The first ever Baylight festival brought huge crowds to Morecambe and has been hailed as an "amazing" event for the town.
The new festival of light saw Morecambe Promenade lit up between the Midland and the town hall as crowds gathered to enjoy the illuminated spectacle.
Baylight '23 ran from Thursday to Saturday and despite the wet weather, the Prom was teeming with people who soaked up the sights of 17 special lit-up attractions.
Pubs and restaurants were also packed as the event was a major boost to the town's hospitality economy at a traditionally quiet time of year.
Feedback for the event on Beyond Radio social media was almost universally positive.
JimJam Hutchinson said: "It’s been a fantastic event and loved seeing my home town so packed in February.
"So may it continue and hope that it grows bigger and bigger each year."
Terri Rushton said: "It's lovely to see Morecambe making a comeback. We live in Barrow but travel through to the Platform regularly to watch the live music bands."
Elizabeth Lowe said: "Was fantastic. Good winter evening walking and seeing everything was just amazing. Well done, people got out and smiling in February absolutely needed, thank you."
Violet Houston said: "Go Morecambe! Well done to everyone involved! It’s been amazing!!!"
Ian Fleetwood said: "Brilliant to see Morecambe buzzing... Well done to Morecambe again for organising this..."
Urshie Muller said: "Couldn’t get a table in the Rotunda (at the Midland), very busy and reception area packed with people having coffee, (Soul Bowl) Vista was full too glad we had booked had a great meal. Nice to have the businesses benefitting and so lovely to see a bustling prom. Well done."
Photo below by Joshua Brandwood Photography.
The free international light festival opened on Thursday at around 6pm and stretched 1.5km down the seafront.
Popular attractions included the Kinetic Perspective, an illuminated structure of rings on the Stone Jetty; lit-up polar bears on the rocks; the Continuum haunting wall of mirrors near the Sailing Club starters' office, and the Angels of Freedom - illuminated angels wings and halos which proved popular for selfies.
The Laser Light City also gave people the chance to log into a website on their phones and take control of six laser beams emitting from the Winter Gardens balcony, which led to many stunning laser shows over the Prom.
Here is video footage of the Laser Light City at the Winter Gardens.
The Illumaphonium - a three-and-a-half-metre tall pyramid musical instrument and colourful illuminated building blocks called 'Pixels' proved particularly popular with children.
Landmarks including the Eric Morecambe Statue, the Midland and the Clock Tower were lit up for the event; as was the closed-down Queens Hotel, which shone brightly with projections of artwork from local children.
A special section called 'Yesterlight Festoon' paid homage to the past Morecambe Illuminations with light bulbs in the style of the day, and information boards including a list of celebrities who switched on the lights from the 1940s to the 1990s.
There was also a parade on Friday from near the Clock Tower to the Midland, led by Morecambe's Baybeat band and then later, the Samba Espirito samba drumming group.
The absolutely fabulous Samba Espirito slaying it at Baylight '23! 🥁
Posted by Brandwood Photography on Friday, February 17, 2023
A spokesperson for Baylight '23 said: "We'd like to say a big thank you to Lancashire County Council our major funders, and to Morecambe BID and Morecambe Town Council for match funding, to Lancaster City Council for supporting the event, our amazing volunteer team, the wonderful team at Morecambe Winter Gardens and everyone who worked tirelessly to make it happen, from the instigators like Charlie Edwards, Sian Johnson and Callum Henry to the delivery team Andrew Potter, Abbe Robinson, Richard Ryan, Helen Wells, Vik Muir and Johnny Bean to the local businesses who stayed open late, the technicians, artists and security staff.
"But most of all we want to say thank you to everyone who came out in their thousands on three cold nights in February to enjoy the fun and spend time with their families in our fantastic town."
Image below shows the Garden of Flames at Baylight '23
Baylight '23 was organised by Morecambe Sparkle CIC, funded by Lancashire County Council, Morecambe Town Council and Morecambe Business Improvement District (BID), supported by Lancaster City Council.
The event has funding to return in 2024 and organisers will be seeking the funds to continue it as a long-term event.
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