Light Up Leicester: Illuminated art show to launch in city

The organisers described the artwork as a showstopper

A city's four-day festival of illuminated artworks is due to get under way.

Light Up Leicester, a city-wide art festival, is running in Leicester from 3 to 6 March.

The show ran for the first time in 2020 but organisers said this year's event would feature more installations.

Simon Jenner, director of the city's Business Improvement District (BID), said he expected crowds of about 70,000 across the four days.

'Spectacular'

The nine art installations, which will be lit up between 18:00-22:00 GMT, will form a trail around the city.

They will include a tunnel of light and an inflatable glowing human sculpture called Fantastic Planet by artist Amanda Parer.

Mr Jenner described Fantastic Planet as a "showstopper".

The event is expected to attract 70,000 people across four days

"Welcoming world-renowned artists to the city is a fantastic accolade for Leicester too," said Mr Jenner.

"We're thrilled to build on the success of the last festival in 2020 and to continue bringing events like these to the city centre."

The city mayor said the show was one of a number of innovative events in Leicester

City mayor Peter Soulsby said: "Light Up Leicester is the latest addition to the city's growing programme of innovative events and I'm delighted that we've been able to bring it back this year.

"These playful installations will light up the dark winter evenings until Sunday, transforming familiar city centre spaces with some spectacular illuminated artworks."

There will also be opportunities for visitors and schools to create their own light installations, using lighting kits.