Nightfall is back for 2025!
Our enchanting light event for all the family will return to Middlesbrough’s Stewart Park from Friday 28 November – Sunday 30 November
Tickets are now on general sale and can be purchased here
This year, prepare to be amazed as our family friendly event takes over the park after dark for three evenings; discover tiny rabbits dancing across the ground, towering flowers blooming above your head, and glowing installations that bring the park to life after dark. Wander through a luminous world where shadows stretch, lights soar, and wonder grows larger with every step.
Make sure to sign up to our mailing list!
Nightfall is produced by Teesside based Stellar Creates and is made possible thanks to funding and support from Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority & Middlesbrough Council and Borderlands CPP
Happy as the Day is Long by Stellar Creates
Step into a world where light dances with the night! Happy as the Day is Long is a breathtaking larger-than-life mirrorball which will transform Stewart Park into an enchanting environment, inviting you to dance the night away.
Made from a kaleidoscope of brightly coloured mirrored pieces, thousands of shimmering reflections will dance across the surroundings as it turns, creating a mesmerising atmosphere that will captivate visitors of all ages.
The artwork sets the stage for a pop-up silent disco where you can grab a pair of headphones and immerse yourself in the uplifting energy of one of our Happy Nightfall playlists – guaranteed to lift your spirits! Happy as the Day is Long invites you to explore the beauty of light in motion and the joyful power of music.
Happy as the Day is Long was co-commissioned by Barnsley Bright Nights, with support from Tees Valley Combined Authority.
For our easy read programme click here
NocturnANIMALS by Glow Arts Creative
NocturnANIMALS is a series of illuminated inflatables that transform the path through Stewart Park into an enchanting realm of imagination. The five larger in light animals – NocturnOwl, NocturnFox, NocturnHog, NocturnOwls and NocturnMouse guide you along the trail as they watch over the night. Each piece is carefully crafted with glowing mandalas and symbolic details, embodying themes of wisdom, resilience, serenity and magic.
This year’s Nightfall festival features a rich programme of performances that bring light, movement, and imagination to the evenings. Returning favourites include The Magic Lantern, a purpose-built storytelling and shadow puppetry theatre by Jo Douglas, Ian Douglas and Gary Bridgens, this enchanting lantern delights audiences with its blend of stories, shadows, music and light, glowing just as magically inside as out.
Visitors can also enjoy Garden Party by Whippet Up, a vibrant UV puppetry performance devised in their creative health workshops. Ember Echoes by Tees Dance offers fleeting, unrepeatable moments of choreography by Jenny Chrisp, with dancers emerging unexpectedly from the shadows to transform pathways into stages.
Street Food Under the Stars
At the end of the Nightfall light trail, take a well-earned break in our lovely dwell space where you will be able to listen to live DJs and have a drink or snack in our street food area.
As you refuel in the atmospheric Courtyard of Askham Bryan College, you will be able chill out and listen to our live DJs. Get yourself a drink and a snack, relax and enjoy the music under the stars.
At the end of the trail, you will be able to warm up with some delicious food from a range of brilliant businesses from across Teesside and the North East including Spud Gun Loaded Fries, Smash Burgers, GRK Greek Street Food, Cook’s Pizzeria, Twisted Chick, Doughvine Desserts and Best Bits Bakery. Veggie, vegan and gluten free options available.
Tickets are available to book at 15min timeslots each day. Everyone attending needs a ticket – please book a free ticket for children aged 2 and under.
Event runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 November, first entry is 4pm then every 15mins with last entry at 9pm.
4pm and 4.15pm are our designated relaxed sessions.
Book your tickets on our event page here
Any booking queries please get in touch by email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk
When you book your tickets you will receive a booking confirmation via email with a QR code on there – please file this away in a safe place as this email is your event ticket and the QR code will be scanned on entry.
Also check junk folders in case your confirmation is hiding in there.
If it hasn’t arrived please email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk with the name you booked under and we will help you get reunited with your booking.
Adult – £17.50
Child (3-16years) – £12.50
Child (2&under) – Free
Off Peak -(10% Discount) on Sunday 8.30, 8.45 & 9pm time slots
Parking is available to book
Nightfall is a not for profit event run by a Teesside based Community Interest Company, any funds raised and income from tickets goes to paying our staff, technical suppliers, event infrastructure and artists. We are passionate about producing brilliant events for our community in Teesside and we invest a lot of our time in making Nightfall happen.
We have limited parking available and spaces must be booked in advance.
