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Winter Light Festival

24th - 26th January 2025

4:30pm - 8:30pm

Rotherham Town Centre

Otherham Winter Light Festival

24th - 26th January 2025

4:30pm - 8:30pm

Rotherham Town Centre

FREE

Welcome to Otherham Winter Light Festival! Prepare to be amazed by a stunning trail of light and sound projections. 

Everything is FREE, family – friendly and accessible.

Flux
lottery_Logo_White CMYK
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Children's Capital of Culture
Imitating the Dog
Grimm & Co
SYMCA
Funded by Uk Government

Plan your visit

Key:

  • Car Parks
  • Toilets
  • Bus
  • Rail
  • Info
  • Sites

Each of the artworks and installations takes place 4.30pm – 8.30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.

There are no set times and no need to book for anything, so just turn up whenever you want!

If you’d prefer you can download the key information in our pdf version below.

Download programme

Yes. All gendered Portaloo’s will be available at the event, this includes disabled Portaloo’s. They can be found on Upper Millgate, just off Corporation Street, at the bottom of Minster Gardens. These are free to use.

Grimm and Co: Toilets, Disabled Toilets, Changing Places Toilet, Baby Change

Rotherham Minster: Toilets, Disabled Toilets, Baby Change

The Bus Interchange and Rotherham Markets also have toilets.

Train
Rotherham Central Station is located in Rotherham Town Centre and is 0.3 miles from the event.
Address: Rotherham Central station, Central Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 1QH
For more information booking your journey via train, and access at Rotherham Central Station visit Northern.

Bus
Rotherham Bus Interchange is located in Rotherham Town Centre and is 0.2 miles from the event.
Address: Rotherham Interchange, Frederick St, Rotherham S60 1QB

For more information on booking your journey via bus, and access at Rotherham Bus Interchange visit Travel South Yorkshire.

Bike
You can find cycle parking at:

  • Rotherham Bus Interchange, near coach stand C3 & C4.
  • Rotherham Central Train Station, in the car park.

Closest car parks are:

  • Drummond Street, S65 1EZ
  • Westgate Car Park, S60 1BJ
  • Clifton Hall Car Park, S60 1ED
  • Rotherham Interchange Car Park, S60 1QB

Locations, charges and parking information (including electric vehicle charging points) can be found on the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s website.

RMBC offers free and time-unlimited parking for disabled drivers displaying a valid Blue Badge in all of its off-street pay and display car parks in Rotherham.

Free parking is available on Saturdays in Council-owned off-street car parks in Rotherham town centre (not Forge Island), no ticket required. The normal maximum duration time allowed still applies. Find out more here.

You can find a digital map of all the car parking provided by RMBC here.

You can download more parking information here.

You can travel to Rotherham Town Centre using the park and ride at the following locations:

Parkgate

Address: Stadium Way, S60 1TG

Opening times: 05:00-Midnight Monday to Saturday, 08:00-21:30 Sunday

Tickets from: Parking is free. Tickets for travel can be purchased onboard from the conductor

Please note: Parking facilities outside of the dedicated Tram Train parking spaces are subject to the parking terms and conditions of Parkgate Shopping. This includes terms of maximum stay.

Swinton Train Station

Address: Lime Grove, S64 8SP

Tickets from: Parking is free. Tickets for travel can be purchased from vending machines or via the Ticket Office. For ticket office hours please visit Northern Rail

Facilities: Toilets opening during staffed hours, cycle spaces available

Accessibility: Check information on the National Rail Enquiries website

5 main sites

The Ministry for Weather and Good Will

Projection 1

Rotherham Minster

The Bright Ideas Mining Company

Projection 2

Rise House

Otherham Chronicle

Projection 3

Holy Ghost Tattoo

Cinema of Future Films

Projection 4

32 High Street

Centre for Coming and Going

Projection 5

The Town Hall

Ghost Caribou by Thingumajig Theatre

Church Street

With music, song and shadow puppets, Thingumajig Theatre tell stories of lost homes, impossible migrations and seeds of hope before continuing the journey into their hauntingly beautiful dream-world of the night.

LED Circus Workshops with Yorkshire Circus

Forge Island

Join professional circus performers to spin, catch and play in this fun, interactive drop-in session on Forge Island.

A young girl in a workshop

Workshops

Rotherham Minster

Join the fantastic workshops at Rotherham Minster.

Light Painting Booth with Tim Simpson

Minster Gardens (Near the Steel Heart)

Join the fantastic workshops at Rotherham Minster.

