Coming up over the next two weeks…
The Nine Elms Advent Calendar Trail 2021 is in full swing, featuring 24 bespoke installations inspired by the theme ‘Peace on Earth’. Today’s window features Reconnections by Adalberto Lonardi, a hand-painted ceramic centrepiece that reminds us of the connections with other people and the planet, produced in collaboration with ceramic artist Steph Buttle. See it in New Union Square, SW11.
From today you can experience a Christmas extravaganza of magical lights, sounds, and effects at Christmas Wonderland at Perth Riverside, a brand-new light trail set across the Norie Miller Walk. Aldgate in Winter has returned for the fifth year, with installations illuminating windows across the area in a vibrant community-created display until 17 Dec. Carnival of the Baubles will return to light up Ashford town centre tomorrow! Head along and watch the procession of giant illuminated lanterns and baubles, themed around disco and dancing this year, featuring Emergency Exit Art’s Disco Turtle. The disco vibes will continue into the evening with a family-friendly disco party on the bandstand.
It’s the last weekend of Lightwaves, transforming the outdoor spaces at Salford Quays with a trail of illuminated works of art, including Floating Earth by Luke Jerram, Sirens by Davy And Kristin McGuire, Illumaphonium by Michael & Gemma Davis, Youth Culture by Stanza and many more!
Today and tomorrow in General Gordon Square in Woolwich see the incredible Globoscope by Collectif Coin, an immersive installation made from hundreds of luminous spheres that combines mathematics, sound, and light to transform and amplify the space. From tomorrow be amazed by a one-of-a-kind light installation inspired by the Northern Lights, as Borealis by Dan Acher, lights up the skies over Guildhall Yard in the City of London. In Orton Square in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter this weekend see the beautiful light installation Rhizome by artists Tom and Lien Dekyvere. With hundreds of meters of suspended, illuminated rope creating a glowing, interconnected network overhead, you can wander around and bathe in the softly glowing light.
Step through the wardrobe and into an enchanting adventure, where an icy spell has been cast over Castle Howard this winter at Christmas in Narnia, running until 2 Jan. Join family and friends for a magical evening as the woodland and water of Windsor Great Park come alive with dazzling lights, dancing starts, and breath-taking projections in Windsor Great Park Illuminated, running until 9 Jan.
In Edinburgh for the holidays? Head to Christmas at the Botanics for a magical, botanical festive trail full of tunnels of light, waterside reflections, and illuminations at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Until 4 Jan you can see Wisley gardens come alive with lights, illuminations, fire candles, and fountain displays at Glow 2021 at RHS Garden Wisley. Wakehurst’s enchanting winter lantern trail is back for its eighth year, with the gardens brought to life by glowing lanterns, mesmerising projections, immersive soundscapes, and glistening torches of fire for Glow Wild 2021, running until 2 Jan. Don’t miss brand-new installations from Ithaca, OGE Group, and The Colour Project.
Father Christmas has lost his reindeer among the trees of Westonbirt Arboretum following an almighty storm. Help reunite him with his lost reindeer and experience mesmerising light displays and spectacles along the way at Enchanted Christmas: Search for the Lost Reindeer throughout December. Join Kouyou Theatre for their fun, new family Christmas show, the hilarious re-telling of the antics of twins Hansel and Gretel. Pack your picnic blankets, camping chairs, and cushions and enjoy this open-air woodland panto at Trosley, Lullingstone, or Brockhill Country Parks this December.
Love Glossop Winter Art Trail is lighting up Glossop’s High Street this winter. The art trail encompasses 24 local business windows which have been paired with local artists to create a town centre exhibition where Glossop is the gallery. Inspired by a poem about hope and resilience by Mark P Henderson, each window design will have one word from the 24 word poem hidden within it. Follow the map to reveal the poem!
Prepare to be swept up in a whimsical world of planets and stars on an enchanting new light trail at Hampton Court Palace, brought to you by the Wild Rumpus team. As dusk falls across the magnificent former royal home, a wonderland of clocks, moons, planets and sundials is waiting to be discovered in Palace of Stardust, running until 3 Jan. Wrap up warm and head to the magical illuminated woodland of Arnos Vale Cemetery for Insane Root Theatre’s retelling of the deliciously dark, yet family friendly, winter tale Hansel and Gretel, running until 1 Jan.
