I visit Birmingham Light Festival and discover a spine-tingling forest fire, flaming rock music with a giant bat, dazzling love hearts and more

It’s my first visit to Birmingham Light Festival and I’m all set to be dazzled by wondrous art installations that are lighting up our cold post-Christmas skies.

But I never expected to experience so many different emotions as I visited each of the unique displays dotted around the city centre, Jewellery Quarter and Edgbaston.

I’m going to start where I finished - with an unnerving installation simulating a forest fire at the Botanical Gardens.

We were made so welcome as we arrived at the beautiful historic venue (offering free entry when the festival is on) and given a quick resume about the artwork’s climate change credentials.

Then we were led through a series of dark paths, guided along the way by very helpful festival volunteers, before we reached the first in a series of simulated fires, featuring smoke and crackling flame sounds. Whirring chainsaws appeared to be at work as animals and birds could be heard amidst the chaos.

It was an eerie feeling as we looked on at the woodland appearing to go up in smoke while being unable to do anything about it - or know where to run. 

As we walked further along the paths through the installation, the flame-like recreations got bigger and noisier.

The soundtrack also contains interviews with people about their direct experience of forest fires.

We saw fire simulations under trees, in trees and vegetation and along ponds - until after about 15 minutes, we made it to the end of the artwork, by Luke Jerram, to some more volunteers who helped guide us back to the Glasshouses where, more cheerily, refreshments, face painting and seating was available - and the chance to find out and discuss climate change some more.

It has certainly brought the issue of deforestation and its effects to the forefront of my mind.

And this is just one aspect of Birmingham Light Festival which has so many sparkling attractions.

We began our journey through the illuminations at the Bullring where you can see the star attraction FORGED.

This features a flaming organ, a giant fire-breathing bat and brilliant Birmingham metal band, Insurgent, singing their own original tracks- and an excellent Black Sabbath tribute.

It’s a mesmerising 20 minute show which wowed the crowds on a gloomy Thursday evening, overlooking the Bullring markets and Digbeth.

It is on at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm for each night of the festival - all the events are free, by the way.

From one extreme to another, my next BLF experience was a silent disco outside the Council House in Victoria Square - can there be a better venue for a bop? I doubt it!

Here along with dozens of others I danced along to pop, rock and reggae tracks after receiving a free headset from volunteers and hosted by DJ freeze, who intermittently halted the boogeying for a fun interlude.

The Floozie in the Jacuzzie looked suitably impressed - it’s a change from the German Market, for sure!

Across the way giant googley eyes lit up the iconic Birmingham Town Hall in another fun installation called The Look of Love.

There are more gleaming neon artworks throughout the city and you can see them all clearly identified on a map and there are helpful volunteers to talk you through each one as you make your way around.

Another highlight includes the Heartbeat of Brindleyplace in Oozells Square. This is where a series of lit up boxes flicker to the sound of heartbeats of Brummies across the city who are connected electronically to the artwork. Their stories are shown on each box. It’s created an amazing connection to real people of the city in real time.

The final piece I will mention in detail is by far not the least - this year’s legacy project that will remain long after the festival is over - a beautiful artwork in Edgbaston Village by local artist Richard O’Gorman called Where the Trees Begin.

It depicts enchanting illuminated figures in front of trees in dance-like poses with a gorgeous story you can listen to on the Edbaston Village app or by scanning the QR code at the side.

It’s brought a wonderful new dimension to the charming, period neighbourhood, brightening up a previously deserted spot.

Richard, a mural artist, is delighted with the response to his work which has won so much praise and admiration.

So I’ve outlined a few of the 13 artworks available to see from now until 10pm on Sunday, February 15.

It’s the perfect way to enjoy Valentine’s Weekend. Don’t miss the chance to see these amazing displays and see Birmingham in a different light.