Wild Light Lanterns with RSPB Old Moor

Minster Gardens

Minster Gardens will be beautifully lit with wildlife sculptures, puppets, and lanterns made in community and schools’ workshops.

Neon Ladies

High Street (Friday and Saturday only)

Wear your finest neon outfits and face paint and look out for the Neon Ladies who will reward outlandish outfits with free neon accessories!

Workshops

Grimm & Co

Join the fantastic workshops at Grimm & Co.

And... Breathe by Pif-Paf Theatre

Forge Island (Next to the Arc Cinema)

Explore the connection between sound, light and your breathing. Move your body in time with your breathing to control and illuminate this wonderful work in progress sculpture.

Artist workshops

Take part in free creative workshops at Forge Island, Rotherham Minster and Grimm & Co.

Become a lamplighter! – Create and illuminate a lantern with Sara Blackburn, to be added to the Wild Lights display brightening the festival.

Connector scientists – Learn the science behind electricity with Amazelab, light up a village scene and take a card of your creation home!

Wild features – Use natural materials to create your own mask with Evelyn Albrow, referencing Rotherham’s history and local wildlife.

Written in the stars – Work with Grimm & Co staff to write your very own wishes and create your own guiding stars, using crafting materials to take with you as you explore the Otherham Winter Light Festival!

Watery wonders – Join artist Chris Teal to create your own artwork using Brusho Watercolour.

Hot Chocolate and marshmallow clouds? – Have you ever wondered what would happen if you combined the weather and food? Meet Love Azaria to find out and create your very own weather menu and get ordering!

FAQ's

Otherham Light Festival is a FREE 3-day festival of light, sound and art that will illuminate a trail throughout Rotherham Town Centre. It takes place over 3 consecutive evenings 24th, 25th & 26th of January 2025, 4:30pm – 8:30pm each evening.

There are five projection sites, each telling their own story and run constantly throughout the evening:

  • The Ministry for Weather and Goodwill – Rotherham Minster (All Saint’s Square façade), Church St, Rotherham S60 1PD
  • The Bright Ideas Mining Company Inc. – Rise House, Vicarage Ln, Rotherham S65 1AA
  • The Otherham Chronicle – Holy Ghost tattoo, 36 High St, Rotherham S60 1PP
  • The Cinema of Future Films – 32 High Street, Rotherham S60 1PP
  • The Centre for Coming and Going – Rotherham Town Hall, The Crofts, Moorgate St, Rotherham S60 2TH.

Alongside the light trail filling the Town Centre, there will be walk-about performances, creative workshops, light installations and pop-up busking performances from Rotherham Music Service. Everything is FREE to take part.

No. Otherham Winter Festival is a FREE town centre-wide event with no ticket required. The installations and projections run constantly throughout the evening – so if you arrive and it is already underway, just wait a few minutes and it will start again!

We are running FREE creative workshops throughout the festival, these are drop-in.

This is an outdoor event and will take place in all weathers. Warm outdoor clothing, appropriate footwear and waterproofs (to be on the safe side) are essential.

Yes – all the installations take place after dark, when the beautiful light art looks its very best! Installations are outdoors, there will be well-lit spaces as well as darker spaces to showcase the art. See ‘At A Glance’ at the bottom of this page for which installations are outdoor and which are indoor.

There is no set route or itinerary to the festival – view installations as and when you want to!

You may have to queue for workshops during periods of high demand, please be patient and kind to staff. If you would prefer not to queue it’s worth coming a little later on in the evening when it is likely to be a bit quieter.

Within Minster Gardens, off Corporation Street, we will be displaying lanterns decorated by some of the primary schools in Rotherham. See if you can find it!

Across all three evenings, FREE creative workshops for all ages and abilities will be running for you to take part in, 4:30pm – 8:30pm. They will take place at the following venues:

  • Forge Island – Unit 5
  • Forge Island – Unit 3
  • Rotherham Minster
  • Minster Gardens
  • Grimm & Co.

Some installations use music or some kind of soundtrack, and maybe a little noisy.
If you feel overwhelmed, you can leave an installation at any point. All the pieces are very informal, and you can come and go as you please.
You can come and sit down inside the Imperial Buildings (S60 1FF); it will be softly lit and will be a good location to relax for a little while away from the crowds.

