Sunderland Echo

70,000 flock to the lights

- By Fiona Thompson fiona.thompson@jpress.co.uk Twitter: @fionathomp­sonjp

More than 70,000 people have already visited or are ready to tour this year’s Festival of Light.

Families and children from across the region have been to see displays old and new which stretch the length and breadth of the historic Roker Park, with entry ticketed into the park.

More than 70,000 people have already visited or are ready to tour this year’s Festival of Light.

Families and children from across the region have been to see displays old and new which stretch the length and breadth of the historic Roker Park, with entry ticketed into the park.

Thousands more every evening have also enjoyed the rest of the Sunderland Illuminati­ons, which run along the award-winning seafront from Roker to Seaburn and include the Giant Observatio­n Wheel and fairground attraction­s at Cliffe Park.

The festival runs until Sunday, November 18.

Sunderland City Council cabinet member for communitie­s and culture, Councillor John Kelly said: “People’s response to this year’s event has been fantastic, with the new Sunderland Sphere and the Winter Wonderland displays appealing to all ages alongside the more establishe­d crowd favourites such as the Disney Characters and illuminate­d fountains in the lake.

“We’ve also had a great reaction to the online booking and new entry system to the Festival of Light which help control the numbers of people and create more time and space for visitors to enjoy the experience.

“The enhanced park and ride and public transport services have also made it even easier for everyone get to and from the seafront to enjoy the park, and the rest of the Illuminati­ons displays and entertainm­ent.”

Coun Kelly added: “I’d like to thank all our visitors for their continuing support, and encourage anyone who hasn’t booked their tickets yet for the Festival of Light in Roker Park to do so as quickly as they can to avoid disappoint­ment as the event closes on 18 November, with the traditiona­l fireworks finale on the seafront at 6pm.”

More informatio­n is available at www.seeitdoits­underland.co.uk/illuminati­ons.

“People’s response to this year’s event has been fantastic” COUN KELLY

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 ??  ?? From back, Cabinet member for communitie­s and culture, Coun John Kelly, Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Lynda Scanlan, and Mayoral Consort, Micky Horswill, with visitors Nevaeh Kearney, four, and Hayden Kearney, seven.
From back, Cabinet member for communitie­s and culture, Coun John Kelly, Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Lynda Scanlan, and Mayoral Consort, Micky Horswill, with visitors Nevaeh Kearney, four, and Hayden Kearney, seven.
 ??  ?? This year’s Festival of light.
This year’s Festival of light.

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