Huddersfield Festival Of Light

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Originally uploaded by Stuart Davies.

Huddersfield has for the past couple of years held a festival of light. This year it involved a troupe of spanish 'drummers' and 'dancers' who led a parade through town with fireworks. At the end they burnt what can only be described as an effergy. For those interested I have a collection of photos here on Flickr.

It was supprisingly organsied by the local council (and supprisingly fun). The local council web site described it as:

Join composers, performers and visitors from around the world for the Festival of Light - a breathtaking fusion of music, fireworks and light set against the historic backdrop of St George's Square. Procession starts 7.00pm start outside Head of Steam public house. Finale 7.45pm (approx) St George's Square.

This year's Festival of Light to celebrate the opening of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music festival will feature Xarxa, one of Europe's leading outdoor companies who specialise in theatrical spectacles based around imaginative use of fireworks.

The spectacle is El Foc del Mar , a colourful procession where performers will dance around St George's Square and around the streets of Huddersfield to the strains of a percussion band, with hand held fireworks, culminating in a finale based on a 'Falla' - a beautiful 12' high structure, inspired by the Spanish artist Joan Miro, which is set on fire. This is a performance by Xarxa from Spain, one of Europe's leading outdoor companies who specialise in theatrical spectacles based around imaginative use of fireworks.

Taking a route through Huddersfield Town Centre, the finale will take place in front of the railway station in St George's Square

A correfoc has its origins in Spain ( corre = run and foc = fire ) and is a colourful fiesta or procession of sparklers, firecrackers, and roman candles, where troupes of devils and dragons, dance to the strains of an accompanying percussion band as they weave through the streets and crowds.