Fire festival returns to Rochdale this weekend with free entry and Christmas lights switch-on

Posted by on 19 Nov 2024

Hot news around Rochdale this week is that final preparations are under way for Ignite Fire Festival taking place in Rochdale town centre from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November, leading up to the Christmas lights switch-on at the town hall.

Ignite will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall with three free night-time spectacular shows delivering a magical trail of fire, lights for all the family along with plenty of live entertainment from 5pm to 8pm. 

The event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, runs from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November. Fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations created by artists and pyro technicians from multi-award winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank will be open to walk through each evening. Father Christmas and his special guests, including the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed, and Middleton Arena pantomime stars Castle Clown and Princess Beauty will switch-on the lights from 5.30pm on Sunday in front of the town hall after the traditional countdown, before the Fire Festival continues until 8pm.

In addition to an assortment of amazing blazing displays each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show. Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project will also be performing. Street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus who got a fantastic reception from the crowds last year will be returning too. Look out for Astro Aliens – a quirky trio of cosmic beings that children will love to watch and ‘Drum Machine’ - a 20-strong drumming collective, who’ll be bringing their techno infused beats to the event. And if that’s not enough, The Fire Man Dave is performing his live fire show, featuring fire eating, juggling and much amazement. Awe-inspiring performers from local favourites Skylight Circus Arts will be adding fuel to the fire. Their first act each evening features ‘Fireflies,’ their new community fire spinning group, made up of 12 adult beginners trained by Travelling Light Circus. Their second performance will showcase some of their Teen Youth Circus, performing their newly acquired fire spinning circus skills.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Our Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Lights Switch-On will be lighting up Rochdale once again, transforming the gardens and Esplanade next to the town hall into an exciting wonderland, bringing light to those dark November evenings and communities together in what we hope will be our most dynamic show yet.”

Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.