Ignite Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch-on

About the festival

• Times and dates:
  • 5pm–8pm, Friday 21 November 2025
  • 5pm–8pm, Saturday 22 November 2025
  • 5pm–8pm, Sunday 23 November 2025
• 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
• Food and drink: hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks will be available to buy.

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

Displays and performances

Each evening 5pm to 8pm.

Step into a world of fiery displays, blazing sculptures and glowing installations created by the award-winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank.

Highlights Include:

• World premiere of Bubbles of Love - a kinetic sculpture by Felix Rowberry.
• Paka’s Fire Dragon -  a mesmerising animatronic display.
• Fire Garden Wonders - displays of flaming lotus flowers, strange birds that rotate or burst into life, hissing sculptures and turning cogs.
• A magical landscape of sound, light and fire: the square and gardens around Rochdale Town Hall will be transformed.
• Torchlight procession: join a torchlight procession on Friday, 21 November 2025 to celebrate the launch of the new Broadfield Slopes. The Broadfield Slopes Project

Christmas lights switch-on: 5.30pm, Sunday, 23 November 2025

Father Christmas and his special guests, including the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Janet Emsley will officially switch-on the lights at around 5.30pm on Sunday, 23 November 2025 in front of the town hall after the traditional countdown.

The Ignite Fire Festival will continue in the gardens opposite until 8pm.