Looking for things to do in Lincoln this February half term?
From 19–21 February, Frequency Festival of Light, Play & Discovery returns to Lincoln city centre, transforming streets and historic spaces into a trail of immersive light installations, interactive artworks and performances.
Taking place from 5:30pm to 9:30pm each evening, this free light festival invites visitors to explore Lincoln after dark through a series of installations located across the High Street, Cornhill, Castle Square and Cathedral Quarter.
You can download your Festival guide here or pick up a pocket guide from various participating venues across the city, as well as Festival Information points located near The Castle and Cornhill Market during the Festival!
Showing either the physical or digital version of the programme at certain participating venues will unlock exclusive Frequency partner discounts throughout the evening, you can find all of the great offers available during the festival here.
With so much happening across the city, it can be difficult to know where to start or how to make sure you experience everything. Here are a few suggestions.
Start Your Evening at West Parade
If you are travelling into Lincoln by car, you can begin your evening at The Sycamore Café on West Parade, located close to Carholme Road car park.
Festival programmes can be collected from inside the café, and you can also grab 20% off breakfast by showing your programme!
If you’re planning your journey into the city, you can also explore alternative travel options including public transport and park and ride via the Travel section of our website.
From here you can join a free walking tour, Walking Histories, by Lincoln Free Walking Tours which sets off from The Lawn at 12:30pm across all three days – you can book tickets here.
Begin the Trail at St Mary Le Wigford Church
Make your way to St Mary Le Wigford Church at the bottom of Lincoln High Street to begin with Drift by William Lindley.
Located just next to Lincoln’s train station, this is the perfect place to start your visit if you are arriving by rail, or a useful starting marker if you are joining the trail elsewhere in the city centre.
Projected within the historic interior, this moving-image installation combines animation with an original soundscape to explore Lincolnshire’s landscapes and regional identity.
Directly opposite St Mary Le Wigford Church is the Barbican Creative Hub, where you can continue to experience FlightPaths by Electric Egg – you can download your Trail Guide here.
Developed through workshops with local school children, the installation explores themes of home, migration and belonging alongside Lincolnshire’s WWII Bomber County history.
Explore Cornhill
From the Barbican, continue along the High Street towards Cornhill, where the trail becomes more interactive. Here you can embark on the slowest ride on earth with LIGHT BOAT, and then follow the bass as you prepare to take part in the high-energy SubFrequency Games.
Here you’ll find Talking Heads, an installation featuring three large-scale sculptural heads that respond to visitor input. By speaking or singing into a microphone, your own facial expressions and movements are mapped onto the sculpture in real time, creating a playful and participatory experience.
While you’re here, step inside Cornhill Market, where a series of installations and workshops will be taking place throughout the evening.
Visitors can explore 4 Bit Playground, a kinetic installation made up of responsive cube-like forms that react to sound and movement within their environment, as well as An Elevated Platform, which invites you to step onto a raised stage where your movements trigger a responsive audio reaction from an imagined audience.
On Saturday 21st, you can get involved in a DJ and Beatbox Workshop from 12:00pm until 16:00pm.
There is also a drop-in Lantern Making Workshop on the Mezzanine Floor of the market in the lead up to the Festival on the 17th and 18th of February.
Continue Along the High Street
As you continue up Lincoln’s High Street, you may encounter The Fox & The Otter, illuminated roaming puppets inspired by the well-known CCTV footage of an unlikely animal encounter in the city.
You may also see Light Gliders, mobile illuminated performers who move through the crowd, encouraging interaction and playful engagement with the festival environment.
When you reach Stonebow, stop to experience Serving Sounds, an interactive sound installation where everyday objects are used to trigger recognisable musical loops and basslines.
Just beyond at Saltergate, take part in Light Painting, an open workshop where visitors can create visual compositions using light sources and long-exposure photography techniques.
While passing through this area, you can also view the specially designed Frequency display created by Lark Books within their shop front.
From here you can make your way to to Central Library for an incredible VR experience with Infinite Museum & on Saturday you can experience The People’s Market as well.
Prepare for the Steep Hill Climb
As you begin to make your way towards Steep Hill, this is a good point to pause before heading uphill.
Here, may wish to stop by Coffee Cats, who will be serving takeaway coffee for visitors making their way up the trail (just follow the paw prints…)
At the top of Steep Hill, head to Imperial Teas to experience The Finish Line, an installation that marks your arrival with a celebratory soundscape, acknowledging the shared experience of reaching the summit.
Visitor Information Centre
Once you reach the top of Steep Hill, if you have not yet collected a festival programme, this is a convenient point to do so at the Lincoln Visitor Information Centre, there will also be a Festival Information Point just outside the castle.
If you already have a programme, take a moment to experience BOUNDING LIGHT, a projection artwork that responds to the architectural features of the building through shifting colour and texture, transforming a familiar façade into something unexpected.
Castle Square
From here, continue along the trail towards Castle Square and head into Lincoln Castle to experience Dragon’s Breath by ITHACA Studio.
This large-scale immersive installation uses animated light and sound to illuminate the historic walls of the castle, drawing inspiration from Lincoln’s long-standing dragon mythology.
If you are planning to dine afterwards, Dough Loco is located nearby before you make your way back down.
Dean’s Green
Just a short walk from the castle, make your way to Dean’s Green to experience the mesmerising Circa.
This large-scale installation uses synchronised light and atmospheric sound to explore patterns found within natural biological systems, creating an immersive environment set against the backdrop of Lincoln Cathedral.
Finish at The Lawn
From Dean’s Green, continue along the trail towards The Lawn for the final installations of the evening.
Here you can experience Resonant Pulse, a circular multi-channel sonic installation, and Migratory Light, which translates bird migration patterns into an immersive light environment.
You can also take part in DARKFIELD: ARCADE , an interactive narrative experienced in complete darkness using 360° binaural sound.
Afterwards, refreshments are available at Stokes Café before you make your way home.
Whether you choose to follow the full route or explore at your own pace, Frequency is all about discovering the city in a new way.
From immersive installations and interactive artworks to the businesses who have got involved along the trail, there’s something to experience around every corner as Lincoln transforms after dark.
