Giant inflatables and illuminated slinky among artworks lighting up Aberdeen

Branded ‘Scotland’s festival of light’, the annual Spectra event last year attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

A giant inflatable castle and a huge illuminated slinky spring are among the works awaiting visitors at this year’s Spectra festival in Aberdeen, which opens on Thursday evening.

The 2025 edition of the annual light festival, now in its 11th year, will feature 15 artworks at various locations around the Granite City, along with entertainment from street performers, dancers and musicians.

Organisers said they are expecting thousands of visitors to attend the free festival – branded “Scotland’s festival of light” – which runs until Sunday.

Four people standing in front of giant letters which spell Aberdeen, with a building lit up in blue behind it — Illuminated letters spelling out Aberdeen have been placed in front of Marischal College (Jane Barlow/PA)

Works on show in the 2025 festival include the Sky Castle, an interactive sound and light installation designed by Australian artists ENESS, where the sound and light change as visitors walk through a series of inflatable arches, plus an interactive neon colouring wall by Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford.

A giant illuminated slinky, on top of a contained in front of a building lit up in blue — End Over End, created by Studio Vertigo, is a giant illuminated slinky (Jane Barlow/PA)

Meanwhile images depicting parts of Aberdeen’s rich history will form the centrepiece of Fit D’You Know About the Bon Accord?, a video installation by award-winning Scottish artist Council Baby, which is being hosted in the Sculpture Court area of Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Two people explore giant illuminated arches — The Sky Castle is installed in the city’s Union Terrace Gardens (Jane Barlow/PA)

“The planning for this year’s festival has been under way for months. A great deal of people have been working with the council to make this event a success.

“There has been excellent collaboration with artists and local groups.

A woman reaches up to touch an arc of light, in front of a building lit up in blue — Reunion is a light art installation representing connectedness (Jane Barlow/PA)

Spectra is free to attend and runs at various locations in Aberdeen from 5.30pm to 10pm each night.

More information can be found at www.spectrafestival.com.