A high street in Kent will be bathed in light as a two-day festival which attracts thousands gets under way this weekend.

Cheriton High Street, near Folkestone, will be closed to traffic and the town filled with light-based artwork throughout the weekend on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28.

Organised by arts company Strange Cargo, it is the third time the biennial Cheriton Light Festival has been held and this year has a theme of hidden places and open spaces.

Fresh from London’s Lumiere festival, French artists Porté Par le Vent bring breathtaking aerial displays while Jyll Bradley has created a sculpture as her response to Cheriton’s lost fruit orchards.

Artist David Ward, who will curate this summer’s exhibition at Turner Contemporary, will exhibit a new sound and projection work Light on the Feet at Strange Cargo’s Gallery and visitors should prepare to be mesmerised as artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid join forces to produce a projection with soundscape at All Souls Church.

Visitors can walk with their festival map around a light windows trail, which includes 50 illuminated homes. The festival will be switched on between 6pm and 9pm both days.

If you are heading for the bright lights, organisers recommend walking or using public transport as there is limited parking.

Stagecoach will be running buses and there is a regular train service into Folkestone West station.

Visit www.strangecargo.org.uk for details