A GALLERY will launch a host of late night events as it gets ready to marks its 11th birthday. 

Firstsite opened in Lewis Gardens, in Colchester, in 2011. 

To mark the occasion the gallery is running a series of exhibitions, live music and workshops. 

It will kick off with Colchester’s festive light switch-on parade on Wednesday, November 16.

The merry throng will arrive at Firstsite accompanied by giant puppets and a host of performers at around 6pm.

The building will be open as usual from 10am and remain open until 11pm with activities happening before and after the parade including the carousel available from 4pm.

Sally Shaw, director of Firstsite, said: “Hosting the finale of the Christmas in Colchester Light Parade here is the perfect way to launch Late-Night Firstsite and we look forward to providing a fun, welcoming and safe space in which to bring the whole of Colchester together to celebrate, relax, refuel and socialise.”

Firstsite’s outdoor pop up café will be available with hot dogs including handmade vegan sausages by Café Saison’s Hannah Chapman.

Inside the building Iranian musicians will be performing and artist Nicola Burrell will be running free drop-in art activities beginning after 5pm.

Exhibition tours including Mehdi Jalalaghdamian: Art in Exile and Denis Wirth-Miller: Landscapes and Beasts will be available throughout the evening.

Firstsite will be open again until late from 10am to 11pm for Late Night Firstsite on November 25 and 26 and December 1.

On November 25, the cinema will show Moonage Daydream at 4pm, an immersive cinematic experience about David Bowie.

After Monnage Daydream will be Boozy Brushes with Brad, a painting party in which attendees will learn how to paint a celebrity.

This will be followed at 8pm by new film My Policeman starring Harry Styles.

Broadcaster Louisa Buck, writer Andrew Wilson and exhibition curator James Birch will evaluate Denis Wirth Miller’s exhibition Landscapes and Beasts.

November 26 will see more drop in art activities, film screenings, music and a drawing class with drag queen Sirena Hart.

Completing the first series of events, December 1 will have more music, workshops, exhibition tours and films, including Mark Gatiss’ retelling of A Christmas Carol.

For more information on the events visit firstsite.co.uk