Darlington Lights Festival returns as Valentine's installations appear

The Northern Echo headed into town yesterday evening (Saturday, February 4) to see some of the lights.

If you haven’t managed to see the lights yet, the festival doesn’t end until Sunday, February 12.

Response to Darlington Lights has already proved popular with the first-ever town-wide silent disco, which forms part of the event, selling out hours after being posted on the council’s social media channels.

Indulgence Hair Salon, Skinnergate (Image: Stuart Boulton)

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TEP Electrical Distributors, a Darlington-based company over 100 years old, is sponsoring this year’s event.

The business will be providing many of the lights for the event as well as installing a pop-up walk-through selfie station for the Market Hall and pink neon lights around various shop windows on Duke Street.

Our favourite lights were located in the windows of Indulgence Hair Salon on Skinnergate, Whimsickal on Post House Wynd, and Poppy Bridal on Duke Street.

There is also a selfie booth in the indoor market, as well as lights in the window of Crafty Merlin’s on Buckton’s Yard, a green neon sign in the window of Bike Stop on Skinnergate, and in the window of Vinyard Café on Post House Wynd.

LJ Barbers, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

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Natalie Kippersmith from Kippersmith Designs will be working on an installation for the Friends Meeting House Window.

Councillor Jamie Bartch, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy, said: “Darlington Lights will give people the chance to see the town in a different light! This is our first main event of the year and promises to light the way to a great programme of events for our town centre.

“It’s also a great example of how our town centre businesses get involved in our community by supporting these events. Thank you to all that have helped through sponsorship or by creating their own displays.

“Our exciting diary of events showcases our commitment to putting on a great range of events which will help to draw thousands of visitors to our town centre, where they can enjoy family fun as well as explore the fabulous shops, bars and cafes.”

Stable Hearth, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Vineyard Cafe, Post House Wynd (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Vineyard Cafe, Post House Wynd (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Stan Seaton Photography, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Poppy Bridal, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whimsickal, Post House Wynd (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Bliss Gifts, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Bliss Gifts, Duke Street (Image: Stuart Boulton)

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