LUMIERE, the UK’s biggest light festival, will flicker into action in spectacular style for 2017 tonight.

The lights will be switched on across Durham on 29 installations at 4.30pm, from a gigantic illuminated field of flowers in the Cathedral cloister and a meditative paradise of birds in the Botanic Garden to a sparkling spectacle in the Market Place.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected over four nights as international artists put Durham on the world stage for the fifth edition of Lumiere – with the local economy set for a multi-million pound shot in the arm.

Helen Marriage, director of Lumiere producers Artichoke, said: “We are thrilled to be back in Durham.

“It’s a completely different programme - always completely new - and we are using spaces that we haven’t used before and spaces that we haven’t used for long time, like the botanic Gardens.

"There are beautiful new ideas. We are lighting the whole of the riverbank from Framwellgate Bridge down to the weir.

"It would be wrong to say that it’s not really disruptive, but for once every two years I think the city really embraces the whole festival idea. The roads are closed and people get to walk streets they would normally only drive along. As well as the joy and delight Lumiere brings, I think it also has material benefits and brings huge amount of money into the local economy."

Durham County Council leader Councillor Simon Henig said: “I think it’s a real buzz around the city and it’s fantastic to have Lumiere back in Durham again for the fifth time.

“It’s going to be just as spectacular as previous times. Just looking at some of the installations for the first time is quite exciting.

Cllr Henig added Lumiere 2015 brought just short of £10million into the region’s economy. He said: “It fills hotels and visitors spend money. But its benefits are also in terms of the profile gives to Durham, not just across Britain but internationally as well.

“And I think it’s good to have events that involve the community – where people can come out onto the streets and take a real pride in Durham and see it lit up for a few nights this.

“This is not just the largest light festival in the UK, we are told the biggest arts and cultural event in the UK in the month of November, which I think is fantastic.”

He added: “The fact that we are in times of austerity to some extent makes it more important do have events that everyone can feel part of and celebrate."

“If you look at people’s faces and reactions and see them enjoying the installations there is no doubt it is enjoyed by young and old.”

This year more installations are located outside the central peninsula area in a bid to tackle congestion.

One of the centrepieces is a sound and light installation at Durham Cathedral, which has been inspired by bell ringing.

Our Moon, which will be projected onto the side of Durham Castle, will change each night and will represent the faces of around 80 people from the city who took part in a community project during the summer.

Also at the cathedral will be a tribute to fields of wheat that shimmer in the wind. Thousands of illuminated flowers will transform the cloisters thanks to a project with a Chester-le-Street community group.

Among the highlights around the city will be a “fire tornado” at the partially cleared demolition site at Milburngate House. There is also an exploration of the origins of the universe, which will be projected onto the side of the new Durham University physics building in South Road and a collection of recreations of the North-East’s most iconic buildings, which will be at Durham railway station.

Tthe Miners’ Hall at Redhills will be the canvas for a 3D video projection involving public sector workers, including cameos from firefighters, bin collectors and police officers.

This year will also see a return to the Botanical Garden, in South Road, in a bid to spread the display more widely. A collective of artists have used light and sound to produce 20 different birds which will be spread around the garden.

All of the installations outside of the peninsula will be open to visitors throughout the festival.

Meanwhile, in central area, which is limited to ticket holders between 4.30pm and 7.30pm, there are a further 11 installations.

While most of the pieces will be in the city for just four days, an illuminated heron, which will fly along the River Wear around Framwellgate Waterside,will remain in the city as a permanent art feature.

Lumiere Durham is on from Thursday, November 16, to Sunday, November 19.

• See northernecho.co.uk from 4pm tonight for live pictures, videos and travel updates

• Get Friday’s paper for opening night round-up and photos

• See Tuesday’s edition for an eight-page souvenir picture special