Harrogate Lights Up With A Giant Inflated Artwork This Weekend

A glowing four-metre-tall sphere is set to illuminate Harrogate this weekend, bringing a burst of colour and creativity to the town centre as part of this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

The installation, aptly named Lightweight, transforms The Crown Hotel courtyard into a mesmerising spectacle of live animation, sound, and light on October 10 and 11. The creation comes from Yorkshire-based arts innovators Impossible Arts - a team who’ve spent more than two decades surprising and delighting audiences across the UK and Europe with their immersive outdoor experiences.

And this time, the audience gets to join in. Visitors are invited to take a seat in a pop-up photo booth, where their portraits are turned into quirky animated faces and projected onto the glowing sphere. These personal animations join a kaleidoscope of other visuals, all set to a soundtrack of multi-channel music played through hidden speakers.

“It’s a great way of getting people to interact with an artwork in a fun and playful manner,” said Rachel Tunnicliffe, senior partner at Raworths. “We hope it encourages people to explore the town centre and join in with the community spirit of the festival.”

Lightweight also marks the start of the ten-day Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, which runs from October 9 to 19 at The Crown Hotel and The Wesley Centre. This year’s line-up features an array of brilliant guest speakers, promising lively, thought-provoking discussions and plenty of inspiration.

For the full programme and tickets, CLICK HERE or call the Box Office on 01423 562 303.