Barnet's free Light + Flight festival opens Finchley Lakeside to the public for the first time on 14 and 15 Nov, then moves to the RAF Museum and artsdepot.

Barnet’s year-long arts programme ends in November with two free festival weekends. The first opens Finchley Lakeside, a five-storey complex on Squires Lane, to the public for the first time. (Barnet Council)

Entry is free. The council asks visitors to reserve a place for their chosen day on Eventbrite, though walk-ups will also be let in.

The two weekends

Weekend Where Opening hours
Saturday 14 November Finchley Lakeside, Squires Lane, N3 12pm to 9pm
Sunday 15 November Finchley Lakeside 11am to 7pm
Saturday 21 November RAF Museum, then artsdepot in the evening Times not yet published
Sunday 22 November artsdepot Times not yet published

The Finchley hours come from the booking page. The festival’s own programme page lists the first weekend in full but does not yet list the second.

What is on at Finchley Lakeside

The first weekend is mostly indoors. The listings on the festival programme include:

  • Ascendance, a major new public artwork, unveiled at the festival
  • Praying for Time, a new arrangement of George Michael’s song by composer David Arnold, performed by young musicians and communities from across Barnet, at 4pm on both days
  • Be Our Gust, three kinetic sculptures by SPF50 on the lakeside approach, inspired by Barnet’s early aviators
  • the Light + Flight Gallery, an exhibition on migration, sanctuary and light, on the lower ground floor
  • a temporary cinema in the pool space on the lower ground floor
  • Big Ears Sound System and Sounds of Barnet live radio shows with Voices Radio, in the Lakeside Canteen
  • free drop-in workshops from 12pm to 5pm, including wind-spinner making and building light beacons from reclaimed materials
  • a gift shop styled as a winter market, and food and drink stalls

David Arnold scored five James Bond films, according to the festival’s listing, and has worked with George Michael before.

The second weekend

On Saturday 21 November, “From Barnet with Love” takes over the RAF Museum in Colindale. It marks Britain’s first official airmail flight, which left Hendon Aerodrome in 1911. That evening sees the first performance of Lighthouse at artsdepot in North Finchley. More performances follow on Sunday 22 November, along with a family day rave run by Big Beat Playground.

If you are planning a museum visit that month anyway, our RAF Museum London winter guide has the museum’s own events.

Who is behind it

Light + Flight is presented by Art in Barnet, the council’s arts and culture initiative. The council worked with HemingwayDesign to curate and produce the festival.

The programme is fully funded from outside the council’s budget. Its funders are:

  • a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture programme
  • The National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Arts Council England

Barnet is one of three boroughs, with Greenwich and Merton, to hold a Cultural Impact Award for 2026. The council says nearly 1,000 adults, school pupils and college students have taken part in workshops or artworks so far, and over 140 Barnet-based organisations helped shape the programme. Earlier strands included the Waylamps of Barnet heritage trail.

What it means for you

  • Book, but do not worry if you forget. A reservation for the Finchley weekend helps the organisers manage arrivals. Walk-ups are welcome.
  • Getting there. The nearest Tube is Finchley Central on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line, about an eight-minute walk down Station Road to Squires Lane. Buses 143, 611, 643 and 653 stop within five minutes’ walk. Our parking in Barnet guide covers the council’s car parks and charges.
  • Access. The organisers say Finchley Lakeside is fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets and a cloakroom with space for buggies. Blue Badge parking has to be arranged in advance by emailing culture@barnet.gov.uk.
  • Photography. Booking means agreeing to be photographed or filmed for council publicity. You can opt out at the door by telling a member of the event team.