Event Programme
Illuminate Festival Pass 2026
Experience more than 40 events with the Festival of Ideas Pass, giving access to live performances, films, talks, and workshops across town from 7–20 February 2026. Enjoy seamless entry, exclusive content, and the freedom to explore diverse cultural experiences — cr...
Yoga Flow
Join instructor **Lucinda Gere** for an energising **Yoga Flow** session designed to build strength, mobility, and balance through mindful movement and breath. Suitable for all abilities, this one-hour class moves from warm-up to standing flow, finishing with deep stret...
Breathwork for Emotional Release
Join Trish Phillips for a deeply supportive guided breathwork session designed to release tension, ease emotional overwhelm, and restore balance. Through gentle somatic awareness and mindful breathing, this 60-minute practice invites calm, clarity, and reconnection. A n...
Lizzi Collinge MP & John Pye in Conversation
Join MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, Lizzi Collinge, and John Pye, Project Director for Eden Project North, in conversation with Dave Sapsford. They’ll explore the changing fortunes of our region and discuss how rural and coastal communities across the North West can ...
ComedySportz
Welcome to ComedySportz, the all-ages, all-improvised competitive comedy show! Two teams battle it out with quick-witted games inspired by your suggestions, all overseen by a referee. Fast-paced, feel-good fun for everyone! With rave reviews and award wins across the UK...
In Conversation with Lee Child
Best-selling author Lee Child will appear on stage at St Mary’s Church on the evening of Saturday 7 February in conversation with local debut author, Rachel Canwell. Lee will talk about his life and work before holding a book-signing session.
Deep Relaxation with the Yoga of Sleep
Experience deep rest with Emma Gwillim’s Yoga Nidra, the yoga of sleep — a soothing, fully guided meditation to calm the mind and body. This 60-minute session combines gentle movement and relaxation to ease stress, improve sleep, and restore emotional balance, leavi...
Sound Bath with Crystal Bowls
Join Kat Delaney for a dreamy sound bath using alchemy crystal bowls, drum, and chime to promote deep rest and energetic balance. Beginning with gentle breath and awareness practices, this soothing session helps release tension and restore calm — perfect for busy mind...
Flash Fiction with Rachell Canwell
Join local author Rachel Canwell for a creative flash fiction workshop inspired by this year’s theme, Futures: Real and Imagined. Explore ‘Sliding Doors’ moments and reimagine how life might change with a single choice. No experience needed — just curiosity and ...
Art & Storytelling with Trish Phillips
Join Trish Phillips for a small, nurturing nature-based art and storytelling workshop designed for Key Stage 2 children (7–11). Through mindful breathwork, storytelling, and creative art-making, children explore emotions, balance, and connection with nature. A gentle,...
Rum Ragged: Folk Music
Award-winning Newfoundland folk group Rum Ragged, 2021 JUNO nominees, bring their acclaimed blend of rich harmonies, virtuoso musicianship, and captivating storytelling to the stage.
True Stories
Join Jayne Davies for an evening of live storytelling on the theme Sliding Doors. Share your true story of choices, chances, and what-ifs — or simply come and listen. From life-changing moments to everyday decisions, all stories are welcome. A warm, welcoming evening ...
Tess Pike Tour of St Mary’s
Join Blue Badge Guide Tess Pike for a fascinating tour of St Mary’s Church, uncovering its hidden history from Saxon fragments to Norman architecture. Discover the impressive west-end piers, the exquisite east window, and the stories behind Kirkby Lonsdale’s ancient...
Love Actually: the Science of Romance
Four iconic films. Four disciplines. One mystery: love. Explore the psychology of attraction, the biochemistry of desire, the data behind decision-making, and the bittersweet pull of unrequited longing. From When Harry Met Sally to Casablanca, journey through science, s...
Murder at Gatsby Manor
The fizz flows and the jazz is swinging — until one cocktail proves fatal. Step into the roaring twenties for a night of glitz, intrigue, and deception. Can you unravel the clues, catch the killer, and avoid becoming the next beautiful little fool in this dazzling mur...
Green Day
We’ve plus-sized Kirkby Lonsdale’s Repair Café with eco-focused activities and workshops from Lancaster University. Bring broken appliances, wonky clocks, or torn clothing for help with repairs, and join discussions on the challenges of the twenty-first century and...
Breathwork for Emotional Release
Join Trish Phillips for a deeply supportive guided breathwork session designed to release tension, ease emotional overwhelm, and restore balance. Through gentle somatic awareness and mindful breathing, this 60-minute practice invites calm, clarity, and reconnection. A n...
