Raise the Roof: Launch Party

SPARK:York is back open this Friday 18 September with Raise the Roof, a launch party that marks the venue's return after Rig Week. It's the first of two full weekends of relaunch celebrations for the new season, so if you've been missing the place, this is when it comes back online.

There's a fair bit going on throughout the night. Jonny Hooker is on the decks with a live DJ set over at PicTap, and from 17:30 onwards there's an airbrush tattoo station run by FacePaint York. Scattered across the evening are secret photobooth slots, so keep an eye out for those if you're fancying a photo. The party also marks the opening of the seasonal menus, so the food traders will be serving up their new autumn offerings alongside the usuals.

For those who haven't spent much time there, SPARK is an outdoor community space in York city centre, built on a site that used to sit unused. It's a year-round home for independent traders in food, drink, retail, arts and social enterprise, with nine food traders and four bars. There's also Studios, which provides space to make, work, show and shop. The whole site is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets, clear signage throughout, lift access and an audible alarm system.

Entry is free and walk-ups are welcome, so you don't need to book anything in advance. The party runs from 17:00 to 23:00, with the airbrush tattoos starting from 17:30.