Diwali inspired Carnival of Lights to take place in Coventry

Coventry will be treated to a light fantastic this November when a procession of music and light trails its way into the city centre along one of the city’s most iconic roads.

Carnival of Lights, which is inspired by Diwali, is part of Coventry City of Culture Trust’s programme of events in the run up to 2021 and forms part of a series of festive activities that the Trust is either organising or supporting this autumn and winter.

Carnival of Lights will take place on Sunday 3rd November and will be open to the public along Foleshill Road from 17:15 before completing its journey in Broadgate at 18:30.

The spectacular procession will include a music float, dhol drummers, stilt-walkers, illuminated umbrellas, a beautiful lotus flower float, as well as 100 lanterns.
The lanterns will be made with the local community at workshops in the run up to the event which will be run by artists from Foleshill Creates.

The Trust is working with Remarkable Productions, which is experienced in delivering similar events, as well as Coventry-based music producer, Sunit, who is programming a series of musical artists for the music float. Arts company Nutkhut will provide other elements of the show, such as the illuminated Lotus Flower float.

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director at Coventry City of Culture Trust, said, “Created with communities and artists in Coventry, Carnival of Lights will be a spectacular celebration to mark the start of the busy festive season.

“Inspired by Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated across many of our communities, this procession will include live music, dazzling dancing, soulful singing and hundreds of lanterns, produced by Nutkhut and Remarkable Productions.

“This will be a secular, family event with thousands of people expected to line the streets processing along the historic Foleshill Road, across the ring road and around the city centre, with a musical finale in Broadgate.

“It’s great to see this new festive celebration, that fuses creativity with hope and faith, and brings our many communities together to welcome in the dark winter nights.”

Carnival of Lights will see rolling closure of the Foleshill Road through the duration of the event. Affected residents and business are being informed by letter and invitation to the event.”

Artists and performers on the night will come from Flavours of Coventry float, featuring: Shivam, Jayden, Hitesh Joshi, Lyra, Heenay, Raina. Bolly Brollies, Juggy Rihal, Lotus Flower, Masterclass Dhol Drummers, Stilt Walkers from Nutkhut, plus lanterns created by local participants.