The Tourism Guide to New Brighton

New Brighton is gearing up to welcome an influx of visitors to the resort on Bonfire Night as celebrations this year focus on the spectacular River of Light event.

Thanks to sponsorship from DONG Energy, free activities and entertainment are planned around New Brighton for a few hours either side of the main event in an effort to help people make the most of their time in the resort and add to the celebrations.

The fun kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 5th November with Reesey's Events face painting at The Light cinema, Marine Point. Until 4pm, Reesey will be painting faces of younger visitors with a firework theme.

Also from 3pm, until after the River of Light is over, the Birdie VW Camper Van photo booth will be in situ at Marine Point to allow people to grab a long-lasting memento of the occasion; dressed up and snapped inside an eye-catching marshmallow pink-coloured VW camper.

At Marine Point from 3.15pm until just after 4pm, there will be singing - first from the Vox at the Light choir, then from vocal group The Night & Days. In between times - from 3.30pm to 4.30pm - pop violinist 'ViolinAround' will be performing on Victoria Road, near to The Olive Tree.

ViolinAround will then move to the Victorian shelter in front of Fort Perch Rock for a further performance between 5pm and 6pm, while Vox at the Light and The Night & Days move around to Victoria Road to perform near to The Olive Tree from 5.10pm until 6pm.

As the big event gets closer, the LED dance team Riotronix will mingle with the expectant crowds from 6pm until 6.30pm when the fireworks really begin on the Mersey.

Once the main event has concluded, Riotronix will be back entertaining the crowds that have dispersed in the direction of Marine Point with their illuminated dance from around 7pm before, at 7.30pm, they support FlyBoardFun’s human rocket, which will light up the Marine Lake during a half-hour long display.

Keep your eyes peeled between 4pm-8pm for a very pompous 19th Century sea captain and his wife, who will be sure you tell you all about their incredible seafaring skills. The couple hail from arts collective Hope Street Limited.

A selection of businesses from Victoria Road will be serving food from pop-up stalls on Magazines Promenade, near the entrance to Tower Grounds including Cabovino Wine Bar & Tapas and Blackberry Grove.

Throughout the events at New Brighton, people will be able to go exploring from one end of the resort to the other thanks to a free, 'hop on, hop off' vintage bus that will be circulating between 2.30pm and 8.30pm.

Completing a loop to and from the Lifeguard station on Kings Parade, via Marine Promenade, Victoria Road and Atherton Street - for the railway station - the bus will pass approximately every 20 minutes (though there will be a short break in the service between 4.50pm and 5.35pm).

Shopmobility, operated by the charity WIRED, will be open to hire mobility aids during the event.

Finally, no New Brighton celebration would be complete without the Pirates; let loose and at large from The Black Pearl for the day to put a smile on the faces of young visitors.

For full details and updates about the River of Light celebrations, please visit http://www.cultureliverpool.co.uk/river-of-light-home/