During October half-term, over 1,000 local people participated in Light the Night – a week long arts project produced by DNA arts.

Over 100 children and parents joined the DNA community arts project for two days of lantern making workshops. Groups worked with professional artists to create an array of moth inspired lanterns. The theme of moths was to reflect the drawing of people to the flames of the fire garden as in the saying, like moths to the flame. 

Community groups and local schools in Radstock and the surrounding areas also made lanterns in the weeks leading up to the parade on 31st October. 

Over 200 people and seventy lanterns came on the illuminated walk from Whisty Hall to St Nicholas Church accompanied by a small strolling band. Participants and onlookers were all treated to performances from the Desperate Men and Susan Hill School of Dance at Radstock’s War Memorial along the way. The illuminated umbrellas used by the Susan Hill Dancers, which had been supplied by Cirque Bijou, made a real impact on the dark evening.

The ‘fire garden’ created by And Now in St Nicholas Church yard welcomed well over 1,000 people throughout the evening. The audience marvelled at the beauty of this unusual installation, enjoyed acoustic music that was dotted through- out the site and paid their respects to loved ones, celebrating light, life and Radstock in a unique take on the traditions of All Hallows Eve.

Natural Theatre and Desperate Men performed with the help of a group of local participants, who had been training with the companies in the week before. 

As part of this magical evening, more than 300 candles were lit by the audience - ‘for someone you love’ or for ‘someone you miss’ and placed along the top walkway. Two special performances from Mendip Male Voice Choir, who sang songs such as You’ll Never Walk Alone and What a wonderful world were a highlight of the fire garden.

One member of the audience, Naomi DeChastelain, said: “Light the Night was an amazing experience, I was blown away by the parade and fire garden.”

Phillippa Haynes, Project Director of DNA Arts, said: “Light the Night will go down as a great moment in time in Radstock, it was a truly special event that brought together a diverse range of people from the community. There was a real sense of community spirit and pride at the event and I hope this radiates throughout the town. We would like to thank St Nicholas Church for working with us on the project, it is a beautiful space at the heart of the community and the event couldn’t have happened without their co-operation or the amazing hard work of our fantastic young local production team, Chloe Edgell, Amber Morrish and Niamh Pease.

“DNA arts will be producing and delivering more community arts projects and events in Radstock over the coming year. We have plenty of exciting projects planned including a follow-up to Round-about Radstock, which took place in May this year. Currently we’re working with Radstock Town Traders and Radstock and Westfield Big Local to add some magic to Radstock’s Christmas Light switch-on on the 5th December. We would love to see everyone’s pictures and videos from the week of Light the Night and hear people’s thoughts.”