There are 2 parking locations:
Main car park at Stewart Park (via Ladgate Lane entrance) – available to select when booking at an additional charge of £4.50. Please have your booking confirmation ready to show the parking attendants on arrival – the car park is accessed via the main park entrance on Ladgate Lane – event signage will direct you. Please do not try to access via The Grove.
Park & Walk – available to book of a charge of £2.50 per car.
Select Park & Walk ticket (book 1 ticket per car)
Address is Middlesbrough Sports Village, Alan Peacock Way, TS4 3AE please have your booking confirmation ready to show the parking attendants on arrival and then follow signs to the event entrance on Ladgate Lane (5 min walk)
Blue Badge parking is available at Stewart Park car park, please select Blue Badge parking option when booking.
There are good transport links to Stewart Park with a regular bus service to Ladgate Lane and rail service to Marton Station which is a 5min walk.
Stewart Park, Middlesbrough, TS4 3SL
Nightfall is at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough. The event entrance is on Ladgate Lane (please ignore sat nav directions via The Grove)
Stewart Park has great public transport links so avoid the traffic and use bus or train services:
On Foot:
If you are walking into the site you can use one of the following entrances:
– Park & Walk entrance on Ladgate Lane
– Main car park pedestrian gate
-The Grove entrance for use by Grove residents only
By Car:
All car parks are signposted from Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough. Please check which car park you have booked into – it will say on your booking confirmation.
Main Car Park – if you are booked into the main car park at Stewart Park, it is accessed via Ladgate Lane, TS4 3SL (///kicks.deals.petty on What Three Words)
Please do not follow Sat Nav directions to the park via The Grove as this entrance is closed during the event. There will be temporary signs on the roads in so please follow those to Ladgate Lane.
Blue Badge Parking is located in the Main Car Park – please make sure you have your blue badge on display.
Park & Walk – if you are booked into our Park & Walk please head for Middlesbrough Sports Village, Alan Peacock Way, TS4 3AE.
People who require an essential companion to accompany them to the event due to their disability, illness or other condition can book a FREE essential companion ticket.
Qualifying documentation must be provided to evidence their disability or circumstances that would require them to need an essential companion.
Once you have booked your ticket please email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk with your booking reference and attached your documentation.
Qualifying documentation
• A letter confirming receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• A letter confirming receipt of Attendance Allowance
• A letter confirming receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• CredAbility Access Card (with +1 symbol)
• Doctor’s note (valid for 6 months)
All essential companions must be aged 16 or over. Only one essential companion ticket is available per disabled customer.
If a customer does not have access to any of the required evidence above but feels that they require an essential companion ticket to be able to attend the event, they can approach us by email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk to discuss their individual needs.
The relaxed session is at 4pm & 4.15pm each day, please only book on these two timeslots if you require the relaxed session. An easy read guide will also be available in advance to guide visitors through the event.
These sessions are created for young people and adults who would love to experience the Nightfall trail without the usual numbers of people and at reduced audio volumes. These sessions will also be early enough that they will just about start in twilight making it a less daunting transition into the dark.
The capacity of these sessions will be limited to ensure that the trail remains less crowded and more relaxed. Audiences will be the first group on-site and therefore all areas will be relatively clear.
What’s different?
• Fewer visitors allocated for this time slot
• Changes to the sound and lighting levels along the trail so that the experience is more accessible if you have sensory sensitivities
• A relaxed performance guide which details what to expect in each area to enable visitors to plan their route
We are committed to ensuring that visitors with disabilities and additional needs are not prevented from enjoying Nightfall because of access needs.
A relaxed/easy read guide will be available to download and read through in advance.
There are no strobe lights at Nightfall – but the event does have some elements of noise, smoke and colour change/flashing lighting.
The pathways around the park are fully accessible for wheelchair users and there is a shortened version of the route for anyone concerned they may be unable to manage the full trail route. This route cuts out a section of the trail and will be signposted on the route.
Accessible toilets are available at the entrance, Captain Cook Museum (half way round) and at the end of the trail.
Blue Badge parking spaces are located within the main car park and are available to book along with the event tickets. Please note the blue badge owner must be attending the event.
Each night 5-8pm performances will be BSL interpreted – please email hello@stellar-projects.co.uk if you need to change your ticket time to access.
An audio described soundtrack will be available to download in advance
If you’d like to contact and discuss your additional needs/someone in your party – email: hello@stellar-projects.co.uk
Please note event tickets are not refundable but if we have availability you can change the date & time of your booking via the Ticket Tailor manage tickets booking on the site here
Any ticket enquires can be emailed to hello@stellar-projects.co.uk please let us know your booking reference and name the booking was made under.
