Ignite Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch-on

Ignite Fire Festival logo.

About the festival

Ignite Fire Festival will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall for 3 evenings, with more dazzling displays and activities for all the family.

  • Date: Friday–Sunday, 22–24 November 2024
  • Time: 5pm–8pm each day.
  • Who is this event suitable for? For all ages.
  • Location: Rochdale Memorial Gardens, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
  • Directions: How to get to Rochdale Town Hall
  • Do I need to book? No, you can just turn up.
  • Contact: admin@rochdalecreates.co.uk
  • Event organiser: Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op.

There will also be hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks available to buy.

Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.

Christmas lights switch-on: Sunday, 24 November 2024

Father Christmas and his special guests, including the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Shakil Ahmed will officially switch-on the lights at 5.30pm on Sunday, 24 November 2024 in front of the town hall after the traditional countdown, whilst the Ignite Fire Festival continues in the gardens opposite until 8pm.

Santa Claus in front of Rochdale Town Hall.

Programme of events

Friday, 22 November 2024
Performance times

Walk the Plank

  • 5pm–8pm

Flame Oz

  • 5.15pm–5.45pm
  • 6.15pm–6.45pm
  • 7.15pm–7.45pm

Bring the Fire Project

  • 5.45pm–6.15pm
  • 6.45pm–7.15pm
  • 7.30pm–8pm

Astro Aliens

  • 5pm–5.30pm
  • 6pm–6.30pm
  • 7pm–7.30pm

The Fire Man Dave

  • 5.15pm–5.45pm
  • 6.15pm–6.45pm
  • 7.30pm–8pm

    Saturday, 23 November 2024
    Performance times

    Walk the Plank

    • 5pm–8pm

    Bring the Fire Project

    • 5.15pm–5.45pm
    • 6.15pm–6.45pm
    • 7.30pm–8pm

    Travelling Light Circus

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6pm–6.30pm
    • 7.15pm–7.45pm

    Astro Aliens

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6.15pm–6.45pm
    • 7.15pm–7.45pm

    Drum Machine

    • 5.45pm–6.15pm
    • 6.45pm–7.15pm

    Skylight Circus Arts

    • 5.45pm–6pm
    • 7pm–7.15pm

    Sunday, 24 November 2024
    Performance times

    Walk the Plank

    • 5pm–8pm

    Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch-on

    • 5.30pm

    Flame Oz

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6.15pm–6.45pm
    • 7.15pm–7.45pm

    Bring the Fire Project

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6.45pm–7.15pm
    • 7.30pm–8pm

    Travelling Light Circus

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6pm–6.30pm
    • 7pm–7.30pm

    Astro Aliens

    • 5pm–5.30pm
    • 6.30pm–7pm
    • 7.30pm–8pm

    Drum Machine

    • 6pm–6.30pm
    • 7.15pm–7.45pm

    Skylight Circus Arts

    • 6.30pm–6.45pm
    • 7.30pm–7.45pm

    About the performances

    Flame Oz

    Explosive fire dancing at its finest. Flame Oz’s multi-award winning performers bring their favourite fire-toys to Rochdale. With flaming hula hoops, fire juggling and spinning sticks plus trademark special effects, this will be a pyrotechnic party not to miss.

    Flame Oz.

    Flame Oz: a multi award-winning circus entertainment show bursting with energy.

    Bring the Fire Project

    A collective of fire dancers and circus skills teachers, founded in 2012 by passionate fire artist Szymon Mamys. You’re guaranteed jaw dropping entertainment. A mind blowing performance incorporating fire and dance, harnessing the beauty of the dangerous element, into symmetry of patterns.

    Bring the Fire project.

    Bring the Fire Project: a mind blowing performance incorporating fire and dance, harnessing the beauty of dangerous into symmetry of patterns.

    Travelling Light Circus

    Returning to Ignite for the second time with an amazing new fire show and awesome street entertainment featuring jugglers, torch spinning and dance. A multi-sensory mesmerising experience.

    Travelling Light Circus performer.

    Travelling Light Circus: returning to Ignite for the second time with an amazing new fire show.

    Astro Aliens

    A trio of quirky cosmic beings, Astro Aliens are presently visiting the earth and orbiting new spaces and places, with their unique sense of enquiry, discovery and physicality. They’ll be landing at Ignite to discover and respond to fire.

    Astro Aliens.

    Astro Aliens: a trio of quirky cosmic beings presently visiting the earth and orbiting new spaces and places.

    The Fire Man Dave

    A versatile juggler, circus performer and entertainer, this is a freestyle show set to music, with a unique combination of fire equipment. Watch your children’s faces light up as they enjoy this amazingly unique artist.

    Fire Man Dave.

    The Fire Man Dave: A versatile juggler, circus performer and entertainer.

    Drum Machine

    Back for 2024 is this 20-strong drumming collective, a festival favourite across the UK, bringing their techno-infused beats to the event. An audio and visual experience not to be missed.

    Drum Machine.

    Drum Machine: a festival favourite across the UK, bringing their techno-infused beats to the event.

    Skylight Circus Arts

    This popular Rochdale group of awe inspiring performers will be appearing with some of their adult and youth members. Their first act each evening features ‘Fireflies,’ their new community fire spinning group, made up of 12 adult beginners trained by Travelling Light Circus. Their second performance will showcase some of their Teen Youth Circus, performing their newly acquired fire spinning circus skills. This project has been supported by Rochdale's Culture Co-op.

    Walk the Plank

    Fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations created by artists and pyro technicians from multi-award winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank will be open to walk through from 5pm to 8pm each evening.

    Flame torches in Rochdale Memorial Gardens.

    Ignite will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall with 3 free night-time spectacular shows delivering a magical trail of fire and fun.

     

    Event sponsor

    Ignite - Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch-On is sponsored by The Trade Centre UK, the region’s largest car supermarket.

    The Trade Centre UK.

    Disclaimer

    Events and activities are not organised by Rochdale Borough Council unless stated otherwise. Neither is Rochdale Borough Council responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. If you are under 18, ask your parent/guardian before taking part in any event or activity.