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Giant inflated sphere installation to light up Harrogate

Wednesday, 8 October 2025 13:47

'Lightweight' will be in place at The Crown Hotel this weekend.

A four-metre-tall inflated sphere will light up Harrogate this weekend as part of the celebrations for this year's Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

Lightweight, a giant installation lit up with colourful live animation – and featuring anyone who wants to add their face to the mix – will be at The Crown Hotel on October 10th and 11th.

Visitors can sit for a quick portrait in a quirky photo booth with these portraits turned into small animations and added to the show.

These animations will join a host of other moving images, visual effects, pictures and text, all enhanced by multi-channel music from hidden speakers.

Lightweight is the brainchild of Yorkshire-based Impossible Arts, who have been delighting audiences across the UK and Europe with their outdoor events and creations for more than 20 years.

Rachel Tunnicliffe, senior partner at Raworths, said:

“This is a great way of getting people to interact with an artwork in a fun and playful manner, and encourage them into the town centre as part of our community.

“It’s also an opportunity to mark the opening weekend of this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival which features a fantastic line-up of brilliant guest speakers who will no doubt spark some entertaining and thought-provoking discussions.”

Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, The Crown Hotel and the Wesley Centre, Harrogate, October 9-19.

For the full programme visit the Harrogate International Festivals website at harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Tickets are available from the Festivals website or by calling the Box Office on 01423 562 303.

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