Attendees should arrive promptly for their timeslot – no more than 10 minutes early or 10 minutes later than their purchased time slot.
Time slots are every 15 minutes from 4.00pm – 9pm. Last entry is 9.15pm.
The trail route is 1.6km and takes approx 1 hour-1.30 mins ending at the courtyard where there is live music, food and drinks available.
A shorter route option is available for anyone who requires it and it will be signposted on site (please note this does cut out a section of the trail and therefore a small number of the artworks)
The route is fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The route uses existing paths around the park but they might get muddy in areas; please note some areas of the ground may be a little uneven in places.
Make sure you have your confirmation ready for entry either printed or show them to us on your phone – the QR code is your ticket and will be scanned.
If you can’t find it? Don’t worry they often get lost in junk folders so just email us at hello@stellar-projects.co.uk and we will resend it to you!
No dogs are allowed at the event unless they are assistance dogs.
There are light & smoke effects and large numbers of people which make it unsuitable for even the best behaved dog. Assistance dogs will be accommodated.
#Nightfall25 is an outdoor event.
We advise you wear all the layers! It is November, so please wrap up warm and get your sensible sturdy and flat shoes/wellies on! The route will use existing paths around the park but they might get muddy in areas; please note some areas of the ground may be a little uneven in places.
Although we are lighting the trail there will be darker areas around the route so if you are bringing little ones (or if you are still a bit scared of the dark!) then feel free to bring your own torches or lanterns with you.
At the end of your illuminated adventure, you can warm up with some delicious food from a range of brilliant businesses from across Teesside and the North East. There will be veggie, vegan and gluten free options available.
There will also be delicious coffee and hot drinks every evening as well as alcoholic drinks including mulled wine, winter cocktails and draught beers.
All traders will accept cash and card payment.
Whilst children aged 2 and under are free they still need a ticket – if you forgot to book this when booking drop us an email and we can help via: hello@stellar-projects.co.uk
Stewart Park can be accessed between 7am and 3pm as normal.
From 3pm-7am the park will be closed to the general public.
Signs will be posted at entrances to the park to inform park users of the event dates, with details of any temporary changes to access that may affect them.
#Nightfall25 is overseen by event professionals and is designed to take place in the UK weather during November outdoors. We monitor weather conditions on-site each day and the safety of attendees is paramount.
A decision to cancel #Nightfall25 due to adverse weather, would be made following professional advice in the interests of public safety. This decision could be made for the following reasons:
– Significant ice or snow
– High winds.
– Fallen trees, broken branches, or tree limb damage
– Flooding that significantly impacts conditions underfoot.
Please note that the decision to cancel will be taken as early as possible on the day of the event by event safety professionals, usually by 2pm. This timing enables the #Nightfall25 team to monitor any improvements that might make it possible to open the trail safely.
#Nightfall25 Cancellation Due to Adverse Weather
If the decision to cancel #Nightfall25 is made, ticket holders will receive an email from 2pm onwards on the day of the trail to inform them of the cancellation.
We will also use our social media channels to share the news of cancellation – so we recommend keeping an eye on our social media on your booking day to keep up to date.
Stellar Creates will then contact customers to outline the options available to tickets holders including refunds.
Note: Refunds will only be offered if the event is cancelled.
Our Nightfall site closes each night at 11pm and all attendees must exit the car park by no later than 11.15pm
Stellar Creates are the company behind Nightfall and we are producers of creative projects and imaginative events based in Teesside. You can find out more about us on our website here.
We believe that our community deserves to be able to visit the best quality events on their doorstep and we are passionate about producing events for local people in our home town.
We have a dedicated page on Environmental Sustainability and how we are minimising our impact here
By Car:
All car parks are signposted from Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough. Please check which car park you have booked into – it will say on your booking confirmation.
Main Car Park – if you are booked into the main car park at Stewart Park, it is accessed via Ladgate Lane, TS4 3SL (///kicks.deals.petty on What Three Words
Please do not follow Sat Nav directions to the park via The Grove as this entrance is closed during the event. There will be temporary signs on the roads in so please follow those to Ladgate Lane.
People who require an essential companion to accompany them to the event due to their disability, illness or other condition can book a FREE essential companion ticket.
Blue Badge Parking spaces are available to book in advance. The spaces provide easy access to the site.
The pathways around the park are fully accessible for wheelchair users and there is a shortened version of the route for anyone concerned they may be unable to manage the full trail route.
