ASPECTS of York will be transformed through the use of light for an annual event celebrating the city's heritage.

The 11th illuminating York, supported by Arts Council England, returns from Wednesday, October 26 to Saturday, October 29.

This year’s event features seven newly commissioned artworks using light, an expanded light trail and a host of "fringe" events to create evenings to remember across York’s historic streets.

One of illuminating York’s curators, Hazel Colquhoun, said: “This year’s festival has been developed to take visitors on an exploration of the city after dark, with key venues hosting our newly-commissioned artworks, three architectural lighting schemes around the city in partnership with the Society of Light and Lighting, and illuminated bunnies in 50 shop and business windows throughout the city centre in our own Pokémon-style trail.

Eight key highlights in this year’s illuminating York will be:

York Minster – Jason Bruges Studio

After a triumph lighting The Shard in London on New Year’s Eve, Jason Bruges Studio will become "light masons" within the cavernous nave of York’s gothic cathedral. Using only white light and particulate suspended in the air, visitors will experience spectacular choreographed spaces carved out of light. This is the only paid-for commission, with standard admission prices of £8 for adults and £3.50 for children, which also includes admission to the East End exhibition and Chapter House. Each ticket is allocated a time slot and family ticket deals are available. Tickets are available from York Theatre Royal and York Minster box offices. Early bird discounts are also available until October 9, priced at £6 and £3. Family tickets are also available.

York St John University – David Ogle’s ‘Lumen’

A new venue for illuminating York, the historic quad at York St John’s Lord Mayor’s Walk campus will be occupied by a forest of light. Visitors can walk amongst skeletal coloured luminescent trees, to experience the unusual light and shade cast by their glowing branches, with further exhibitions and performances by York St John Students to discover around the campus. Free.

National Railway Museum (NRM) – Heinrich and Palmer

Pioneers of large-scale illuminated art, Heinrich and Palmer turn their attention to the workshop at NRM, creating an experience that brings together projection, light drawings, film and sound in the working heart of the museum, where engines are maintained and restored. Visitors will also see the return of Locos in a Different Light, at the NRM, where the halls and locomotives are transformed with colour and light by theatre lighting design students. Free.

Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate – Helen Maurer

Secrets in the stained glass inspire the displays inside this historic building as Helen Maurer creates a compelling installation using light, glass and mirrors to project shape and colour onto the walls and ceiling. Free.

Shambles – Orbit by Studio PSK

Regularly voted one of Britain’s most picturesque streets, Studio PSK has designed ‘Orbit’ which will be installed along the entire length of the world-famous Shambles. Arcs of light will revolve above the heads of the visitors encircling views of the iconic street, prompting them to look up from the historic street. Free.

King’s Square – Loopy Lou by Rémi Brun

“Loupy Lou” presents a skipping figure, whose movements are created by just a few LED lights. In daylight, Brun’s sculpture looks like an abstract wire construction, but after dark, the LED lights that dance around create a depiction of a skipping girl, based on the artist’s daughter playing. Remi Brun lives and works in Paris and this is the first time his work has been shown in a UK light festival. Free.

Society of Light & Lighting Projects – various locations

The Society of Light & Lighting– the top industry body for those working in the lighting sector – will be working with schools around York to create lighting schemes for three venues, including parts of the city walls and St Michael-le-Belfry. Free.

Bunny Light Trail – various locations

Making a return after its debut last year will be the popular Bunny Light Trail, in collaboration with York contemporary design store Snow Home, where 50 bunny lights customised by artists and creatives will be placed in shop and business windows across the city centre.

Adding to the main programme will be a packed festival fringe programme with venues across the city taking part, from candlelit tours of Fairfax House to Gregorian Latin Chant with Illuminations by Visions of York in All Saints North Street Church.

For more information, go to visitilluminatingyork.org.uk