A popular and creative celebration of the East Lindsey and Lincolnshire coastline is returning for a third time this October, with the announcement of Lightwaves: Lumens of the Lost.
Organised by Story Tellers, South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Arts Council England funded NPO project, Lightwaves will bring together an ambitious programme of creative experiences that will transform parts of East Lindsey through light, storytelling, heritage and community participation.
Taking place across Spilsby, Chapel St Leonards, Sandilands and Sutton-on-Sea, the expanded festival will run across four nights from:
• Spilsby – Saturday 10th October
• Chapel St Leonards – Thursday 15th October
• Sandilands – Saturday 17th October
• Sutton on Sea – Saturday 24th October
Through immersive light installations, sound, storytelling and participatory activities, Lightwaves will invite audiences on a journey through the landscapes, memories and myths that define the Lincolnshire coast, using the area’s remarkable submerged forests and changing shoreline to explore how places can hold memory, evolve, disappear and be continually reimagined.
As well as celebrating East Lindsey’s rich coastal heritage, the programme will also be encouraging communities to come together to reflect on environmental change, local folklore and the enduring relationship between land, sea and people.
Developed by Story Tellers in collaboration with creative partners Sessions Arts and a new artist commission by SDNA, the programme has been designed to place local communities at its heart. A series of workshops and engagement activities will invite residents of all ages to share their stories, memories and lived experiences to helping shape the final art pieces.
Each night will be entirely unique, forming a connected narrative that will come together in a finale event at Sutton on Sea that brings together the stories, creativity and experiences gathered throughout the programme.
Councillor Graham Marsh, East Lindsey District Council’s representative on the NPO culture board, said: “Lightwaves provides a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on our coastal communities, celebrating their heritage, creativity and the stories that make them unique.
“We’re proud to support an event that encourages people to come together, experience something new and see our communities through a different lens. The continued great work of Story Tellers is helping to create memorable moments and bring positive opportunities for our residents and visitors across South and East Lincolnshire.”
Sessions Arts, producers of Lightwaves, added: “We are delighted to be working on Lightwaves in East Lindsey for the third time. Each year the festival continues to grow, and we’re excited that in 2026 it will run across four nights, creating even more opportunities for people to experience and engage with light-based art and activities.
“As well as an expanded programme of illuminated installations and events, we’re looking forward to involving more local people through a range of creative workshops and participatory activities. Lightwaves is a fantastic celebration of creativity, community and place, and we’re proud to be part of bringing this unique experience to East Lindsey once again.”
Speaking about their commission, Voices from the Lost Forest, SDNA said: “Our work is driven by bringing together people, place and imagination through moving image, light and participatory digital art. This is an incredibly inspiring theme, connecting folklore, ecology, heritage and environmental change. We are excited to be collaborating with locally based artists as part of the workshop programme, ensuring the project is shaped by local voices, knowledge and creativity.”
