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Kirkby Lonsdale illuminate Festival Of Ideas

Next: Monday, 9 February 2026

Runs until Friday, 20 February 2026 (See all dates)

Time
09:00 - 22:00
Price
Ticket price £45.00 - £49.00

Kirkby Lonsdale's own Festival of Ideas Illuminate is back for 2026 ⭐

More Information (Dales Radio is not responsible for external websites)

Illuminate is Kirkby Lonsdale’s annual Festival of Ideas is back for 2026! The festival is a bright, creative mid‑winter celebration packed with performances, talks, films, workshops, family events, and wellbeing sessions. It’s designed to bring “a spark of inspiration—and illumination—at a particularly dark time of the year.”

📅 When It Runs

Illuminate 2026

  • 7th – 20th February 2026
  • Over 40–50 events across the town.
  • Includes performances, film screenings, workshops, wellbeing sessions, and family activities.

⭐ Festival Highlights (2026 Edition)

  • Lee Child headline event at St Mary’s Church (sold out quickly).
  • Rum Ragged – award‑winning Newfoundland folk group.
  • Poco Besos – Latin‑infused reimaginings of pop classics.
  • ComedySportz improv show.
  • Workshops: yoga, breathwork, flash fiction, photography, art & storytelling.
  • Films: including Interstellar (12A).

🎟 Tickets

  • Individual event tickets are still available for many sessions.
  • Full festival passes for 2026 sold out early.
  • Official ticket site: illuminate.kirkbylonsdale.org (as referenced in news coverage).

🌟 The Festival’s Spirit

Illuminate celebrates:

  • Creativity in dark months
  • Local heritage and inspiration (Lee Child wrote his first Reacher novel overlooking the church tower)
  • Community connection through arts, ideas, and wellbeing

Dates

The event runs from 09:00 to 22:00 on the following dates.
Select a date to add this event to your calendar app.

Schedule

  • StressBusters

    10:00pm - 1:00am

    A relaxing finish to the day with music to soothe and ease you to sleep

  • Dark Skies in the Dales

    1:00am - 7:00am

    Enjoy the dark skies of the Dales with music and news through the night

  • Simon Doe

    7:00am - Noon

    Breakfast Show

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