Crawley New Town’s 75th Anniversary To Culminate With Three-Day Light Festival

A programme of light installations, videos, theatre and entertainment across the town centre will provide the highlight of Crawley New Town’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Lights in Memorial Gardens

Friday 18 to Sunday 20 November, dusk until 9pm

Wander through the beautiful town centre park and discover the beautiful lanterns created by https://samesky.co.uk/, a community-led arts organisation that took part in the Platinum Jubilee parade in London and look out for the Celestial Sound Cloud, an interactive digital sound and light sculpture inspired by cosmic clouds and nebulas.

‘Tales of Crawley’, 49-51 High Street (former ASK building)

Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November, 4.30-9pm

Take a trip through time and experience Crawley through the ages! Led by the ghost of the old Nightwatchman, meet various characters from Crawley's past and hear their stories as you journey through one of the High Street's oldest buildings.

Produced by Half-Time Orange Theatre with Crawley Borough Council and in association with The Hawth. To book your free slot, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tales-of-crawley-tickets-440509083527?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1.

Silent disco walkabout, Bandstand, Memorial Gardens

Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November from 4pm

Get those headphones on and bring your best dance moves for a dance party around the streets of Crawley to the sound and beats of your favourite pop classics! 

Family entertainment, Memorial Gardens

Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November from 4.30pm

There will be poetry, music and street performances at the Bandstand and around the park.

Give it a Go: Projection 

Saturday 19 November, 12 noon until 3pm, 49-51 High St (former ASK building)

Ever wondered how large scale projection on public buildings is made? Do you want a chance to play around with projected light and images? Join Maggie and Sam for this free workshop where you can get a beginners guide to projection mapping. Projection mapping is the process of transforming static objects (like buildings) into painted canvases for video, bringing them to life by adding movement and extra dimensions while playing with visual effects and optical illusions. Presented by Creative Crawley. Funded by Crawley Town Centre Business Improvement District.

Creative Crawley presents 'Night Watch' by https://videoclub.org.uk/

Saturday 19 November, 5pm and 6.30pm

See Crawley in a new way as part of an outdoor film trail! Watch short films projected onto the streets of Crawley as part of videoclub’s Night Watch film trail. Five short films by British and international artists will be shown above shops and on buildings, taking place for one evening only. Follow the film trail as the mobile cinema moves around the town centre, with opportunities to stop and watch, and then follow the trail to the next location. Viewers can follow the trail or just watch one film. videoclub will be walking films through the streets using a portable cinema. Meet outside Metro Bank in Queens Square. This is funded by Arts Council England and Crawley Town Centre Business Improvement District.

https://worldbeatersmusic.com/the-show Memorial Gardens

Saturday 19 November, from 5pm

Street theatre show combining drumming, dynamic choreography and beautiful lighting design.

Christmas tree lights switch-on, Queens Square

Sunday 20 November from 3pm

Festive elves, entertainment and Christmas carols from 3pm followed by the Christmas tree lights switch-on at 5pm.

Councillor Chris Mullins, Cabinet member for Wellbeing, said:

“This exciting programme of events will be a fabulous way to bring our 75th anniversary celebrations to a close.

“All three days are full of fun, free, family-friendly events so get these dates in your calendar now!”

Wendy Bell, Manager of Crawley Town Centre Business Improvement District, said:

“We are delighted to work with the council to help celebrate the new town’s 75th anniversary. The Light Festival will be a huge boost to the town centre allowing businesses and residents to enjoy the engaging and illuminating programme.

“Our partners Creative Crawley always bring something unexpected and fun to the town and the film trail is exactly that, we can’t wait to see the whole programme!”

Louise Blackwell, Creative Director at Creative Crawley, said:

“We’re delighted to be part of this event and to offer Crawley people the chance to try something new and unexpected in the town centre.”

For up-to-date event information visit crawley.gov.uk/events