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Thousands Gather as Garden of Light Transforms Newark Market Place
Newark Market Place was transformed into a glowing celebration of colour, creativity and community on Saturday 7 March as Garden of Light brought the Newark Cultural Heart programme to a spectacular close.
Delivered by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Newark Town Council and We Are Newark, the free immersive light event welcomed approximately 3,000 visitors between 6pm and 9pm, marking the transition from winter to spring with a powerful shared moment for the town.
From the moment visitors arrived, the Market Place became a garden of illuminated colour. Interactive projections allowed families to “pick” digital flowers from a glowing landscape and cast them onto Newark Town Hall, creating a constantly evolving artwork shaped by the public themselves.
A key highlight of the evening was the participatory lantern parade, which saw local school children, families and community groups carry handmade lanterns through the town centre to officially open the event.
More than 50 participants took part in pre-event workshops, creating lanterns that became part of the live spectacle. The parade symbolised renewal, growth and shared ownership of Newark’s town centre, placing residents at the heart of the experience.
The opening moment drew crowds into the Market Place, where the collective lantern display marked the official launch of Garden of Light and set the tone for the evening’s celebrations.
People who attended Garden of Light travelled from across Newark and neighbouring areas including Grantham, Lincoln and Sleaford to experience the event. The lantern parade quickly became a standout moment of the evening, alongside the dancing bee puppets, fire performances, live music and the historic buildings illuminated in a range of colourful designs. The silent disco inside St Mary Magdalene Church also proved hugely popular. Many visitors commented on the welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of community across the town centre.
The event forms part of the wider Newark Cultural Heart programme, one of the eight Newark Towns Fund priority projects, funded by the UK Government. The programme aims to increase town centre activity, improve public perception and deliver high-quality, accessible cultural experiences for residents and visitors.
Garden of Light marked the final large-scale public event within the Newark Cultural Heart programme, which has delivered a multi-year calendar of free cultural activity across the town centre since 2022.
Councillor Claire Penny, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said “Garden of Light was a celebration of Newark’s creativity and community spirit. It was amazing that so many families, schools and local groups took part in the workshops and the parade. It was great to see the astonishing fire show delivered by Flame Oz, an addition to the event that really wowed the audience. This finale event was incredibly special and demonstrates the lasting impact of Newark Cultural Heart which has brought thousands to the town centre over the past few years.”
Lizzie Atkin, Creative Producer of Checkmate Productions said “It was fantastic to see so many people come together in Newark Market Place to experience the Garden of Light. The lantern parade, performances and illuminated buildings created a real sense of celebration and community pride. We’re incredibly proud to have helped deliver an event that placed residents at the heart of the experience and brought the town centre to life.”
The event was designed not simply as a spectacle, but as a participatory experience, ensuring that residents were not just attendees, but contributors. From children carrying lanterns to families interacting with the projections, Garden of Light reinforced Newark’s identity as a welcoming, creative and community-driven town centre.