Rachel Canwell Book Launch
Join debut author Rachel Canwell in conversation with Jayne Davies as she discusses her haunting WWI-era novel set in the Fens. Inspired by the true story of a hospital that never opened, it’s a powerful tale of love, loss, and the ghosts that bind three women to the ...
Deep Relaxation with the Yoga of Sleep
Experience deep rest with Emma Gwillim’s Yoga Nidra, the yoga of sleep — a soothing, fully guided meditation to calm the mind and body. This 60-minute session combines gentle movement and relaxation to ease stress, improve sleep, and restore emotional balance, leavi...
Ask a Gardener
Join expert gardeners Tom Atwood, Kevin Preston, and Shelagh Todd for an engaging Ask a Gardener session. Get practical advice on planting, pests, and design, and discover tips from leading horticulturalists. Submit your questions in advance to hello@stmarysevents.kirkb...
Poco Besos
Celebrate Valentine’s night with the irresistible rhythms of Poco Besos. This dynamic live band transforms chart hits into Latin-infused grooves bursting with energy, flair, and passion. Expect soaring horns, soulful vocals, and infectious beats that make it impossibl...
Yoga Flow
Join instructor **Lucinda Gere** for an energising **Yoga Flow** session designed to build strength, mobility, and balance through mindful movement and breath. Suitable for all abilities, this one-hour class moves from warm-up to standing flow, finishing with deep stret...
Foresty featuring Nature Art with Richard Shilling
Join Richard Shilling and Land Art for Kids for a special Foresty afternoon of creative nature art. Make beautiful, ephemeral sculptures from leaves and natural materials in this relaxed drop-in workshop for ages 4 and up. Explore, play, and create outdoors — or indoo...
Sound Bath with Crystal Bowls
Join Kat Delaney for a dreamy sound bath using alchemy crystal bowls, drum, and chime to promote deep rest and energetic balance. Beginning with gentle breath and awareness practices, this soothing session helps release tension and restore calm — perfect for busy mind...
The Works of Jane Austen, Abridged
Join Schoolhouse Productions for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp through Jane Austen’s beloved works. In just 80 minutes, three plucky actors bring to life her heroines, heroes, and cutting social satire. A witty, big-hearted comedy that delights both devoted Janeit...
Deepfakes: Just how worried should we be?
Deepfake technology can create convincing fake content of anyone, enabling political disinformation, financial fraud, and sexual digital forgeries. In this talk, Dr Sophie Nightingale explores her research into the realism and trustworthiness of AI-generated faces. Soph...
The Curious Dance Academy
The Curious Dance Academy presents a contemporary performance inspired by our young dancers’ dreams, ambitions, and hopes for the future. Choreographed by Megan Alder-Cox with the dancers, this uplifting showcase comes to the Illuminate Festival. Free to attend; donat...
Tess Pike Tour of St Mary’s
Join Blue Badge Guide Tess Pike for a fascinating tour of St Mary’s Church, uncovering its hidden history from Saxon fragments to Norman architecture. Discover the impressive west-end piers, the exquisite east window, and the stories behind Kirkby Lonsdale’s ancient...
Nightscape Photography
Join experienced photographer Pete Collins for a free nightscape photography workshop exploring how to capture the beauty of the night sky. Learn about equipment, settings, and editing, then head outdoors for a practical session overlooking Ruskin’s View (weather perm...
Festival Crafts
Join us for a free half-term crafts session with a stars and dark skies theme. Enjoy creative fun for children and families, and decorate your bike with LED lights ready for the Little Star event and starlit cycle procession later that afternoon.
Little Star Family Activity
Join us for a magical candlelit storytelling session created for Illuminate 2026. Children and their adults are invited to enjoy an enchanting tale, then take part in a starlit cycle procession around the church, with bikes glowing under twinkling LED lights.
The Usuals
As the festival draws to a close, join us for a night of music with local band The Usuals. Featuring Joe Finney, Nigel Davies, Geoff Coulson, Amanda Ross, and Chris Worsley, they deliver rock, indie, and pop favourites from AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses to The Killers and T...
The Lost Bus
Join us for an immersive family theatre experience aboard a vintage bus in Kirkby’s Market Square. This 30-minute audio adventure from Ragged Edge Productions runs at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm (no 1pm show while the driver has lunch). Free to attend—just turn up...
Game Show SHOW
Black Liver return with a riotous, interactive game show all about you! Hosts Ruth and Keith quiz the audience on local history, stories, and quirks, blending humour, satire, and community spirit. Whether you join in or simply enjoy the fun, expect laughter, surprises, ...