Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival on until January 9

Tis the season to be jolly, and there are lots of reasons to be jolly in South London this Christmas. South of the river is set to be buzzing with lights, music and food. Alexandra Warren picks out some of the best events of the season.

Until January 9, the Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival is brightening up the riverside with events, exhibitions and performances.

The Southbank Centre will once again illuminate the site’s iconic buildings and the Riverside Walk with Winter Light, a free open-air exhibition featuring 10 lightworks from international artists.

The works make use of light, colour and experimental film to touch on thought-provoking topics, from nature and technology to modern cities and spirituality.

Site Design Curator at the Southbank Centre Cedar Lewisohn said: “As the winter approaches, this highly-anticipated outdoor exhibition returns to radiate light and promote creativity.

“Building on last year’s success, we have worked with several international artists to curate a captivating experience where visitors will discover challenging and eye-catching works, exploring diverse topics and allowing for reflection after a turbulent year of ongoing change.”

Highlights include Dichroic Sphere, Car Show and Radio Dynamics.

Located on the Riverside Terrace, Dichroic Sphere is a light sculpture by Danish artist and designer Jakob Kvist.

Lit by a single energy efficient light bulb, it consists of an aluminium geodesic dome structure, attached with acrylic sheets and dichroic film and changes colour according to what angle the light comes from.

Anne Roininen’s light sculpture Car Show turns scrap into light sculptures which the artist describes as ‘a graveyard of cars’.

Projected onto the Royal Festival Hall’s exterior wall Oskar Fischinger’s Radio Dynamics mixes bold colour and various moving forms reminiscent of other abstract artists of the era, such as Wassily Kandinsky or Paul Klee.

The artworks will appear across the Southbank Centre’s buildings and facades, and along the riverside, from Thursday 4  November, with new work being installed up until December.

Alongside the installations, the Southbank Centre has a packed schedule of award-winning new shows and returning favourites this Winter Festival including Circus 1903 in the Royal Festival Hall, Bring It On: The Musical in the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Tiger Lillies’ Christmas Carol in the Purcell Room.

A number of free events will also be held.

Visitors can nurture their wellbeing with a series of mindful crafts while listening to the uplifting sound of choirs resonating across the site in Choral Crafternoons, on December 11 and 12.

Over New Year’s Eve, families are invited to join in early celebrations with their children as the Southbank Centre counts down to 12 midday, instead of midnight, at a Kids Countdown.

Ida Barr, ex-music hall singer turned comedy hip-hop goddess, will be mixing some tunes in a party featuring sing-songs, fashion shows, dancing and Auld Lang Syne.

The dancing continues on New Year’s Day at Folk Dance Remixed’s Ceilidh Jam where visitors of all ages can join in.

Folk Dance Remixed creates a live music sound, remixing folk formations with legendary moves and freestyle grooves from Soul Train Line to Strip the Willow and Electric Slide.

The Southbank Centre’s Winter Market has also returned with alpine-style chalets featuring a range of seasonal pop-up bars and restaurants.