Fire and Light Festival

Every Month of November

The Festival of Fire and Light in Bedford is held every year to signal the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights. Started in 2003, the fire and light show is usually produced by Walk the Plank, which is a world-renowned pyrotechnic company. Throughout the night of the show, there will be a funfair and catering for the enjoyment of the visitors.

The site for the festival is usually at the embankment of the Great River Ouse, with the main area reserved for the crowd of spectators at 200 meters long. This site is just 3 meters away from the river’s suspension bridge.

Last year, the festival’s theme was based on the most recent Narnia film because of the involvement of Father Christmas in the story. This resulted in the children being able to relate to the characters and the music of the show, which highlighted the lighting of the Christmas tree by Father Christmas. Two river crafts have been designed for the show with one carrying the Pevency children and the other carrying the White Witch and her companion, the Evil Dwarf. The river boat of the witch was designed after the chariot that was used in the last battle scene which was pulled by polar bears. However, instead of the polar bears, a river pilot and an outboard engine was used to pull the witch’s river craft.

The festival last year was a great success and this was also made possible by the amazing pyrotechnic show which delighted the crowd senseless.