Celebrating Ten Years of Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light
23 January 2024
Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light, is nearly upon us! Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024 the Aberdeen light festival will bring a spectacular programme of free artworks and performances to the city from 8 – 11 February.
Inspired by the theme of ‘Connections’, this year’s festival will be connecting the city through spectacular light installations, transforming its beloved and iconic locations with interactive artworks, eye-catching projections, and even live fire performers, filling the city centre with music, sound, and dance. It’s the perfect time to visit Aberdeen for a weekend break, and here are some of the wonderful highlights you’ll find in the programme.
Image credit: Continuum by illumaphonium photographed by Andre Pattenden
Union Terrace Gardens will be transformed like never before as it becomes illuminated with thousands of points of suspended light in Submergence, while Amigo & Amigo’s Affinity lights up in over 70 different colour combinations as it responds to each visitor’s touch. You can follow the illuminated wool trail of Studio Vertigo’s Spin Me A Yarn, or enjoy the painterly light waves of Squidsoup’s installation Flow.
Broad Street will play host to an awe-inspiring geometric matrix in Continuum, while on the gorgeous architecture of His Majesty’s Theatre, visitors can watch as Double Take explores the elements and their relationship to Aberdeen with a vast and colourful projection.
Inspired by Aberdeen’s Maritime History, Heinrich & Palmer’s spectacular Winds of Change will premiere at Aberdeen Art Gallery, and a flight of luminous butterflies take over the nearby Remembrance Hall in Anne Bennett’s Butterfly Dream. Take a visual journey through the oral histories of Aberdeen in Lightstream at Marischal College, and at Marischal Square take in eye-catching images created by local pupils and students in Light Painting. Elsewhere love is definitely in the air in the form of Our Beating Heart – an enormous glitterball sculpture shaped like a love heart.
Image credit: Affinity by Amigo & Amigo
Marking the 10th anniversary of the festival, this year’s programme will also see some of the North East’s brightest artistic talent take centre stage in Northern Lights. Ten interactive augmented reality artworks from local artists will offer a playful treasure hunt throughout the city, and plenty of fun surprises to track down.
Visitors can also add an extra sparkle to their Spectra visit by supporting the local businesses across the city centre that are staying open into the night to offer the opportunity to coorie in with a much-needed hot drink or a bite to eat.
Spectra takes place in from Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 February, for top tips on making the most of your trip, including special deals at local hospitality venues and hotels, and for details of the full festival programme visit the website.
For more on this unmissable festival, follow Spectra on social media:
All information is correct at the time of publishing, we recommend that you check opening times and information for individual places before visiting.