New event from the team behind Illuminate The Gardens will bring fireworks, lasers, live music and Sheffield talent to Don Valley Bowl on Thursday 5 November
A brand-new Bonfire Night spectacular created by the team behind Sheffield’s much-loved Illuminate The Gardens will take over Don Valley Bowl on Thursday 5 November. Arcnight will bring together two firework displays, lasers, live music, DJs, fire and walkabout performers, street food and fairground rides for an ambitious celebration of Sheffield, its people and its industrial and cultural heritage. The event is being created by the team that produced Illuminate The Gardens at Sheffield Botanical Gardens between 2017 and 2025. The new setting allows them to build on that experience and create an awe-inspiring production on a much larger scale, while retaining the welcoming and accessible character that made Illuminate a fixture in the city’s calendar.
The evening will open with a sensory-friendly low-bangs display designed for younger children and those who prefer a quieter experience. It will culminate in a huge musical finale from Optimum Fireworks, which organisers say will be the biggest firework display yet staged at Don Valley Bowl, accompanied by a laser show across the Sheffield skyline.
The newly revealed entertainment programme places Sheffield talent and community at the centre of the night. Sheffield singer and songwriter Steve Edwards will perform with his live band, alongside The Beard Band and local DJ Geoff Ticehurst. Artists from Sheffield’s inclusive arts charity Under The Stars will open the stage with a DJ and VJ performance. The charity uses music and theatre to support adults with learning disabilities and autism, helping its artists develop skills, confidence and creative careers. Cirque De Bleurgh will bring a live fire performance to the Bowl, while Fantasea Factory will deliver walkabout entertainment throughout the site. Around 20 local food traders, licensed bars and a fairground will complete the programme.
The visual identity of Arcnight draws directly on Sheffield’s history as a city of makers. Its name reflects both the arc of a firework and the brilliant trails of light created during steelmaking, with the city’s industrial story woven through the production.
Bob Worm, Managing Director of Events Collective, said:
“We want people to look up and be genuinely awestruck, but we also want Arcnight to feel like Sheffield’s event: warm, welcoming and open to as many people as possible.
“Illuminate The Gardens showed us how much families value having a night that feels magical without losing that sense of community. At Don Valley Bowl we can take that ambition to a much bigger scale, while keeping a low-bangs display, accessible ticket options and a programme with Sheffield talent at its heart.
“This is a show made in Sheffield, inspired by Sheffield and created to bring thousands of people together for one unforgettable night.”
A limited payday offer is currently available, reducing adult tickets from £18 to £12.50 for the first 500 purchasers. The offer closes at midnight on Thursday 1 October. Booking fees apply.
Under-threes can attend free with a ticket, while family ticket options are also available. The site includes a level, hardstanding perimeter path, and eligible visitors can request a complimentary ticket for a carer after purchasing their own ticket.
Tickets and further information are available from https://arcnight.com.
