Laser quest
New Year’s Eve celebrations revealed:
A stunning light show and fireworks around Newcastle are set to round off 2020 in dramatic - and Covid-19 safe - style.
With many people seeing New Year’s Eve as an opportunity to bid good riddance to the pandemic year, plans are under way to blaze the way to 2021, with socially-distanced celebrations.
A three-night Laser Light City show - plus fireworks - are to fill the night sky over Newcastle landmarks in a bid to ‘wave goodbye’ to 2020 and the illuminations will be seen for miles around so people will not have to leave their houses.
Families will be able to enjoy the 24-laser display from home while they are also being encouraged to join in a doorstep clap to celebrate the city and its efforts to fight Covid.
Laser Light City is being funded and organised by district improvement company NE1 Ltd working alongside Newcastle City Council and Bafta award-winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle.
The interactive laser installation will run in Newcastle for three nights over New Year - December 30 until January 1 - from 4pm to 11pm.
The high-powered lasers will be installed at three key Newcastle locations - the new Hadrian’s Tower; the Civic Centre and the Quayside and they are designed to be visible within a 10-mile radius of the city centre, weather permitting of course.
In addition to the lasers there will be fireworks - at the traditional time of 6pm on New Year’s Eve but this time taking place at five undisclosed locations so as to avoid gatherings of people.
The fireworks will be set off simultaneously and again can be watched from the doorstep.
Families are urged to join in with their neighbours to clap in the new year and show their appreciation of the collective efforts made during the pandemic as well as the sacrifices made by people over the past year.
A spokeswoman said: “The challenge has been how the city can suitably mark this important milestone in a safe way but still generate the same spirit of collective celebration, community pride and positivity for the future.
“The three locations for the lasers have all been chosen because they give a good geographic spread across the north, east and west of the city, to maximise the number of people who will be able to see the lasers from a distance, with 24 lasers installed in total.”
There also will be a chance for people to move laser lights from their smart phones via the Laser Light City website in an interactive experience.
Laser artist Seb Lee-Delisle said: “Residents of Newcastle will have the chance to use their phones to move the lasers with a swipe of their fingertips, and choose from a selection of colours and patterns.
“When else in your life would you have full control of huge sky lasers using your phone?
“It’s a project that’s been especially designed to work from afar and with social distancing measures in place.”
The city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are a team effort with also have involved support from city businesses, building owners and partners including Urban Green and NGI.
Stephen Patterson, director of communications at NE1 Ltd, said: “This year has been incredibly difficult for the city’s businesses and residents.
“I think everyone will be delighted to wave goodbye to 2020, and it is only right that we celebrate and congratulate the people of this great city for their collective efforts in tackling Covid.”
He said that while people must remain vigilant about the virus, the vaccine news means “we can look forward to 2021 with positivity and hope”.
Newcastle city councillor Ged Bell said some good to come out of the difficult year is the strength of our local communities and how people have come together to support each other.
“I will be standing on my doorstep clapping with my neighbours at 6pm on New Year’s Eve, and I encourage everyone else to do the same,” he said.