Let there be light

Nighttime light festivals bring visitors and dollars into the local economy. Just ask the Bristol (UK) City Centre Business Improvement District.

The Bristol Light Festival has become a key event to attract people into the city during the winter months. The 2022 edition, a six-day event in February, had light installations across the city center and was the first major post-pandemic lockdown event to take place in Bristol.

An independent financial and visitor analysis report confirmed that this year’s festival attracted 170,000 visitors to the city and brought an additional £3.4m (US$ 4.1 million) into center-city businesses, supporting the city’s economic recovery.

Next year’s edition will feature internationally acclaimed artists and will run across ten days and two weekends, Feb. 3-12, 2023.

Explore additional findings from this year’s festival or visit the Bristol Light Festival website.