Newark Market Place to light up with fiery display and activities this weekend organised by Newark Creates

Things will be heating up in Newark town centre this weekend for a day of fantastic and fiery activities.

Newark Market Place will be transformed into a spectacle of light and flame with shows, performances, activities and workshops this Saturday (March 1) for the latest event from Newark Creates.

‘Ignite: Fire, Flame and Frenzy’ is free to attend and all shows and performances will take place after dark so that the lights and flames can truly shine.

The main attraction will be Doctor Kronovator’s Fire Laboratory where visitors will be able to explore the combination of fire and science in a family friendly setting by helping to prepare flame and steam-powered contraptions, try their luck at a test of strength machine, and create chemical reactions.

It will take place from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, with last entry to the queue at 8pm.

Alongside the Fire Laboratory, there will be complementary activities spread around the Market Place and surrounding streets, including a roaming LED hoop show from 6.30pm to 7pm, followed by a five-minute show at 7.30pm on Church Street, where an acrobat will spin, twist, and turn multiple hoops to create trails of light.

Standing at over ten-feet-tall, The Living Lamp-Posts will illuminating the streets and entertaining passers-by at half hour intervals between 6pm and 8.30pm.

Other town centre organisations are offering creative classes and workshops, including ‘Create Late’ at the National Civil War Centre, from 5pm to 8.30pm, where visitors can get creative with recycled and scrap materials.

At Hope Community Methodist Church on Barnbygate, at 2pm and 3.45pm, an expert craftswoman from The Company of Artisans will lead Medieval Stained Glass Making sessions — booking via the Newark Creates website is essential as free places are limited.

Newark Creates is a cultural programme led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium, and has seen the curation of free arts and heritage activities across the town since 2021

The fire and light showcase follows the success of Newark Creates’ last event ‘A Likely Story’ which saw animations projected onto the Newark Town Hall, and attracted over 3,900 visitors.

Claire Penny, portfolio holder for sustainable economic development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s wonderful to be seeing Newark Creates bring yet another landmark event to our town centre.

“This is a great opportunity to make memories together as a family and extend the evening to enjoy our brilliant local eateries too, or even invite family and friends from further afield to come and stay for the weekend to take advantage of everything our fantastic town has to offer.”

Carol Newman, director of Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in Newark’s Cultural Consortium, said: “Thousands of people of all ages have engaged with our activities and this is exactly what we are all about, encouraging creativity and bringing colour and fun to the heart of this wonderful town.”

Over the past year, the programme has been supported by Newark Town Board’s Newark Heart project, alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, creating opportunities for more events than ever before.

Louise Casey-Simpson, chairman of the Newark Towns Fund, added: “Seeing Newark really come to life for these events has been wonderful.

“It’s so important to create opportunities to encourage people into our town as there are so many amazing businesses here from great quality restaurants and pubs to fantastic independent retailers.

“This event will be a great chance to make a night of it and get a bite to eat too.”