Newport Rising Festival

Newport Rising ends with torchlight moving through a dark November street, and it does something to a city. The festival marks the anniversary of the Rising of 1839, one of the most significant moments in Newport's history, and it is run by a small team and a lot of dedicated volunteers. Live music, performance and heritage fill the weekend, closing with a torchlit march through the streets. I reached out to the organisers, who were happy for me to come along and photograph it, and what stayed with me was the atmosphere: the fire, the feeling, and a strong sense of a city remembering something together.

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A person with short hair and face makeup holding a lit fire torch during a fire performance or festival.
People performing in a choir on an outdoor stage at night, under a decorative red lit gazebo, with trees in the background.
A man with a beard wearing a black hat decorated with colorful string lights, and a blue jacket. Another person in the foreground wearing glasses, a blue beanie, and a dark jacket. The background is dark, suggesting this is taken at night.
Handmade paper lanterns decorated with colorful drawings and names, displayed on a dark outdoor surface at night.
A group of people participating in a nighttime protest or march, holding torches and flags, some wearing reflective vests and face coverings.
Man in a yellow reflective vest holding a torch during a nighttime event with a crowd holding torches.
Nighttime scene of a crowd holding torches and flags during a festival or parade.
A large group of people participating in a nighttime torch-lit parade on a city street, with some holding flags and wearing colorful clothing.
A man with dark curly hair, a mustache, and a beard holding a lit torch at night during a celebration or festival, with blurred colorful lights and tents in the background.
People holding candles and sparklers during a nighttime event or protest.
Group of people celebrating on a city street at night, some wearing costumes and accessories, with festive decorations, including string lights, and people smiling and dancing.
People gather around and watch a fire demonstration where individuals are holding long sticks with a flaming globe structure made of fire, inside a venue with spectators and some taking photos.
A man with a beard wearing a black cap, red hoodie, and a patterned scarf playing a trumpet. There are other musicians around him, and a large shiny golden medal or trophy is hanging above them.