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The Lumini

MarketPlace Arts brought the Lumini to Memorial Gardens for four days of extraordinary light, colour and joy!

Location:

Memorial Gardens, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JS

Dates:

Thursday 11th September - Sunday 14th September 2025

Time:

12pm - 6pm daily

For:

All ages

Admission:

Lumini General Admission Tickets sold out within 4 days of their release!

In September 2025, MarketPlace Arts brought the Lumini to Memorial Gardens for four days of extraordinary light, colour and joy!

The inflatable Lumini sculpture, created by internationally renowned Architects of Air, offered intricate egg shaped domes which created an inspiring space of light and colour. With a bespoke design for Newmarket, visitors were invited to step inside and be immersed in radiant colour, awakening all the senses.

The Lumini created a stimulating environment that was also calming and comforting, making it the perfect space to support mental health, emotional wellbeing, and social connection. Over 1000 people entered the Lumini and experienced this FREE magical, dreamlike world of domes and radiant light.

There were over 23 hours of free workshops by local artists and community groups in and around the Lumini, including:

“People were wowed as soon as they walked in. (The event was) very inclusive and all ages from 7 yrs to 70 were engaged. (It was) really welcoming and the rows of trees gave a festival vibe.” –
Anthony, Newmarket New Samba.

Outside the Lumini, Memorial Gardens was buzzing with free activities across all 4 days. Visitors who were just stumbling upon the event were invited to try out:

  • Zine Making at the co-created Illustration Station by Yve Ward, a local illustrator.
  • Cloud Painting, responding to the collection at The National Horse Racing Museum. This partnership enabled us to offer free tickets to the museum to those taking part in the activity, resulting in £500 of free tickets being gifted to local people – many of whom had never been to the museum before.
  • Birdwatching with binos from the RSPB that were free to use at any point
  • Meditation, grabbing a seat in a deck chair and listening to a guided meditation written specifically for the gardens by Janine Tandy. You can listen to this below:
  • A rag bunting station where people could add to the colourful textile take over made by the Knit and Natter group through adding rags to bunting across the park
  • A Wellbeing Walk co-created with Newmarket Community Nature Reserve to explore the re-wilded green spaces of the town – see the route here.

Those who came will remember the amazing yarn bombing on view across the park, which was created by members of Newmarket Library Knit and Natter group.

This event was shaped by a community panel of local residents who co-designed the programme to reflect local interests and needs. We would like to thank Alan, Meera, Nicole, Janet, Mark, and Jill for their time and support. 

“As someone who is active in supporting the wellbeing of our local community, I feel privileged to be part of this exciting project.”
Panellist Nicole Smith.

The Lumini was generously supported by Newmarket Town Council.

People Involved

  • Calm With Nicole

    Nicole is a certified British Wheel of Yoga teacher who has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She has also trained with the Institute for Yoga Sports Science and the Accessible Yoga School. Nicole is passionate about accessibility and inclusivity within her classes. Nicole runs regular sessions in and around Newmarket. You can find her in the following places: Yoga for Runners at White Tara, Newmarket on Monday evenings Chair Yoga at The Stable on Tuesday Mornings Chair Yoga at The Day Centre, Newmarket on alternate Tuesday mornings Yoga for Runners in Cheveley on Wednesday evenings Chair Yoga in Stetchworth on Friday mornings

  • Janine Tandy

    Janine Tandy is a local mindfulness and therapeutic practitioner with 19 years of experience teaching mindfulness, Dharma, Yin ,Self Inquiry and Yang (Vinyasa) Yoga. She is a dedicated teacher and lifelong student of these heart centered practices. Janine concentrates on blending her meditation and depth psychology training with yoga practices to bring a more therapeutic approach to her classes. Janine runs regular Insight classes on Monday Eve and Wednesday AM at Camyoga Central, and Insight Yoga Via Zoom on Friday mornings alongside classes at Cambridge University and private individual and corporate work. You can find out more on her website here: https://nourishyourself.biz/ You can find more of Janine's guided meditations at: https://insighttimer.com/JanineTandy

  • Music Builds Communities

    Music Builds Communities is a local volunteer-led project that brings people together through the joy of shared music-making. Based in and around Newmarket, MBC runs friendly, informal sessions that are open to everyone: no experience needed, just a willingness to join in and have a go! Sessions have included disciplines from singing and drumming to ukulele groups and performances, it’s all about building confidence, wellbeing, and community spirit. Current activities include: 🎶 Singing for Fun – a relaxed, monthly sing-along with live acoustic guitar and projected lyrics. For upcoming sessions and why singing with others is good for you click on the link below. 🎸 Electric Guitars – a chance for guitarists, bassists, keyboard players and drummers to jam together. Find out more about past and present activities at: http://www.musicbuildscommunities.org/index.html

  • New Samba

    New Samba are a drumming group in Newmarket. Fancy having a go? No experience is necessary and it’s huge fun! They are always looking for new players and meet on Wednesdays at The Pavilion on the Severals at 6:30pm.
  • Logo: Newmarket Community Nature Reserve

    Newmarket Community Nature Reserve

    Newmarket Community Nature Reserve is a volunteer-led initiative dedicated to rewilding and revitalising green spaces across Newmarket. From planting wildflowers to restoring pathways and building habitats, the Reserve encourages people of all ages to get involved in caring for their local environment, one patch at a time.

  • Newmarket Meditation Group

    The Newmarket Meditation group is a new community group who have formed to meet monthly for a group meditation session. Their sessions are for everyone - whether you have an existing practice or are a complete beginner. The Newmarket Meditation group meets on the first Friday of every month at 7-8pm in The Racing Centre. There is no need to book, you are welcome to just drop in

  • On the Record

    On the Record specialise in oral history, co-production and creative media. They are a not-for-profit organisation guided by co-operative principles founded by Rosa Schling and Laura Khan Mitchisonis.

  • Project Abundance

    Project Abundance work to educate, demonstrate, and inspire ways to regenerate our environment, health, and communities. They focus on natural food production and hands-on learning, encompassing the environmental, health & wellbeing, and social benefits of community green space projects, providing lasting value for both people and planet.

  • Robyn Clements

    Robyn is a member of the local Knit and Natter group at Newmarket Library. She has experience teaching crochet to young people. You can find the Knit and Natter group at Newmarket Library on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 – 12:00. £1 per knitter, includes refreshments. They are the group behind the fantastic yarn bombing and crochet creations you see in the park!

  • Sound and Ground

    Nicky is a qualified Sound Therapy Practitioner, sharing offerings of sound known as sound baths or sound meditation. She specialises in creating respectful, nurturing spaces to support nervous system regulation and deep rest. She is also a professionally trained Forest Bathing guide, Yoga Nidra and specialist yoga facilitator for pregnancy and postnatal. Nicky runs regular sound baths around Thetford, Norfolk and Brandon, Suffolk including venues such as Culford village hall, Thorpe Woodlands, High Lodge Thetford forest and Brandon Country Park. You can find out more about her practice on www.soundandground.co.uk “My ethos is to offer welcoming wellness practices that are evidence based, accessible to all and offered from a trauma considered perspective.” Nicky

  • Yve Ward

    Yve Ward is a local illustrator. She has developed the on site Illustration Station, where you can explore zine making and the community collage quilt.

  • Brush and Bloom Creative

    Jasmine is a painter and art educator. Jasmine is known for her abstract landscapes inspired by her time outdoors in the countryside of Cambridgeshire. She has worked across galleries, non-for-profits and in teaching, now serving as Head of Art at Cromwell College.
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