Local cafes and bars will be staying open over the festival days. Food and drink will be available at the following locations:

Otherham takes place in Rotherham Town Centre, both indoors and outdoors. Hard-standing routes and dropped kerbs are present throughout the footprint of the event. Some of the indoor buildings are old and have some limitations.

If you have any worries on the night, please speak to an event steward for more information.

You are welcome to bring your dog to any of the outdoor installations, however, do be aware that some installations may be a bit noisy! Well behaved dogs are welcome in Rotherham Minster or the empty units being used for workshops in Forge Island. Guide dogs are welcome.

Please note that photography and filming will take place during the festival. The material may be used in social media, in promotional videos and other publicity materials, both off and online. If you do not wish to appear in Flux Rotherham promotional materials or have any other queries or concerns, please speak to a member of the Flux Rotherham team.

Drop us an email on [email protected]

  • Rotherham Minster – Projection 1 – ‘The Ministry for Weather and Good Will’
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues
    • Some seating available
  • Rise House- Projection 2 – ‘Soul Smelting Factory’
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues
  • Holy Ghost tattoo – Projection 3 – ‘Otherham Chronicle’
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues
  • 32 High Street – Projection 4 – ‘Cinema of Future Films’
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues
  • Rotherham Town Hall – Projection 5 – ‘Centre for Comings and Goings’
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues
    • Some seating available
  • Grimm & Co.
    • Indoor
    • May be noisy, possible queues
    • Free Workshops
    • Seating and café available
  • Forge Island – Unit 5
    • Indoor
    • May be noisy, possible queues
    • Interactive free workshop, kids will love it!
  • Forge Island – Unit 3
    • Indoor
    • May be noisy, possible queues
    • Light installation
  • Rotherham Minster
    • Indoor
    • May be noisy, possible queue
    • Free workshops
    • Toilets
    • Seating available
  • Minster Gardens
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, possible queues
    • Free workshop
  • Ghost Caribou
    • Roaming Church Street (next to Minster Gardens)
    • May be noisy, no queues
    • Outdoor
  • Neon Ladies
    • Roaming High Street
    • Outdoor
    • Interactive
  • RSPB nature Lanterns
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queue
  • Minster Yard
    • Outdoor
    • May be noisy, no queues

We’re looking for volunteers to help us bring the Otherham Winter Light Festival to life!

We need volunteers stewards to help guide people, explain the artworks and make sure everyone stays safe and enjoys their experience.

By volunteering at Otherham Winter Light Festival you will be part of a huge and memorable event, you’ll support the local community, gain skills and meet like-minded people.

To apply or for more information please email [email protected]

Yes, you can find a summary of information for the festival, including access information, in the easy read document here (Word Document) (PDF).

About the artists behind the projections

imitating the dog makes ground-breaking work for theatres and other spaces. For 25 years, their work has been seen across the world, at venues, and also at outdoor festivals and events, seen by hundreds of thousands of people. Recent projection works include Arrivals and Departures (City of Culture, Hull) and Follow Me Into (Bartholomew Fair, London).

Children’s Capital of Culture 2025

2025 is the year Rotherham, South Yorkshire, becomes the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture, with the children and young people of Rotherham bringing fun, energy and unique events to the borough, for everyone to enjoy, all year round. Come and join us! To find out more, visit Children’s Capital of Culture.

Imagining Otherham

Stories and films by Rotherham's young people

Storytelling at Grimm & Co

Grimm & Co, in partnership with imitating the dog, ran a 6-week writing programme for young people aged 12-16. Participants reimagined Rotherham as an otherworldly place, with their stories inspiring the projection designs.

Find out more HERE

Young filmmakers

To celebrate Rotherham’s young filmmaking talent, we partnered with Children’s Capital of Culture, imitating the dog, and Studio Bokehgo. Together, we worked with schools and young creators to produce original, imaginative short films, showcased in the ‘Cinema of Future Films’ (High Street) across all three nights.

Otherham song

A new song written by young people at Grimm & Co and recorded by Rotherham Youth Choir will be featured as part of the event.

Follow us

Stay in touch with Flux Rotherham over the festival for the latest news and updates. Share your photos and experiences by using the hashtag #Otherham.

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Have your say

Let us know what you thought of the festival for the chance to win a £100 voucher! Enter the survey here

Otherham Winter Light Festival is brought to you by Flux Rotherham in collaboration with imitating the dog, Children’s Capital of Culture, RMBC Events and Grimm & Co.

A massive thank you to all our projection, projector, and workshop site hosts. You’re all wonderful!