The Toon will be twinkling again this festive season with the return of Northern Lights, a magical light trail in Leazes Park.
Once again, Newcastle’s oldest city park will be transformed into a mile-long trail of illuminations, dazzling installations and laser light displays, all accompanied by beautiful, atmospheric music.
This Christmas light trail, which debuted last year, is a truly enchanting, multi-sensory experience and a must-see event for people of all ages.
Here are all the key details you need to know.
What's new for 2024
Last year’s trail took visitors on a journey through Leazes Park, winding around the lake, along its tree-lined paths and beside the Victorian-style bandstand, with St James’ Park towering in the background.
The laser garden, electric avenue, lantern trees, will-o-the-wisps, fluff pods, and north star were just a few of the mesmerising displays.
The organisers have promised a whole-new immersive experience this year, so if you ventured along last Christmas, you can expect something completely different this time.
Three new highlights from the hour-long trail to look out for include:
- The Lily, which will cast reflections across Leazes Lake
- Rainbow Run, a rainbow-coloured road
- Mycelium Network, featuring clusters of ethereal mushrooms
The Christmas Village
At the Christmas Village, you can tuck into a selection of food and drink from a variety of top-notch local traders.
It’s perfectly placed for visitors at both the start and end of the trail, so you can choose whether to fuel up before or treat yourself after!
Last year, on our way round the park, we also enjoyed a hot chocolate pop up and a marshmallow toasting area, complete with fire pits.
Dates, prices and ticket info
Northern Lights takes place between 22nd November and 31st December, 2024.
To book, you need to purchase your tickets online, with time slots available daily from 4.30pm to 8pm.
Adult tickets are priced at £21.50 per person, and it’s £14.95 per child aged 3-16. A family package costs £66.50.
Between 4.15pm and 5pm on 4th and 11th December, audience numbers will be reduced by 60% and the audio that accompanies the trail will also be turned down, designed to accommodate neurodivergent visitors and those with additional access needs.
See the lights in action
This is one of the best light trails I’ve experienced locally and I can’t wait to see Leazes Park all lit up again! It’s a great way to celebrate the festive season and create a brand-new Christmas tradition with loved ones.
To get a feel for what you can expect from this year’s light trail, play my Instagram reel below for my specially curated highlights from 2023.
For more information about Northern Lights and to book tickets, visit northernlightsnewcastle.com.
