Let there be lights!

The Bay of Lights is about to transform the Bay into a dazzling celebration of Christmas.
The festive initiative kicks off the Yuletide celebrations across the English Riviera.
This seasonal Bay wide programme of lights returns for a second year, inviting residents and visitors to explore the region during the festive period.
The Bay of Lights incorporates everything from the Illumination Trail at Torquay, Brixham Lanterns, Lights & 'Luminations, to the Christmas Train of Lights in Paignton, and seasonal illuminated events at popular local destinations, including Glo Wild at Paignton Zoo.
The Bay of Lights Illumination trail is a free attraction and an intrinsic part of the Bay of Lights initiative.
Funded by Torbay Council, SWISCo and the English Riviera BID Company, the 2023 trail is also supported by a range of organisations and businesses including Torbay Business Forum, Big Wave Marketing, Model Village, May House Dental Practice, Treat Marketing, EF Language School, Twenty 1 and Otto, Pier Point, Shoreline, Rock Fish, Torre Abbey, and Healthy Selfie.
The trail and Pixel tree installations are created by Future Technical Solutions (FTS) and are set to light up areas across the English Riviera, starting on Friday December 1 and running until Tuesday January 2, 2024.
Each of the installations uses low-energy LED bulbs and are designed to allow people to stop and enjoy impressive light and sound displays as well as taking some memorable photos.
The 1.5-mile long and winds its way along Torquay's iconic waterfront, starting from Abbey Park, through the Tunnel of Lights, up and over the curly bridge and across the seafront promenade before ending at the harbourside. However, you can follow the route in either direction. The trail in Torquay lights up daily from 4.30pm, with sound elements until 9.30pm and lighting displays until 11pm.
This year the Illumination trail will be reaching out further to include Paignton and Brixham. These locations will feature 10-meter-high pixel Christmas Trees that offer igital light shows.
At the same time and to support town centres over the festive season, for a fifth consecutive year, Torbay Council is offering its ‘Pay for an hour, stay for the day’ parking promotion in selected car parks. The offer runs from Friday December 1 to Tuesday January 2 at the following locations.
Torquay – Lower Union Lane and Union Square (closes at 7pm)
Paignton – Victoria multi-storey
Brixham – Central (up to the maximum stay), Freshwater and Oxen Cove.
The fee will cover parking from when visitors arrive until midnight the same day (excluding Union Square which closes at 7pm, and Brixham Central which limits parking time to a maximum of three hours between 7am and 3pm). Fees are in line with zone charges. For Lower Union Lane, payment should be on entry and not when leaving the car park.
Cllr Adam Billings, Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, Culture and Events and Parking for Torbay Council, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support that local businesses have generously provided this year. It means we can keep growing the offering and expanding the trail into more and more areas.”
Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company said: “The Bay wide Bay of Lights initiative aims to bring joy to the local community whilst attracting visitors to our region. This winter festival of lights from a range of attractions helps bring the English Riviera to life, creating a new season for our tourism and hospitality sectors.”