Southend's LuminoCity Festival of Light has returned to shine the city in a new light with dazzling new illuminations. 

The lights festival will return to Southend from tomorrow to Saturday, lighting up the High Street and seafront with a series of attractions.

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This year there are a number of new illuminations have been unveiled that will be included in the festival.


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There include Emergence, which is made up of mirrors; Halo, a tower of interactive light rings; and Lightbattle; a colourful arch powered by bikes.

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Airport bosses is offering 500 with free parking spaces across the Long Stay One and Long Stay Three car parking areas.

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The event last year saw more than 200,000 visitors attend. This year’s illuminations are being sponsored by Southend Bid, Forward Motion, Southend Tourism Partnership and Atlantic Pacific Group.

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Displays returning for this year include Scribble Trees, Light Benches, and Disco City.

Another new addition for this year is Ursula Lassos the Moon, a 3D realistic Moon lassoed to a stake in the ground.

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On Thursday there will be Ian Reading, Merv Griffiths, Darren Ball. On Friday Greg Barker will be on the decks and Daryl Easlea is DJing on Saturday - where the founder and one quarter of Middle Age Spread is hosting a “grown up disco for those unafraid to dance”.

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Southend’s illuminations first came to the seafront in the 1930s originally, and at one time were considered to be among the best in the world. However darkness fell on the seafront in 2007 after Southend Council said it no longer had money for them.