Accrington community festival sells out

An immersive art installation that allows visitors to walk through a psychedelic world of art and colour is coming to Accrington later this month.

The world-travelling Luminarium sculpture, created by artist Alan Parkinson, is set to form the centre piece of the town’s huge Connecting Cultures festival, which is taking place on Saturday July 25 at Oak Hill Park.

Hyndburn Council’s Cllr Kate Walsh has said that Connecting Cultures will be a ‘fantastic cultural celebration that brings people together’, with the authority ‘absolutely thrilled’ to have secured the Luminarium, which has toured five continents and been witnessed by millions of people.

But anyone hoping to book one of the available 30-minute slots to experience the immersive sculpture may already have missed their chance to skip the queue, with free tickets for the Luminarium selling out in just a day.

Many festivalgoers will still be able to walk through the installation’s world of light and colour on July 25, but they will have to wait in line and there will be a limited availability.

Responding to the flurry of bookings, Hyndburn Council said: “Don’t worry there are even more tickets being released next week for activities and workshops on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th July… PLUS there will be walk-up visits available for the main event on Saturday 25th if you are happy to queue.”

The free event will run from 10am to 4pm and is set to be bigger than ever this year, with international food and drink stalls heading to the large park for the celebration of Accrington’s rich heritage and diverse communities, including henna and face painting activities.

There will also be workshops and events in the two days leading up to the Saturday festival, exploring everything from storytelling to dance, tai chi and performance – though the initial release of tickets for these sold out immediately.

On the main day of Connecting Cultures, visitors can expect a series of live performances and entertainment away from the Luminarium, with the group K-POP Icons taking to the main stage, alongside a variety of other cultural performances.

Councillor Kate Walsh, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Arts for Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing the Luminarium to Hyndburn as part of this year’s Connecting Cultures celebration. It is an incredible sculpture, and it is amazing to see this event expanding every time.

“This will be a fantastic cultural celebration that brings people together to experience art, creativity and community in a truly unique way. We can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors from across the region to Oak Hill Park for what promises to be a very special day.”

With large crowds expected, transport to the event has been simplified with a free shuttle bus to Oak Hill Park, operating from Accrington town centre.

More announcements and a full performance schedule will be released by Hyndburn Council in the coming weeks.