Morecambe’s first Light Festival exploded onto our seafront at half term this year to the delight of our community and visitors. “The atmosphere was amazing tonight!! Me and my kiddo’s had an absolute blast! Thank you”. The highlight was our Baylight Community Parade along the Prom, filmed live on Granada Evening News. This year we want to make that experience bigger, safer and even better! We will route the parade along the main road rather than the promenade, giving us much more room for street performers, community groups, drumming, dancing and plenty more fun! And it’s all for free!

What we'll deliver:

• An amazing celebratory parade to bring the community together.
• A safe family-friendly event, ramp-free for wheelchair users.
• Free family-fun event organised by a trusted local group.
• Pre-parade workshops making light up toys and costumes.
• Large scale puppets, street performers, dancing, illuminated artworks.
• Music and drumming with More Music and Baybeat.
• More street food/drink vendors.
• A more wheelchair friendly experience.

Why it's a great idea:

The project will give a boost to community pride for local residents. It will help parents who are looking for things to do with the kids during half term. It will aid businesses who generally experience a downturn in takings during the months after Christmas and New Year. It will promote Morecambe as a year-round visitor destination. Provide volunteering opportunities and work experience for young people interested in a career in the events/creative industries. It will expand the hospitality trade. Provide paid work for local artists and community groups. Involve the Morecambe community in a feel-good celebratory event. Provide a multi-generational opportunity for families to enjoy activities together. By moving the parade off the promenade onto the (closed) main road, the project will benefit wheelchair users by providing a more accessible, ramp-free experience.

Steps to get it done:

• Confirmation of Morecambe BID funding support
• Confirmation of Morecambe Town Council funding support
• Consultation and route permission
• Parade design and programme finalised
• Parade route confirmed
• Engage/train volunteers
• Confirm Community programme
• Community practitioners contracted
• Street entertainments contracted
• Street vendors plan agreed
• Event insurance in place
• Community workshops booking goes live
• Community workshops facilitators contracted
• Community workshops delivered
• Workshop venues confirmed
• Security, medical and traffic management confirmed/contracted
• Event management plan in place
• All relevant policies in place (H&S, Volunteering etc)
• Event delivery

The Baylight '23 festival produced another big impact for Morecambe. It demonstrated to the outside world that Morecambe is capable of putting on an art event of high quality. The innovative art installations from top national and international artists attracted people from across the UK and were also thoroughly enjoyed by our local community. Granada TV’s decision to run their 6.30pm news as the parade started its journey underpins a new status for Morecambe which we are determined to build on.