As the nights get darker and the air gets chillier, it can only mean one thing… Nightfall 2023 is just around the corner! If you’ve never been, imagine magical twinkling light art in amongst the trees, spectacular live performances, and cups of hot chocolate to warm you over five winter’s nights. Yes, it’s just as fantastical and warm-and-fuzzy as you’re thinking, and you’re invited to join the fun.
Nightfall truly is one of my favourite Teesside events and after the hit that was Nightfall 2022, I’m so ready for it to be back. It’s everything you could want in a winter event and more! But if you want tickets, you’ll need to get in there quick as there’s super limited availability. Still need more info? Take a read of this blog post to find out all of the details and what you might be able to expect from Nightfall 2023.
When is Nightfall 2023?
Make sure you dust off your big coat for this one. Nightfall is back from Wednesday 29 November – Sunday 3 December (they added an extra night for this year to meet demand!) in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough. That’s Stewart Park, The Grove, Marton-in-Cleveland, Middlesbrough, TS7 8AR for your sat navs. The event entrance will be on Ladgate Lane.
As this is a light-oriented event, all of the slots are later in the day so you can get the full experience. The time slots run from 4pm to 9pm each day, with the 4pm slots reserved for those who want a more relaxed experience. Read more on that here. Time slots are available every 15 minutes and it should take you around 1.5 hours to walk around the whole trail (but you could be there longer if you hang around in the final zone for food, drink and music.)
Where can I get tickets?
Tickets for Nightfall 2023 are on sale NOW, so make sure you get booked up before it sells out! At the time of writing, Wednesday and Thursday have good availability, Friday and Saturday have limited availability with many slots sold out, and Sunday has good availability after 6.15pm.
Tickets cost £14.50 per adult, £9.50 per child 16 and under, and children under 2 are free, but require a ticket to be booked.
If you’re driving, you’ll also need to book a car parking ticket. Make sure you add the number of cars to the parking type you require. If the box is grey, that means it’s sold out, so try a different date or time. If you need parking, book when purchasing your tickets as spaces cannot be guaranteed closer to the time. You will only need to book one parking ticket per car.
What is Nightfall?
If you’re new to Nightfall, let me give you the glow-down (pun absolutely intended). This is an annual Tees Valley light festival event and for Nightfall 2023, the theme is ‘Play Among The Stars’. It’s a family-friendly celebration that brings people together to experience the magic of an illuminated artwork trail and performance after dark. It’s the ideal event for curious rainbow seekers, adventurers, friends and families to enjoy magic and mystery of nature, art and light.
I’m so excited to see how the artists interpret the ‘Play Among The Stars’ theme this year. I think we can expect a cosmic adventure through Stewart Park as we gasp in awe, play and wonder about what lies beyond the night sky. It’s going to be an event packed full of twinkles, glimmers and shimmers, and I simply can’t wait!
Nightfall 2023 is produced by Stellar Projects, the minds behind creative projects and imaginative events, including the incredible Make & Mend Festival. Based in Stockton-on-Tees, Stellar Projects has a passion for creating amazing collective experiences in the local area, for making those ‘you just had to be there’ moments. Their projects bring people together, using innovative approaches to create events that amaze and entertain.
Will Nightfall 2023 be accessible?
Team Stellar Projects are committed to access and inclusivity at all their events including Nightfall 2023. They are committed to ensuring that visitors with disabilities and additional needs are not prevented from enjoying Nightfall because of access needs.
The relaxed slot is at 4pm each night, This means it’s quieter, with lower sound and lighting levels. The capacity of these sessions will also be limited to ensure that the trail remains less crowded and more relaxed. Audiences in this slot will be the first at the event, so all areas will be relatively clear. An audio described soundtrack will be available and a relaxed/easy read guide will be available to download and read through in advance.
Each night 5-8pm performances will be BSL interpreted. Please email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk if you need to change your ticket time to access. People who require an essential companion to accompany them to the event due to their disability, illness or other condition will receive a FREE essential companion ticket. Qualifying documentation must be provided to evidence their disability or circumstances that would require them to need an essential companion.
There are no strobe lights at Nightfall 2023, but the event will have some elements of noise, smoke, and colour change/flashing lighting. The pathways around the park are fully accessible for wheelchair users and there is a shortened version of the route for anyone worried they might not manage the full trail route. This route cuts out a section of the trail and will be signposted on the route.
Accessible toilets are available at the entrance, Captain Cook Museum and at the end of the trail. Blue Badge parking spaces are located within the main car park and are available to book along with the event tickets. There’s also a quieter space at the end of the trail, away from the live music area, for those who might appreciate a relaxed space to end their visit.
If you’ve got anymore accessibility questions, please visit the Stellar Projects website or email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk.
What else can I do at the event?
The full programme hasn’t been announced yet, so I will update this post once more details are available. But last year and other years, there has been a fantastic array of other things to do besides the trail! At the end of the trail, you may be able to enjoy some live music, scrumptious street food from indie traders and hot drinks – ideal for winter.
There may also be drop-in workshops and there may be some pop up street theatre. There’s guaranteed to be some live performances at various points around the trail, as well as storytelling.
Where can I get more info about Nightfall 2023?
Still have more questions? The Nightfall website has all the answers you might possibly need! You can take a look at their FAQs for lots more details on accessibility, travelling, and event specific info.
Nightfall is such an incredible event to have in Teesside. It brings people from across the region into our area to experience something truly incredible. It also invites you to wake up your inner child and enjoy feeling amazed. That sense of awe and wonder that we feel when we see something extraordinary is precious and hard to come by, so we need to savour it when we can.
Nightfall 2023 kicks off in just a few months and there are limited tickets available now. Don’t hesitate because this event will sell out! If you want to grab your slot or need any more info, head to the Nightfall website, but also make sure you keep up with Stellar Projects’ Facebook for more updates and info closer to the time. They’ll be revealing lots more about the programme and artworks soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
I hope you’re just as excited for this event as I am, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all there! If you go along, make sure you tag your photos and videos with #Nightfall23. That way, you might get shared on the Stellar Projects socials!
This post is sponsored by Stellar Projects. All opinions are my own.