About
You’re welcome to come along and enjoy our Lisburn Light Festival and enjoy the illuminating captivating light installations at various locations across the city.
Join us for light shows at the Light Canopy on Bow Street, Enchanting Christmas Tree and the Christmas Garden Light Trail in Castle Gardens. And don’t forget if you’re in the Castlereagh area to visit our illuminated Artic Fox in Carryduff and spectacular Reindeer in Dundonald.
FAQs
Purpose of the light festival
enhancing the quality of the city centre environment for local people, businesses, shoppers, tourist etc.
creating and sustaining an attractive, vibrant, safe space to encourage pedestrian movement stimulate investment to create a vibrant area where people are proud to live, visit, work and play
Aims of the light festival
to drive footfall into the city centre over the festive period
increase the number of new visitors to Lisburn City Centre
improve people’s perception of Lisburn as a visitor/shopping destination
provide opportunities for city centre businesses especially those in the retail and hospitality sectors
allow us to promote the city centre as a primary retail and leisure destination
Light festival programme
The festival starts on the evening of the Christmas lights switch on – Thursday 23rd November.
From Friday 24th November to Friday 22nd December the activities are:
Light Show - Canopy, Tree, Prisms
Canopy – 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm daily until 23rd December
Prisms – 4.15pm, 4.45pm, 5.15pm, 5.45pm, 6.15pm, 6.45pm, 7.15pm, 7.45pm, 8.15pm and 8.45pm daily until 23rd December
Tree – 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm daily until 23rd December
Castle Gardens Light Trail
Open daily from 4pm to 8.30pm. Last entry will be 8pm
Santa will visit Castle Gardens each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 8.30pm. Last entry will be 8pm – whilst Santa visits are free of charge, donations are welcome for the Mayor’s Charity, Cancer Fund for Children.
Prices
All events will be free*
Amusements in Castle Gardens will cost - £3.50 for one turn and £5 for two.
*there is a small charge for Ladies night and the wreath making class.
Toilets / Changing places / Baby Changing
Public toilets will be open in Castle Gardens. They are located beside Santa’s Grotto at the exit of the light trail.
There will also be public toilets open in the museum, Crema, The Haslem hotel, The Lark and Bow Street Mall.
Availability Food and Drink
Hot drinks and tray bakes will be available to buy each evening in Castle Gardens. There will also be a variety of hot and cold food available to buy in our Traders Village every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 8pm in Castle Gardens.
Staff members will be onsite should you have any questions
Accessibility and Terrain
Wheelchair / Pram access
The pathways are all wheelchair and pram accessible. There is a slight incline from Bow Street to Castle Gardens and around Castle Gardens.
Location / distance from train and bus station / local car parks / charges / Site event plan
Lisburn Train Station to Castle Gardens is 0.3 miles/ a 7-minute walk
Lisburn Train station to Bow Street Mall is 0.6 miles / a13 Minute walk
Lisburn Train Station to Market Square is 0.3 miles / a 7 Minute walk
Lisburn Bus Station to Castle Gardens is0.4 Miles / a 9 minute walk
Lisburn Bus Station to Bow Street Mall is0.1 miles / a 3 Minute walk
Lisburn Bus Station to Market Square is 0.2 miles / a 5 Minute walk
You can view bus and train time online at https://www.translink.co.uk/
Car Parks
Graham Gardens Car Park
BT28 1XE
Open 7am to 7pm
Price: £3 capped daily
Lisburn Underground Car Park
BT28 1TS
Open 8am to 11pm.
Prices: 1 hr is £1 up to 5 hr + at £6
Quay Street Carpark
BT27 4XE
No closing time
Free parking
Queens Road Cark Park
BT27 4RL
No closing time
Prices: 1 hr is 30p up to max £2.70
Laganbank Road Car Park
BT28 1LU
Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm
Prices: 1 hr is 70p up to 9 Hrs £6.30
Taxi numbers
1st Choice Taxis - 028 9266 8868
Fona Cab - 028 9033 3333
Premier taxis
Health and Safety
The light canopy show installed on Bow Street has a maximum flash rate of 23hz which equates to 11.5 flashes per second.
This is below the danger zone referred to by Epilepsy Action of between 16 and 25 times a second, which is thought to be the most problematic for people with photosensitive epilepsy.
We are aware some people are sensitive to flash rates as low as 3 or as high as 60 per second. To ensure everyone can make an informed decision about attending the light shows we have:
- signage in place
- regular audio announcements are made in advance of each scheduled light show.
These measures advise people that the 10-minute shows, which run three times per day will contain flashing lights. The light canopy does not flash outside these times.
Environmental Impact (Electricity Costs)
All the light festival lighting is LED and more environmentally friendly than other light sources. It is approximately 70% more energy efficient than other lighting.
Facilities
Accessibility
- Activities accessible for visitors with disabilities
- All areas accessible to disabled visitors
Establishment Features
- Cash machines - In City Centre
Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- Frequent bus services
- Off site parking
- Parking (charge)
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
- Station nearby
- Taxi rank nearby
