Fire festival returns to light up Rochdale with extra night and more displays

The countdown to Christmas begins in Rochdale next month with the return of an extended version of the spectacular Ignite Fire Festival and magical family entertainment leading up to the festive lights switch-on.

Ignite Fire Festival, which was staged for the first time last year, will again be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall, but it has now been extended from two nights to three with more dazzling displays and activities for all the family.

The stunning event is opening from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November with three free night-time spectacular shows delivering a magical trail of fire and lights.

Last year’s event attracted over 10,500 people over two nights and organisers Rochdale Borough Council are planning something even bigger this time around.

Fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations created by artists and pyro technicians from multi-award winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank will be open to walk through from 4pm to 8pm each evening, with the Christmas lights switch-on taking place on the Sunday.  

A free immersive experience for all ages, Ignite will feature bubbling goblets of fire and a daisy chain of flaming flowers, alongside sculptures that twist, flap or erupt with balls of fire. Walking through the gardens visitors will also get to see a fire bird with blazing eyes, two smaller birds gently circling a flaming nest and other delights. Look out for ‘In the Balance’ - a seemingly impossible counter-balance of steel and fire, with rotating globes of flame, one of the highlights of this year’s event.

Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the north’s top talent including Flame Oz, Bring the Fire and Rochdale’s Skylight Circus Arts. Street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus who got a fantastic reception from the crowds last year will be returning too. Also back for 2024 is ‘Drum Machine’ - a 20 strong drumming collective, who’ll be bringing their techno infused beats to the event.

There will also be hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks.

Father Christmas and his special guests, including the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Shakil Ahmed will officially switch-on the lights at 5.30pm on Sunday 24 November in front of the town hall after the traditional countdown, whilst the Ignite Fire Festival continues until 8pm.
Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from Rochdale and across Greater Manchester so I am pleased to see it returning and running over three evenings. It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend and helping to attract visitors from across the region. It’s a chance to support local with our fantastic businesses and I invite everyone to come and join us.”