"At times it felt not only like I was transported to another time or place, but like the streets themselves had been"

- Vicky Foster

The Awakening 2022 was Hull’s first major event of the year, drawing in thousands of people over two nights to celebrate the city’s identity, heritage, folklore and mythology and our relationship to the environment as we navigate the changes of day-to-day life post-pandemic.

Whitefriargate windows were lit up by projections of artefacts from Hull’s Maritime Museum and a fire trail in Queen’s Gardens paved the way for visitors to stop at the Rose Bowl and admire Borealis, a mesmerising installation bringing the experience of the Northern Lights to Hull. For the first time Ferens Arts Gallery also remained open into the evening for visitors to look around their galleries and exhibits.

95 per cent of those who visited would recommend The Awakening to a friend, showing huge confidence in people’s desire to enjoy similar events.