What did you see and what did you think?

I did!

It was wonderful, especially as i had two NZ friends with me who had not sampled the city centre before now.

We started off at the Site Gallery where we released our ballooons to get sucked up, and then dropped from the vortex above a place in Norway.

Then we ventured through the Winter Gardens and saw the light display in Tudor Square.

After a couple of drinks, we returned to the gardens to see the dance act.

It was wonderful, and i would love to see more events like this!

Damn and Blast. I wish I'd have gone now!

We started off watching the circus in the Winter Gardens. Thought it was a pity they weren't doing it from the roof of the building! Then there were odd things on Tudor Square that should have made for a party atmosphere, but the fire performers were a bit crap (rain didn't help). I loved the jewish band though.

Went in the Uni to see the display but it was a bit empty. Heard music and thought there was a performance of some sort, but went through double doors to find it was just some decorators on a late shift. Or was it art? :hihi:

Then headed down to the CIQ and saw the exhibition (and light show) at Persistence Works, then went in the Site Gallery for the Norway balloon thing which I thought was lovely. I tried googling for the 'vortex' town but at about 20 letters' worth of scandinavian spelling, failed! (I hope they weren't making it all up. :suspect: )

Then we ended up at the Workstation for the Designers Republic shindig. I loved the videos. I don't know who the band were but they were good.

It was great to hop between such different happenings. I did feel they didn't really join up properly though - I thought there was going to be a lit up trail between venues. There were several things on at the same time with no repeat showings, so we had to do without a few of the other elements. But it was an uplifting night and I hope it will happen again, as more of an outdoor party! :love:

I didnt realise it was happening but i wandered through the gardens in between the Lyceum and Cruicible with about 25 other people only to stumble across two people dancing around with fire... much enjoyed especially after a few drinks !

We must have gone to a completly different thing to you. I wasn't impressed. outside the Crucible was the room with 1light balloon over it (which had gone out when we walked back). The show in the Gardens looked good but we were quite far back so was difficult to see. The band outside, the silver man and the star light shining on the library were the most impressive bits we saw.
Walked down the route and there was nothing happening. The site gallery had a small display on and the one further down was all upstairs and to be looked at from outside. We were accosted by a Bill Bailey character in A/Excess place and had a full explanation of what they do and how (which as someone who knows nothing of computers was real exciting).
We walked back up to the Workstation where nothing seemed to be happening.

Didn't see and fire throwers or light shows we expected. Seemed like another of the councils overhyped nights. And all the poeple i spoke to about it before knew nothing about it. I do wish they could get it right. I went to take photos and only took a few.

The decorators at the Uni said while we were in there they should have put a sign up saying it was part of the display. It would have been the best bit in there.

Ventured into the city centre on Friday to see what this Festival had to offer. The 'spectacular' illuminated gymnastic display in the Winter Gardens turned out to be some gymnasts clambouring around a large metal hoop that had a green light shining on it. The only other event I noticed was a couple of juggler types with a rather tired display of fire juggling. Maybe i got there late (8.30) but it was most disappointing.

In a moment of clarity I also realised that the city centre really is a forbidding place at night for people other than students / young revellers. Anybody looking to open an attraction for a more mature / discerning crowd would be silly not to look to the suburbs first. All the places (that i noticed)which are trying to appeal to this type were dead- Boho for example, despite great service, a very tasty looking menu and being pretty nice inside was deserted.

The council needs to look closely at defining areas for the different offers as the two really dont mix - and nor i dont think would they want to.

Mod Note: Threads merged.

I am inclined to agree with the negative comments about this event, but enjoyed it nonetheless because have come to expect very little from the City Centre in terms of entertainment, and therefore, thought i ought to be grateful really, because this is about the best i have seen so far, which doesn't really say much for the nightlife beyond the club scene.

I was also disappointed with this event. manchester had something similar last weekend and there's was amazing! I was most attracted to the interactive game with light balls played against York, Leeds, Hull and Bradford. Searched in vein for it, finding the advertised location of Surrey Place to be full of cars..the reason why the most exciting activity on the agenda wasnt happening? They didnt have a key to get in and set up the projector!
Shows how much the city council was behind this event doesnt it? That they couldnt call on a caretaker or someone to open up a locked room in a council owned building....doh!
As ever with council events, maybe they will learn that 'this is quite a good idea' and next year put a bit more effort behind it!
it was nice to see people and activities happening in tudor square, this is a great venue and should be used more often on a weekend I think

I was also disappointed with this event. manchester had something similar last weekend and there's was amazing! I was most attracted to the interactive game with light balls played against York, Leeds, Hull and Bradford. Searched in vein for it, finding the advertised location of Surrey Place to be full of cars..the reason why the most exciting activity on the agenda wasnt happening? They didnt have a key to get in and set up the projector!
Shows how much the city council was behind this event doesnt it? That they couldnt call on a caretaker or someone to open up a locked room in a council owned building....doh!
As ever with council events, maybe they will learn that 'this is quite a good idea' and next year put a bit more effort behind it!
it was nice to see people and activities happening in tudor square, this is a great venue and should be used more often on a weekend I think

I was looking for the football game!, cant believe they did not have the 'key'. People in the council need to be shot!!. Anyone from the council want to comment?, I very much doubt they will!

I agree that the outside areas were a damp squib, and we were disappointed that there seemed no effort in lighting or jazzing up the 'trail' (no money, probably). The gap between Tudor Square and the CIQ was dark and featureless and dull. But I still enjoyed the indoor things that I saw and liked being able to wander from place to place for this and that. I suppose I'm at the age where the city centre on a saturday night doesn't feel like it belongs to me, it was nice to promenade the streets getting drunk and bumping into load of people I knew!

Interesting to hear a little about how it went on in another city.