ONE of the biggest free events in the Capital of Culture programme takes place tonight, to bring the 2008 celebrations to a close.

The cultural extravaganza – a year to the day the city officially launched its culture year – will take the form of a spectacular show of light along the Mersey waterfront entitled Transition: People’s Celebration.

The party starts at around 6.15pm and will include a film review of 08 beamed on to giant screens on the side of the new museum, Mersey Ferry terminal and ECHO Arena, and a ceremonial handover of the culture title to the Mayor of Vilnius in Lithuania and a senior representative from Linz in Austria.

The handover of laurel wreaths will take place at the container which staged Ringo Starr’s rooftop performance at St George’s Hall last January.

Liverpool Lantern Company is creating a river of light along the new Leeds-Liverpool canal link.

The event – devised by the Culture Company and put together by Walk the Plank – will end with an eight-minute firework display fired from ships in the middle of the River Mersey.

The crowd of thousands will also be asked to join a mass singalong of the anthemic All Together Now.

Many of the city’s world renowned cultural facilities will remain open into the evening, and specially-commissioned street theatre, music and dance performances will bring an extra buzz of excitement to the city’s public spaces, pedestrian and shopping zones.

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “2008 was a life-changing year for this city and we want to say thank-you for everyone who helped play their part – and in Liverpool's case that mean's everyone.