Scarborough Lights

Scarborough Lights runs from 12 November to 20 December, taking over the town centre for a winter festival of light. It's the opening act of the year-round Scarborough Fair season launched by North Yorkshire Council, which also includes Scarborough Streets, Scarborough Art and Scarborough Extreme. The festival brings together national and international light artists alongside local community groups to turn the seaside into an evening spectacle, and much of it draws on local heritage.

There's a fair bit to work through. St Mary's Church hosts the animated projections Scarborough: 400 Years and Beyond, while St Columba's Church has the Aurora Experience from 16 to 22 November. If you're after something more active, there's UV mini-mini golf at Jam Jar Wine and Pinball Lounge and a UV art exhibition in the Market Vaults. On the afternoons of 5, 12 and 19 December, you'll find free street entertainment on Westborough. The whole thing wraps up on 20 December with the Glow in the Park finale, which brings in circus acts.

Three walking trails run throughout: Choose Your Own Scarborough, A Christmas Carol and Sherbatella's Seaside Sparkle. The Dickens story is told through silhouettes in business windows, with an installation of the three ghosts in the Market Vaults, and the dino-bouts light up Vernon Road. The harbour is illuminated by Ships Ahoy!, and the Aquarium Top roundabouts get their own display. Scarborough Castle hosts stargazing from 11 to 13 December.

It's a mix of free and ticketed: many of the outdoor town and seafront displays are free, but headline trail sites like Scarborough Castle and Peasholm Park need advance booking. Festival manager Catherine Goble says the town's creativity never fails to astound, with community ideas coming together to create the winter festival. Just keep in mind that outdoor installations may change or be cancelled in bad weather.