The display of light installations has been running for eight years
Crowds enjoying the River of Light installations on Liverpool Pier Head on Friday October 24(Image: Liverpool Echo)
There is a very high chance of rain today for people visiting this year’s River of Light. Big groups have gathered across several areas of town and the waterfront over the last two nights as the event returned once again.
This is the eighth year the River of Light has come to Liverpool. This time, there is a new theme, ‘Optics – Science and Light’, and ten new installations. As part of this, ten large-scale artworks are being showcased, with each of the installations inspired by an area of science, technology or nature.
Each of the artworks aims to capture the imagination of visitors in new ways as they explore the 3km trail along the waterfront, including the Royal Albert Dock, as well as around the Pier Head, Exchange Flags and Liverpool ONE.
The light installations will be switched on from 5pm until 9pm tonight, giving visitors a few hours to follow the trail.
Anyone seeing the installations should be aware that there is a 90% chance of rain in Liverpool for today, according to the Met Office.
The weather agency has predicted that the city will experience light rain from this morning and into the evening until 8pm.
Temperatures are expected to reach 9C but it will feel like 6C. Sunset will be at 4.51pm.
The clocks went back one hour at 2am this morning, marking the end of British Summer Time (BST). The UK is now on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), meaning the long hours of sunlight have now come to an end for the next few months as well as the sun sets before 5pm.
The Met Office’s forecast for the north west of England for today says the weather will be “chilly and increasingly cloudy with rain spreading south”.
The forecast said: “Today: A rather chilly but bright start to the day, before cloud spills in from the northwest. Becoming widely overcast with spells of persistent rain spreading southwards through the afternoon. Some heavy downpours across the mountains, and remaining breezy. Maximum temperature 10C.
“Tonight: Remaining breezy tonight with further scattered showers in places, but plenty of dry spells too. Feeling chilly where skies clear, with a touch of frost in rural spots. Minimum temperature 2C.”
Ahead of the River of Light starting this year, Liverpool City Council said a detailed plan had been put in place to manage the numbers of people expected.
However, visitors were warned that the event is set to be extremely popular, particularly at the weekends, and asked people to bear this in mind when planning their visit.
The River of Light will remain until Sunday, November 2. The light trail will be switched on from 4pm for ‘quiet hour’ on Sunday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 29.
On Saturday, November 1, hours will be extended until 10pm for a ‘Late Night’ evening.
The team behind the installations have also said there was queuing at the installations last year as they were interactive, so it took more time than usual for people to pass through. This is not the case this year. Some of the installation locations have also changed this year.