Get in the festive spirit as Christmas at Longleat transforms Longleat into a magical land, running until 3 Jan. Journey through a mesmerising tunnel of light and sound, explore the Wonderland Walk, wander through the Hedge Maze, listen to carols in the Main Square, and experience The Flight Before Christmas with the owls in The Longhouse. Wild Rumpus are once again transforming Chester Zoo into a spectacular wonderland with The Lanterns at Chester Zoo until 23 Dec. Discover incredible spaces, each filled to the brim with colourful lanterns, spectacular costumed characters and Christmas scenes.
Luminate Coombe is open in the historic grounds of Coombe Abbey Park until Christmas Eve, with a spectacular, illuminated light trail with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music. Luminate Wales has also returned to Margam Country Park and Castle with the magical mile long light trail, encapsulating some of the highlights from 2019 along with stunning new elements.
Take all the family along to Kew Gardens for their annual after-dark festivities and winter trail, including sparkling tunnels of light, dancing waterside reflections, and the panoramic Palm House light display, featuring Amelia Kosminsky, NOVAK, Mandylights, and Ithaca. Christmas magic has also returned to Belton House with Christmas at Belton. Travel along the illuminated trail, pause at mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden, gaze up at larger-than-life illuminations, and glimpse Father Christmas along the way.
Walk through the beautiful grounds of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens as they come to life with spellbinding illuminations, large scale projections, music and theatrical performances in Leonardslee Illuminated, running until 22 Dec. Go on a journey of light and sound in the historic gardens at Stockwood Discovery Centre for Stockwood Illuminated and weave your way on a self-guided trail through the illuminated pathways, set against the backdrop of the lush greenery, from 3-23 Dec.
Start your festive season off at Christmas at Cowdray this weekend as they host a unique Christmas light trail in the grounds of the historic country estate in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Inspired by the theme ‘Joy’ the work created by a select band of international artists casts the landscape in a new light, illuminating the parkland. There’s festive delights both night and day at Christmas at Kingston Lacy. Visit by day to see the traditionally decorated house and little ones can get into the seasonal spirit with Percy The Park Keeper on a winter wander trail. Then visit after hours for a brand new, after-dark illuminated trail through festive gardens.
The award winning Lightopia Festival has returned to London, to the historic Crystal Palace Park. Promising to be London’s finest festival of lights this Christmas, see the Palace reborn in light, alongside incredible installations. Lightopia Festival is also back in Manchester and ready to light up Heaton Park brighter than ever. Embark on a magical journey through the new Fantasy themed light trail, showcasing bright immersive installations, colourful lasers, and water shows. For the first time, Lightopia Festival is also opening its doors to Alton Towers Resort, with brand new installations and interactive experiences.
Head along to Christmas at Bedgebury this weekend where over a million lights, twinkling reflections and seasonal sounds will fill the air with festive fun, in an after-dark illuminated winter woodland walk. Christmas at Dunham Massey also runs this weekend, with an illuminated trail through gardens full of lights, lasers, and illuminations. For two magical festive experiences head to Christmas at Blenheim Palace, running until 3 Jan; enjoy the after dark illuminated trail in The Great Outdoors and the story of The Nutcracker re-imagined inside the Palace.
Ready for an adventure? Join Beacons: The Quest to reunite the Sea Gooseberries and reveal their message, in a new community adventure and live event taking place across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh in Nov and Dec. Get a map, go out and about and collect the Sea Gooseberries song fragments at 50 locations in shops, cafes, parks and open spaces, then attend The Gathering on 19 Dec at Sunny Sands beach, where the ending of the story will be revealed. Created by Alison Neighbour, Emily Peasgood, Tarim, Alistair Harle, and a team of other local creatives.
The grounds will come alive at Christmas at Trentham with a burst of Christmas magic in a brand new multi-sensory trail mixing light, fire and sound, brought to you by Kilimanjaro. Christmas at Wollaton Hall is running until Jan 9 with a brand new trail for 2021, transforming the park into a magical wonderland with awe inspiring illuminations.
