Light, sound and your own imagination were all that were needed to enjoy the Festival of Light launch night on Friday.

And crowds were the stars of the show with this year’s line-up including four fully interactive light displays .

The event saw spectators braving the wet weather to enjoy street entertainment and live music.

Food stalls in Byram Street kicked off the Winter Food and Drink Festival from midday providing warming foods ahead of the main attractions, and then well into the evening.

And from as the night drew in light displays started to shine across the town centre with four main attractions held in different locations.

Unlike previous years the event did not include stunt or theatrical performances but crowds were involved in creating the light beams and could be fully interactive with the attractions.

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One of the main displays was called Marling which shone green beams across the buildings in St George’s Square.

Marling light show in St George's Square.
Marling light show in St George's Square.

The voice-activated light show saw event-goers sing into microphones and watch as the sound activated the lights above.

More explosive action was in Huddersfield Open Market, provided by PixelPyros installation .           

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There spectators lined up beneath a giant screen  to press buttons that  released  bright orbs of light and triggered an array of multi-coloured rockets.

Relda Greenwood,  and her children Erin, five, and seven-year-old Lewis, were among the crowds who controlled the exhibit.

Relda, of Mirfield, said: “It’s fab. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The children loved it. It’s so different.”

In St Peter’s Gardens the attraction called Chorus resembled giant tripods with light bars and created a very distinct atmosphere.           

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Tony and Ashley Dobson, from Armitage Bridge, had brought their one-year-old daughter, Sky, to the festival.

Tony, 25, said: “It’s very futuristic and a bit eerie. The music makes you think of alien encounters. The festival as a whole is great, it’s a good family event.”

Chorus, kinetic sound sculptures, St Peter's Gardens
Chorus, kinetic sound sculptures, St Peter's Gardens

Also enjoying the Chorus installation were Huddersfield University students Jason Robinette and Lucy Gilbanks.

Lucy, 21, said: “I feel like aliens are about to come in to land. The music is manipulated so it sounds distorted. It’s very artistic and completely different from other things at the festival.”

And in Byram Arcade there was a flashback to a retro age of computer games with favourites Pac-Man and Space Invaders on offer.

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Enjoying the Beat Jigsaw – a DJ and light table – was Amy Hackett from Milnsbridge.

Amy, 26, said: “It’s awesome. I think it’s a really cool event.”

After a slow start in St George’s square crowds warmed their voices which started to activate the light installation Marling.

A choir from Huddersfield mental health charity Hoot kicked the lights into action by singing Christmas carols.

Roxane Paleczny, 22, of Holmfirth said: “It’s really cool. I wasn’t expecting it to be so innovative.”

And Core Ocean, 25, of Mirfield was clearly mesmerised by the lights. She said: “It’s absolutely fantastic.”

And tucked away in the LBT Courtyard was the chance to leave a lasting imprint on the festival with the Phosphene installation with lasers transferring your shape onto a suspended screen.

Across the festival there was no shortage of live music with performances in Lower King Street by indie rock bad Du Dauphine, American pop band Down Reno and soul band Fat Stanley.

See how Friday stacked up with our live blog from the event here.

Huddersfield Festival of Light 2013: what did you think of this year's event? Tell us here

Take a video tour of this year's Festival of Light here.

Huddersfield Festival of Light 2013: all you need to know - Click here to read