Excitement is building ahead of a new international light festival in Morecambe that will show off the Promenade like it's never been seen before.
Baylight '23 starts this Thursday, running until Saturday, and is being described as a "mesmerising spectacle for all the family".
There will be 17 light-up attractions stretching for 1.5km along the seafront from the Midland Hotel to opposite Morecambe Town Hall.
The event is a throwback to the Morecambe Illuminations of yesteryear, updated for the 21st century.
Some of the most exciting attractions will allow visitors to make their own music and even control lasers positioned on the roof of the Winter Gardens theatre!
People will be able to walk the stunning seafront route from any point and in any direction to view, and take part in, the illuminated activities.
Sian Johnson and Johnny Bean (pictured below) from Morecambe Sparkle CIC, the company organising the event, visited the Beyond Radio studio to talk about Baylight '23.
LISTEN to the interview here:
Johnny said the attractions at Baylight '23 are "really exciting".
"The thing for us with Baylight is to bring the Illuminations up-to-date," he said.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. You would never have got to play with the lights in the old Morecambe Illuminations.
"You can now get up nice and close with these things and actually engage with them, make things happen. They are very interactive."
One of the most popular activities is expected to be 'Laser Light City'.
Visitors will be able to stand in the gardens opposite the Winter Gardens (pictured below) and use their phones to take control of six lasers emitting from its balcony, guiding them to create their own light show!
Other popular landmarks the Eric Morecambe Statue, the Clock Tower, the Morecambe mosaic and the Queens Hotel will all be illuminated.
The projections onto the Queens called 'Light on the Community' have been designed by local schoolchildren and themed on Morecambe Bay. All entries in the competition will be on display in the Winter Gardens.
Shops, pubs and restaurants will be open for the duration of the festival, which runs from 6pm until 10pm each night.
Baylight ’23 will include a community parade on Friday February 17 from 5.45pm to 7pm.
The parade will begin at the mountain landscape just past the Clock Tower at around 6.15pm.
It will be led by the Baybeat band and will end at the back of the Midland where Samba Espirito drumming group will take over.
The parade should last about an hour after which everyone is free to go and view all the installations as normal and enjoy the event.
Young cyclists also also being invited to 'bling up your bike' and add to the spectacle of the parade at Baylight '23.
Other attractions will include:
Life-size polar bear sculptures on the rocks near the Eric statue
Yesterlight - an homage to the past Illuminations
A musical Illumaphonium
An Aqualux light and water exhibition
A Garden of Flames
Giant illuminated building blocks called Pixels which you can use to build your own objects.
Baylight '23 is organised by Morecambe Sparkle CIC, funded by Lancashire County Council, Morecambe Town Council and Morecambe Business Improvement District (BID), supported by Lancaster City Council.
Sian, chair of Morecambe Sparkle CIC, said there would definitely be a Baylight festival in 2024 as the grant money runs out at the end of next year.
The team will be looking for new sources of funding to keep it going in future years.
Related Story: New Morecambe festival of light will 'reinvent illuminations' in the town - Beyond Radio
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
Mayor of Lancaster launches children's Christmas card competition
Councillor loses her seat for not attending meetings for six months
Firefighters attend two call-outs for vehicle fires in Lancaster area
Lancaster youth charity announces new CEO
LISTEN: Lancaster singer-songwriter tells how music saved her life
Warning after youths try to use fake £20 notes in Lancaster shops
LISTEN: Beyond Radio presenter talks about living with a visible difference at Halloween
Firefighters called to outbuilding fire in Morecambe
Appeal after death of badly injured puppy found in cage at Lancaster riverside
LISTEN: Beyond Bear locked up as 'Jail and Bail' raises thousands for Lancaster hospice
