IF YOU think these photos are spectacular, just wait until this evening. Passers-by last night had the first glimpse of the spectacular light show at the former women’s prison in the Eye of York that is the centrepiece of this year’s Illuminating York festival.

But what they saw was only a taster of what will be on show from tonight, the official first night of this year’s festival.

The main event, Envisions, aims to tell the story of some of York’s most colourful characters – including Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin – in light and sound.

Projected against the women’s prison, to a soundtrack that includes contemporary music by Adam Freeland, it will make the prison – now part of the Castle Museum – appear to ‘explode’ into life.

The light show is a joint effort between GaiaNova – which brought the tag tool to York’s Multangular Tower in the Museum Gardens two years ago – and United VJs (think DJs, but with video). It will be slightly different every night, with VJs Zaz and Spetto, among others, cutting and mixing each performance live.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said: “Envisions is beyond anything that Illuminating York has seen before. It is absolutely breathtaking and we would encourage people to go along to the Castle Museum, as well as explore all of the great events on offer right across the city as part of festival over the next few nights.”

Envisions, however, is just the centrepiece of this year’s festival. A host of supporting events will also be taking place throughout the city from tonight until Saturday night.

Clifford’s Tower will – not surprisingly – be getting in on the act. It offers breathtaking views out over the city’s lights after dark, says marketing manager Caroline Sinclair, and those will be even better this year, with the various Illuminating York events taking place. To top things off, the museum will be turning its roofless courtyard into an open-air ballroom – complete with a 30-inch mirror ball.

Elsewhere, from tomorrow Fairfax House will be opening its doors after dark for three consecutive evenings for a candlelit performance by the mansion’s ‘original Georgian inhabitants’.

Guests will be guided through the house by Lord Fairfax and six of his staff, by candlelight. “When lit entirely by candlelight, Fairfax House changes its character dramatically,” says the house’s director, Hannah Phillip.

Meanwhile, at Treasurer’s House from tonight through to Saturday, a ‘ghostly glow’ will take over the historic house for “four nights of eerie illumination” in what is described as a “fusion of light, sound and ghostly tales”.

“Even if you have been before, you will never have see the house look like this,” says visitor services manager Lisa Holden. “We will have eerie lighting, twinkling candles, ghost stories and sound effects throughout the house.”

Other events taking place during the week include ‘locos in a different light’ at the National Railway Museum; Merchant Adventurers’ Hall by candlelight; and ‘spooky stories’ told by candlelight at Bettys.

• Illuminating York runs from tonight until Saturday.

• For full details of events and supporting events – many of which charge – visit illuminatingyork.org or phone the Visit York information centre on 01904 550099.