DIWALI DAY GOES VIRTUAL – BUT BIG WHEEL’S BACK
LEICESTER welcomes back the giant Wheel of Light ahead of Diwali, despite the cancellation of the city’s annual festivities.
The wheel was starting to take shape yesterday and will be open to the public on Friday, October 23.
This comes as part of Leicester city council’s alternative Diwali plans this year. In place of the road closure that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Golden Mile each year, the city council have arranged for a night of entertainment and celebration repackaged as a virtual experience.
Although this year will be very different from what has been recognised as one of the biggest Diwali events outside of India, the Wheel of Light will be one familiar feature of the festive period.
To ensure that the site is Covidsecure, a number of stringent measures will be in place to keep the public safe. Customers will be expected to wear masks while queuing and sanitise before and after their ride.
Temperature checks will be taken and cabins will be sanitised after each use.
Test and trace data will be collected manually while people with the NHS Covid App will be able to scan the displayed QR code to check into the venue and provide their contact details.
Due to current restrictions on social mixing, customers will only be able to share a cabin with members of the same household or support bubble.
The Wheel of Light is usually a gleaming centrepiece during the festivities but, this year, it will be part of the city council’s efforts to keep the festive spirit alive alongside the Diwali lights – which will be switched on by a timer – and virtual celebrations.
The Wheel of Light will be on Belgrave Road until Sunday, November 15 – the day after Diwali Day – offering 360-degree views of Leicester.
Junior tickets (admits one child below the height of 1.4 metres) £4; standard ticket (admits one person over 1.4 metres tall) £5; family ticket (admits two standard and two junior or one standard and three juniors. Junior tickets are valid for anyone up to 1.4m in height) £15.
Tickets can be bought at the wheel entrance or online at: