Spectra, Scotland’s four-day Festival of Light, returns to Aberdeen next week (Thursday 08 February) and to safely accommodate the audience and art installations, a number of parking restrictions and road closures will be in place in the city centre.
This year marks the festival’s tenth anniversary and Spectra will once again see the Granite City’s winter nights illuminated with eye-catching projections, interactive sculptures, and magical installations for all ages from Thursday 8 February until Sunday 11 February.
Audiences can look forward to seeing some of Aberdeen’s most iconic buildings and locations transformed as part of the spectacular festival programme, from a colossal network of light globes inspired by the human brain in Union Terrace Gardens to a flock of luminous butterflies in Aberdeen Art Gallery, dazzling dance-led projection across HMT and an enormous glitterball love heart at Marischal Square.
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s Culture spokesperson said: “Aberdeen City Council is keen to ensure that the organisation of this hugely popular event will cause minimal disruption to those working, visiting or residing within or nearby the event sites.
“It is necessary to introduce temporary traffic restrictions to ensure public safety during the installation of sculptures and lightworks ahead of, and after the festival. With 100,000 people expected to visit the festival I hope that everyone can get behind Spectra, which is a significant festival in the annual events calendar in Scotland.”
Road closures
The following road closures will be in place:
From 11.50pm on Sunday 4 February until 11.50pm on Tuesday 13 February 2024:
- Broad Street from Queen Street to Upperkirkgate.
From 4pm until 11.30pm on Thursday 8 February, Friday 9 February, Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February:
- Union Terrace/Rosemount Viaduct from Skene Street to Union Street.
- Rosemount Viaduct & Blackfriars Street from Skene Street to St Andrew Street.
- Schoolhill from Blackfriars Street to Upperkirkgate.
- Schoolhill Pocket Park.
- Harriet Street from Schoolhill to Loch Street.
- Back Wynd from Schoolhill to Little Belmont Street.
- Upperkirkgate/Gallowgate from Schoolhill to Gallowgate/Littlejohn Street.
- Queen Street from Broad Street to Shoe Lane.
- Broad Street from Queen Street to Union Street.
- Netherkirkgate from Broad Street to St Catherine’s Wynd.
Parking restrictions
The following parking restrictions will be in place from 11pm on Wednesday 7 February until 11.59pm on Sunday 11 February 2024:
- Schoolhill Pocket Park.
- Schoolhill (Full length).
- Upperkirkgate from Flourmill Lane to Broad Street.
- Back Wynd from Schoolhill to Little Belmont Street.
- Union Terrace from Union Street to Rosemount Viaduct.
- Littlejohn Street (except for Blue Badge holders) from Gallowgate to West North Street.
- Queen Street (except for Blue Badge holders) from Broad Street.
Taxi Ranks
Back Wynd and Queen Street Taxi Ranks will be closed between 4pm and 11.30pm each day from Thursday 08 February until and including Sunday 11 February. All other city taxi ranks will be operating as normal.
Maps have been created for road users ahead of the festival to show the diversions and to highlight alternative city centre north-bound and south-bound routes.
More information on the full festival programme can be found at www.spectrafestival.com