been great seeing people of all ages going through the city - passing the knights and Hampshire roses projected next to the Great Hall, through the Westgate arch, down through The Square to the lit-up row of trees leading up to the Cathedral, past the Guildhall and arriving in Abbey Gardens with its giant lit up tulips and trees.”
In December, Winchester City Council commissioned Stockbridge-based Icthus Event Solutions Limited to design and install the lights for Winchester – Lights in the City. Icthus has supplied festive lighting and light trails for Winchester BID, Salisbury City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and others.
For more information about Winchester – Lights in the City, including a digital trail of the lights see https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/event/lights-in-the-city/.
The Great Hall is the only building not to be included as part of the extension, as preparations continue ahead of a visit by HRH Prince Charles on 10 February.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Winchester – Lights in the City has been funded through the Government’s Reopening High Street Safely and Welcome Back Fund European Regional Development Fund programme – aimed at promoting safe public environments; supporting local business; and encouraging people to return to the high streets.