FRIDAY
The festival launches on Friday 28th November with a spectacular Lantern Parade led by Gatis Community Space — expect glowing beasts, vibrant drumming, and dance, ending with light projections in St Peter’s Square.
The celebrations continue into the night with Wolverhampton Art Gallery LATES, featuring after-hours workshops, spoken word, and live music.
All the exhibitions will also be open for you to visit, aswell as the Christmas market.
Finish the night with OZARA DANCE in the Grand Palace.
THE LANTERN PARADE & SPECTACULAR LAUNCH
5.30PM OUTSIDE WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY, PRODUCED BY GATIS COMMUNITY
THE PARADE
Join us as we parade through Wolverhampton city centre with lanterns, glowing mushrooms, folk beasts and performances from Hit The Dhol, Jodi Dancers, Flexus Dance, Ozara nigeran folk gods, . The parade ends in St Peter’s Square with stunning light projections by Illuminos.
Wolverhampton-based music artist, curator, and community leader Kupid Val-Essoné will be leading us on our walk as 'The Modern Town Crier'. Kupid will perform his powerful new commission 'Man on the horse' followed by his anthem 'Superhero'. Students from West Park Primary will also showcase a communal patchwork banner made in workshops with Gatis community, exploring diverse ancestral cultural stories and themes of 'home'.
Featuring Sterran Dance’s Legacy — an empowering work of dance, music and storytelling celebrating resilience and the strength of the human spirit, produced by Flexus Dance Collective.
Lantern parade supplied by Gatis Community & Wormhole productions.
TIMES
5.15PM - PICK UP YOUR MUSHROOM LANTERN (REGISTER HERE)
5.30PM - LEAVING FROM WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY
5.45PM - QUEENS SQUARE - JODI DANCERS
6.00PM - KUPID VAL-ESSONE
6.05PM - ST PETERS SQUARE - FLEXUS DANCE
6.15PM - ILLUMONIS' PRESENTS 'LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT'
BRICKS & MORTOR | 6PM - 8PM
EXHIBITION & OPEN STUDIOS @ EAGLEWORKS GALLERY & STUDIOS
It has been a long held activity for Eagle Works artists to host exhibitions together responding to an agreed title or subject, often stemming from or inspired by their surroundings. This year's title, Bricks and Juice started as a joke that became reality inviting playful considerations on connectedness. On Friday 28 November, artist studios will also be open to the public.
No booking required, all ages welcome
Mander Centre, Wolverhampton WV1 3PS
ECHOES & MYTHS | 4PM - 8.00PM
EXHIBTION @ THE GRAND PALACE
A group exhibition exploring how we create, reinterpret, and reimagine folklore, myths, and ritual. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, artists reflect on how stories and traditions evolve with our fears, values, and imaginations. Set within The Grand Palace on Darlington Street, the strikingly renovated former Methodist church provides a dramatic backdrop for this exploration of storytelling and meaning in contemporary life.
Artists: Deborah Stone, Tariq Evans, Giovanni Uche, Calamity, Steph Haynes, Jo Hinton, Ed Isaacs, Sally Rowley, Matt Lloyd, Hanifa McQueen Hudson, Belinda Maria Longsden, Nick C, Jack, Toile, Connor Baker, Ian Hughes, Vincent Stokes, Izrahyel Francis, RJB Archives & Hermasks, Graham Stubbs, Loz Taylor, Susan Carter, Rachel Arnold, Griot Gallery, Zhou Yang, Arman Ray, Keith Gilbert, Wombourne Quilters.
No booking required, all ages welcome
24 School St, Wolverhampton WV1 4LF
LIGHT OVER DARKNESS | 5PM - 9PM
EXHIBITION & COLLEGIATE CHOIR @ ST PETERS CHURCH
Discover the power of art within the sacred architecture of St Peter’s Collegiate. Works exploring strength, beauty, perseverance, nature, illness, and agency interact with light and shadow to inspire reflection and hope.
Artists: Anne Hastings, Steve Evans, Satinder Sarhar, Charlotte Dunn, Alex Bird, Wayne Taft, Matt Lloyd, Rashda A, Stephen Andrews, Caroline Fereday, Sue Brisco, Saskia Poller, Julia Timmins, Kanj Nicholas, Ben Gamble, Shaun Loynds, Russ Sargeant, Sue Pitt, Gatis community & Wormhole Productions.
Special event: Friday night features a rare public rehearsal by the St Peter’s Collegiate Choir in the main chapel.
No booking required, all ages welcome
Lich Gates, Wolverhampton WV1 1TY
FRIDAY LATES| 6PM - 9PM
EXHIBITIONS, SPOKEN WORD, DANCE, MUSIC @WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY
The last Friday Lates of the year!
Gatis will be leading a lantern parade leaving from Wolverhampton Art Gallery to kick off the evening. Then get the chance to join 2 hands-on workshops by Yam from Here artists Vicky Roden and Magdelena Jasiak. Flexus Dance will be performing new work inspired by Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. Learn to drum the Dhol with Hit the Dhol and Local legend Bones will be leading his ‘Words of Wisdom’ event, don’t forget to sign up for the open mic and then enjoy the music!
+ Road2Release will be performing in the gallery!
Please book your tickets via this link - https://wolverhamptonart.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173661232
Free entry, all ages welcome
Lichfield St, Wolverhampton WV1 1DU
OZARA DANCE | 8.30PM - 11PM
EXHIBITION, DJ'S , PERFORMANCE @ THE GRAND PALACE
Building on the 2024 Winter Solstice celebration, OZARA DANCE returns with an immersive night of music, movement, and folklore. Drawing on Nigerian and wider African traditions where rhythm and ritual unite communities, the event blends Afro House, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Dancehall with live performance, masks, costumes, and storytelling to create a sensory celebration of myth, ritual, and joyful connection. Performers will embody spirits, weaving through the crowd and interacting with the audience to create a sense of mystery and enchantment.
We aim to build a community-driven following that could grow into a recurring series, each edition exploring new African-inspired folk themes.
Free entry | Paying bar | 18+ TICKETS HERE
24 school street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4LF
FRIDAY
ARTISAN CHRISTMAS MARKET | 10AM - 8PM
STALLS & FOOD @ VICTORIA STREET
A new artisan Christmas market is coming to Wolverhampton, and local stallholders are showcasing their unique gifts. Step into the festive spirit and discover unique gifts from local artists and crafters. Enjoy seasonal treats and soak up the magic of christmas with the seasonal lights.
In addition to the market stalls selling local crafts, there will be mulled wine/hot chocolate, marshmallow toasting, free face painting, a Ferris Wheel which will be free to ride on Sundays, and a seating area.
Organised by Wolverhampton City Councils events team.
No booking required, all ages welcome
Victoria street, Wolverhampton WV1
HYBR1D ART J0URNAL - SAFE HAVEN
Virtual exhibition
Safe Haven :: HYBR1D ART J0URNAL
https://hybridartjournal.com/x/faw/
Virtual Installation:
https://newart.city/show/safehaven
Editor-Curator:
Sonia Levesque
Open Call:
Safe Haven... What does it mean to you? A space, a time of day, a tune, the sound of rain... what does it feel like? Be part of the HAJ's exhibition at Fringe Arts Wolves 2025
https://hybridartjournal.com/x/safehaven-opencall/
Submission deadline = 27th November 2025
No booking required, all ages welcome
19 Queen Square Wolverhampton WV1 1TQ
