Liverpool’s free, one-night festival offers kids the chance to stay up late and explore the city after dark.

With more than 100 free cultural events on offer, LightNight returns on Friday 17th May. There’s an extraordinary experience for everyone to enjoy. Spanning miles across the city from Hope Street to the waterfront and everywhere in between, the 2019 LightNight theme of ‘Ritual’ brings art, music, performance, spoken word, theatre and loads of hands on family friendly fun, to Liverpool venues for one glorious night.

Talk about an after school treat! LightNight invites families to discover new and exciting activities in some of the cities most well known and iconic venues. Some familiar, some not usually open to the public. Toddlers to teens and beyond will love this opportunity to see fire dancers, hear drummers and watch stories unfold under the stars. Get ready to doodle, dance, get crafty, sing, think, create and enjoy.

Jump on board the LightNight Bus to see as many events as you can. Or head to the LightNight website to create your own digital itinerary. However you do it, just make sure you do it! LightNight is an all inclusive cultural evening to people of all ages to enjoy and make some spectacular memories.

Where will you go first? 

Here’s our top 15, hands-on family friendly LightNight 2019 events…..

1 – Mythical Mask Making Workshop, Blackburne House

Between 5pm-8pm you and your little ones can create mythical masks with theatrical production assistant, Carly Fisher. Info here. 

2 – Youth Circus Workshop, The Black E

Every fancied joining the circus? Head to the Black E, China Town from 6pm and try your hand at unicycling, diablo, spinning plates and more. Info here.

3 – Me! It’s Who I Want To Be, Everyman Theatre

There’s a kids rave, face painting, raft activities and dressing up on offer at the Everyman Theatre from 5pm until 8pm. Dress up as your favourite superhero and party on down. Info here. 

MORE: Looking for stuff for the kids to do in Liverpool? Head to our ‘Family’ section of the site here

4 – Pom Pom Pom, Tate Liverpool

You can create your own Pom Pom at Tate Café and take it home as a memento of LightNight. Hang it on your school bag, coat or in your hair! More info here. 

5 – Shadow Play, Central Library

Head to Liverpool’s Central Library from 5pm for Rubbish Shakespeare performances, live music, puppetry, dancing, story-telling for all ages and more. Info here. 

More: This is where to eat around town during Light Night 2019.

6 – Digital Rituals, FACT

A great one for the teens in your life. Digital Rituals at FACT invites you to contribute your daily digital rituals to a map of the internet and see what links us all together. More info here. 

7 – Brews & Brows, UoL Garstang Museum

Definitely one for the teens who love their Scouse Brows! Head to University of Liverpool’s Garstang Museum, have your brows scanned and find out about the links between our beloved brows and our identity. More here. 

8 – Windsor Street Party

Windsor Street will be transformed with a carnival party atmosphere thanks to the local L8 creative organisations and community groups. From 6pm til 10pm there will be drumming from Katumba, dance, projections of historical home video, pavement art with chalks and graffiti and loads more. Info here. 

9 – ClubTogether, Sevenstore

Old skool ravers and little teeny boppers alike come together for this LightNight spectacle. Head to the new Stevenstore venue at the Baltic from 6pm til 10pm and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and rituals of electronic music & club culture. Add your sound to the interactive map and bridge the generations with music. More info here. 

10 – Donna Summer Fever, Constellations

Head to Constellations and join the masses offering up prayers, sacrifice and busting some moves to the goddess of the seasons, Queen of the Disco Donna Summer and check out this amazing audio visual shrine. We’re hoping she bestows an amazing summer on Liverpool in return. More info here. 

More: This is the must-do Liverpool List 2019

11 – Dancing In The Street. Liverpool ONE

Head to Sugar House Steps (near John Lewis) Liverpool ONE a 7pm to catch a carnival or music and dance as Dancing in The Street parades around the L1 site. BeatLife will be drumming along with Samba Livre Liverpool Brazilian samba dancers. More here. 

12 – Halo, Exchange Flags

Mixing science with music and light, Halo at Exchange Flags takes the place of last years hugely popular Illumaphonium and invites you to get hands on with fascinating physics. More here. 

13 – Dandelion Ice Cream with Maray. Ropewalks Square

All this LightNight culture is bound to work up at appetite. Why not join artist, Jorge Menna Barreto and Bold St restaurant Maray at Ropewalks Square for some Dandelion Flower Ice Cream! First come first served! More here. 

14 – Antimicrobial Avengers, University of Liverpool

One for the science and art lovers. University of Liverpool invites you into the John Lennon building for some hands on comic book fun with Shark Girl and Komodo Dragon. Taking on the evil ‘Superbugs’ in the Antimicrobial Avengers will have your kids learning fascinating facts before they even know it! More here.

15 – Late Night Ceilidh, St George’s Hall

How about this for a super shin dig to end your Light Night 2019? St George’s Hall is hosting a Late Night Ceilidh from 9pm until 11pm. This lively family friendly dance will definitely tire the kids out and gain you a well earned lie in on Saturday! More here. 

More: Artist Nina Edge brings politics in the digital age to LightNight

Don’t forget, this is just a snapshot of more than 100 events taking place right across the city that you can experience with your family. Get planning now and enjoy the best and most fun LightNight ever.

Start planning your LightNight 2019 family fun now! Head to www.lightnightliverpool.co.uk to see what’s on or check out the official Light Night Guide brochure, available from all these city centre outlets. 

Are you taking part in LightNight? What are you most looking forward to seeing? Drop us a line on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with your pics and suggestions and we’ll share the best on our socials

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