MORE than 15,000 visitors descended on Irvine Harbourside for the spectacular Festival of Light last week.

The four-day Illumination Festival was dubbed an overwhelming success as families of all ages enjoyed dazzling fireworks, breathtaking acrobatic displays and beautiful displays at the Harbourside.

From St Andrew’s Day (Wednesday, November 30) to Saturday, December 3, the waterfront and Scottish Maritime Museum were heaving with activity for the inaugural festival which was launched to celebrate the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.

The illumination centred on a stunning Light Trail created by international artists Aether & Hemera, exhibiting in Scotland for the first time. 

Irvine Times:

A fireworks display marked both the opening and closing of the event from the former ICI jetty. Hundreds of brightly coloured and handcrafted origami boats and butterflies lit the Harbourside.

Other highlights of Illumination included a magnificent light and aerial art spectacular in the Museum’s vast Linthouse with Spinal Chord performing gravity defying aerial acrobatics on rope silks and trapeze. 

A dazzling lantern parade on the final day from 300 participants from the Ayrshire Youth Arts Network also attracted a great crowd.

 David Mann, Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the response over the past days and the number of people coming from Irvine, surrounding areas and further afield to enjoy what has been a fabulous and extraordinary spectacle.

Irvine Times:

“More than anything we are delighted with the response and support of the community of Irvine and across the Harbourside. We’ve had so many people tell us what a wonderful, positive event Illumination was and one they want to see us bring back and grow each year.

“We are already looking at what illumination: Harbour Festival of Light might look like next year and we’re bursting with ideas for taking the spectacular to the next level!”

A sparkling 30ft ‘Paper Boat’ crafted by trainees at the Scottish Boat Building School at the Museum even set sail on the River Irvine in homage to George Wyllie’s Paper Boat - which served as a major inspiration for the Festival of Light.

Irvine Times:

Harbourside businesses and residents also came together to support Illumination with waterside restaurants, bars, ice cream and coffee shops offering festival goers great promotions on food and drink and businesses and homes glowing their windows for the festival.

David added: “We couldn’t have taken the festival from a twinkling idea to the multi-event spectacular it became without the support of our fabulous funders and sponsors.”