Bigger, better, biscuitier: Reading's festive Twilight Trail returns

Reading's Twilight Trail is back this year – bigger, better and biscuitier.

The festive light trail made its debut last year, selling more than 12,000 tickets for timed slots. Now Twilight Trail: Biscuit Town returns to the stunning setting of the Abbey Ruins and Forbury Gardens from December 3-31.

The lighting installations are being created by light art pioneers Luminism who have worked for Elton John, Jaguar and Green for Grenfell. Their immersive and engaging a installations for Twilight Trail: Biscuit Town will include The Lion’s Roar and the Production Line stepping stones. They are also working with playwright Helen Eastman, whose credits include In The Night Garden Live and Reading Rep’s The Nutcracker, to create a wintery wonderland.

The trail is being organised by Reading UK and Abbey Quarter BID, supported by The Blade. This year’s theme celebrates Reading’s old nickname of Biscuit Town as it approaches the bicentenary of Hunley and Palmers’ beginnings in London Street in 1822. They went on to establish the world’s biggest biscuit factory in the town and became one of the first global brands, selling to 172 countries.

There will be food, drink and retail offerings from WePop, the team behind Reading’s Après Ski pop-up and Oktoberfest, including chalet bars and biscuit-related merchandise from Reading Museum.

On December 8, Launchpad, Reading’s leading homelessness prevention charity, present Carols at the Abbey as part of the trail and will feature BBC’s Gospel Choir of the Year 2019 winners, Reading Community Gospel Choir. All proceeds from tickets sold for this special evening will be donated to Launchpad to directly support people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading.

General booking for Twilight Trail: Biscuit Town opens tomorrow (October 8) via whatsonreading.com

Tickets start at £6 for children, £8 adults and £26 family pass and a special Instagram account is being launched at @twilight_trail