The River of Light festival has returned to Liverpool, transforming the city's waterfront with a series of illuminated installations. The free event, which runs from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, November 1, features 13 large-scale artworks - three more than last year - spread across locations including the Pier Head, Royal Albert Dock, Exchange Flags, Williamson Square, St Paul's Square and Liverpool ONE.
The installations are illuminated between 5pm and 9pm each evening, and this year's theme is Together, exploring how light can bring people closer through art, music and shared experiences.
Flower Power draws cheers at Exchange Flags
One installation in particular stood out during a preview on Thursday, October 22, for VisitLiverpool's launch night. Flower Power, based at Exchange Flags, made clever use of the entire square, surrounding visitors with colour, light and music.
Seven large, faceted flowers scatter thousands of shimmering reflections across the ground, nearby buildings and the people gathered around them. Projections create the effect of starlight, moving in time with the music, while an interactive jukebox allows visitors to choose a track from a varied playlist.
Each song triggers its own lighting sequence, transforming the space and creating a different atmosphere. All around, people were smiling, cheering and even clapping - something not witnessed at the festival before on this scale.
Unlike other installations that visitors might stop to admire for a moment before moving on, Flower Power made people want to stay, take it all in and become part of the experience. In many ways, it captured this year's theme perfectly: although one person chooses the music, everyone experiences the spectacle together. The seven flowers only reveal their full impact when their reflections combine, a fitting reminder of how people can come together to create something more vibrant.
Spread-out layout draws mixed reactions
While one part of the festival got it spot on, the layout left mixed feelings. It seems Liverpool City Council has taken note of previous criticism about overcrowding, with this year's installations more spread out across the city centre.
There are obvious benefits to this. Giving each artwork more breathing space should help ease congestion and make it easier for people to stop and enjoy the displays without feeling caught up in a sea of visitors.
However, the installations were perhaps a little too spread out. By the time visitors had finished admiring one display and walked to the next, some of the momentum had faded. Rather than feeling like one continuous festival, the experience could feel a little disjointed.
Nobody wants to be jostling through enormous crowds just to catch a glimpse of an artwork, but part of the magic of River of Light is the sense of excitement that comes from moving through the city and discovering one spectacular display after another.
Considerations for families and overall impression
The distances between some of the installations may also be worth considering for families with younger children. Although the route is walkable, the extra stretches between displays could make the evening more tiring for little legs, particularly on a cold October night.
That said, the expanded locations also give visitors more of the city to explore, and there is something to be said for encouraging people to venture beyond the usual waterfront hotspots.
Ultimately, River of Light has plenty to celebrate this year. At a time of year when the evenings are getting darker and colder, the festival gives people a reason to get outside, explore the city and enjoy something a little different, all for free.
