Rochdale Sparkles as Ignite Fire Festival Lights Up Christmas

The countdown to Christmas in Rochdale started with a bang and a blaze! Over 10,000 people flocked to the town centre this past weekend for Ignite Fire Festival and the Christmas Lights Switch-On at the newly restored Rochdale Town Hall.

A Weekend of Fire, Light and Magic

For three unforgettable evenings, the gardens and square around the town hall were transformed into a glowing trail of fire and light. Sponsored by The Trade Centre UK along with The Casey Group and BRSK, Ignite featured a fire garden of blazing sculptures, animatronic installations, and jaw-dropping displays by outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank. Highlights included Bubbles of Love, a kinetic sculpture by Felix Rowberry, and the spectacular Fire Dragon by Paka.

The festival opened in dramatic style on Friday with a torchlit procession of 100 volunteers, marking the unveiling of restored pathways and parkland on Broadfield Slopes. Visitors were treated to drummers, flickering torches, and even a fiery image of a Pack Horse - a nod to Rochdale’s historic Packer Spout spring. The Casey Group, who led the restoration, showcased modern equipment and chatted about careers in construction.

Festive Fun for All Ages

Rochdale’s brand-new ice rink made its debut, alongside a bustling Christmas market. Live performances wowed the crowds, from BPM SFX’s fire shows to the dazzling Fireflies by Travelling Light Circus and Skylight Circus - featuring jugglers, fire spinning, and residents trained through the Culture Co-op programme. And of course, the beats of Drum Machine kept the energy high all weekend.

The Big Switch-On: A Magical Moment

Sunday evening brought the grand finale: the Christmas Lights Switch-On. Middleton Arena’s pantomime stars Silly Billy (Chris Johnson) and Princess Ruby Millard led festive sing-alongs before Mayor Janet Emsley welcomed the crowd and introduced Father Christmas. Joined by local youth leaders and children’s champions, the Mayor wished everyone a joyful season before flicking the switch - and lighting up Rochdale in spectacular style.

The Mayor said: "This is such a magical time of year and it has been wonderful to see so much happening over the past three evenings and see so many people coming out on Sunday despite the poor weather, was fantastic.   The consort and I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and hope to see everyone back in Rochdale town centre over the coming weeks.”

A Celebration of Culture and Community

Councillor Sue Smith summed it up perfectly:
“We’ve had three fabulous evenings, with a great atmosphere.  I would like to thank all the performers, partners, staff, crews, volunteers and our sponsors The Trade Centre UK, The Casey Group and BRSK for helping make it all possible, as well as everyone who came along to support the festival.”

Ignite was organised by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Sponsors included The Trade Centre UK, The Casey Group, and BRSK full fibre broadband.

This fiery festival is part of a spectacular programme marking Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26 - a celebration of creativity, talent, and community spirit.

Find Out More

Discover upcoming festive events and useful seasonal info at:
👉 rochdale.gov.uk/christmas

Learn more about Town of Culture:
👉 rochdalecreates.co.uk/TownOfCulture