Fire & Light, an illuminated, magical outdoor experience at The Helix, Home of the Kelpies, returns this New Year with an event that promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Now in its fourth year, the spectacular Fire & Light: Cosmic Fortunes is also expected to draw bigger crowds, with a record 11,000 tickets now on sale. The event on January 1st   and 2nd features a 4K walk from Falkirk Stadium to the iconic Kelpies and back. It will see Helix Park transformed by a stunning combination of fire performances, interactive light installations, captivating puppetry and animated projections - all against the backdrop of the world's largest equine sculptures.

This year's theme is the 12 signs of the zodiac and will feature creations from five Scotland-based artists and one special touring exhibition. Visitors will be greeted at the entrance to Helix Park by fortune tellers, keen to tell visitors what lies ahead and make predictions for 2019.

Managed by Falkirk Community Trust with support from Scotland's Winter Festivals event fund,  Fire & Light 2019's artists include: David Powell, who is creating two giant wicker structures to represent Aries and Sagittarius; Pyroceltica, experts in fire sculpture and performance; and Vision Mechanics who are known for their infamous giant puppet 'Big Man Walking' and making three installations for the event.

Jane McInally, a Glasgow-based artist famed for her expertise in creating spectacular paper lanterns is working on the 13th installation, a community project which is being created by the young people of Falkirk. Jane is working in partnership with 16 young people from local schools and colleges to create a special interactive installation.

During the event, visitors are invited to walk through enchanted lagoons, mystical everglades and explore the star signs. A family friendly experience for all ages, this year's Fire & Light will have steaming hot cups of cocoa, winter warming foods by the open fires, and marshmallow toasting.

Fire & Light is becoming a must-do on the New Year calendar and The Trust believes it's a perfect first walk of the New Year. Neil Brown, General Manager of Falkirk Community Trust, said:

"New Year is a particularly meaningful time for many people and Fire & Light: Cosmic Fortunes is an opportunity for people to look to the future, be inspired and celebrate new beginnings, not to mention get their first bracing walk of the New Year.

"There is something for all ages with our latest show and some incredibly creative contributors and of course our stunning and magical Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures, are the cherries on the cake. We're expecting ticket sales to be brisk, so we are advising visitors to book as soon as they can."

Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson said:

"With their exciting and diverse programme of activity, Scotland's Winter Festivals provide a great opportunity to celebrate everything great about our wonderful country during the winter months, reaching local and international audiences alike.

"Every year, our Winter Festivals welcome hundreds of thousands of people from far and wide who come to Scotland to celebrate St Andrew's Day, the Christmas period, Hogmanay and Burns Night, significantly boosting the economy and engaging with our diverse communities. Fire & Light at the Helix, home of The Kelpies, illustrates how our festivals are an occasion to showcase our unique, world-class tourism assets to a global audience."

Tickets are available every 15 minutes from 4.00pm-7.00pm on Jan 1 & 2. For further ticket information click here