Connecting Cultures is heading to Oak Hill Park in Accrington this Saturday (10am-4pm), with a full day of free entertainment, live performances and family activities.
The festival is free to attend and offers something for all ages, with dozens of activities taking place throughout the day alongside the headline attraction – Timisien, the internationally acclaimed Luminarium by Architects of Air.
Having toured 47 countries and welcomed more than four million visitors, the immersive walk-through artwork uses light and colour to create a unique experience for people of all ages.
Free priority booking slots for the Luminarium on Saturday have now all been allocated. Visitors can still experience the installation by joining the walk-in queue on the day.
There is also limited availability for workshops taking place inside the Luminarium on Thursday and Friday. To check availability and book, visit: https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/connectingcultures/
The fun-filled day starts at 10am, with a Heritage Talk at the Oak Hill War Memorial.
Throughout Saturday, the bandstand will host a programme of live performances including Helen Green Academy of Dance at 11am, local singer Caitlyn Holt at 12pm, a Chinese lion and a K-POP performance at 2pm, followed by a meet and greet.
Families will also be able to enjoy free fairground rides including a helter skelter, flying planes and monster trucks, as well as a climbing wall, face painting, henna and festival hair.
Visitors can take a ride on the Bewonderment Machine, a bicycle-powered carousel for younger children, or create their own artwork using the Splodge-a-matic Spin Painting Machine.
There will be dragon storytelling sessions at 10am, 12pm and 3pm, circus workshops at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 3pm, and giant bubble displays at 11:30am and 1:30pm.
Other activities and attractions include bannock bread making over the campfire, an Indian Rickshaw (tuk tuk) display, a dedicated makers tent, a football challenge with Accrington Stanley Community Trust and a chill-out zone with Duplo for younger visitors.
For those interested in local history, a heritage talk will take place at the War Memorial at 10am.
Free transport will be available throughout the day, with a heritage bus running between Accrington Town Square (outside Wetherspoons) and Oak Hill Park every hour from 10am until 3pm. Return journeys from the Manchester Road entrance to the park will run at 11:20am, 12:20pm, 1:20pm, 2:20pm and 3:45pm.
A free park and ride service will also operate from The Globe Centre (BB5 0RE), with departures at 9:45am, 10:45am, 11:45am, 12:45pm, 1:45pm and 2:45pm.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a bite to eat, with a special food court serving a host of street food including barbecue food, churros, crêpes, ice cream, coffee and more throughout the day.
Cllr Kate Walsh, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Arts at Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “It’s incredible to be welcoming the Timisien Luminarium to Hyndburn. It’s an attraction that has travelled all over the world, so to have it here in Accrington is really special. It is a fantastic cultural experience, the first in Lancashire of this size and scale, and the artwork inside is just mesmerising.
“We have also got a full day of free activities, performances and entertainment planned, so families can spend the whole day in the park. Whether you’re coming for the live music, the rides, the workshops or just to enjoy the atmosphere, there’s plenty going on. I’d really encourage people to come along and be part of it.”
The Luminarium arriving in Accrington is called Timisien, which promises to be one of the largest and most exciting cultural attractions ever hosted in the borough. Presented as part of Architects of Air Connexus Tour, Accrington has been chosen as one of only four towns to host the walk-through artwork alongside a diverse and family-focused creative programme.
For over thirty years, Architects of Air has pioneered immersive public art through its monumental Luminaria – sculptures that people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour.
Since 1992, Architects of Air have created and toured these artworks captivating over 4 million visitors in 47 countries. Handcrafted in Nottingham from more than 3,000 individual pieces, each Luminarium is designed by founder Alan Parkinson drawing inspiration from cathedrals, Islamic architecture, and natural forms to shape dazzling maze-like spaces of winding paths and soaring domes. Inclusive to all, the experience is intended for audiences of every age and ability with a particular care to ensure accessibility for wheelchair users and the SEND community.
Launching in 2022 to celebrate Architects of Air’s 30th year, Timisien delves deeper into the elements of the Luminarium as a place to get lost to rest, and particularly to experience light and colour.
Learn more about Architects of Air here: architects-of-air.com
Architects of Air Connexus Tour is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Hyndburn Borough Council, Accrington.
