Acrobats, musicians and three-storey high lanterns are part of a lively new light festival coming to Chiswick House and Gardens this winter.
Lightopia opens in London in January, after stints in Edinburgh and Manchester, following in the footsteps of the Magical Lantern Festival which has previously appeared at the west London venue.
The event is more interactive than its predecessor, and very family-friendly. The centrepiece is the Tree of Light, a 10m tall sculpture, surrounded by 20 drums, which can be used to change the tree's colours. Illuminated eggs turn from hue to hue when rocked, while buttons on the floor can be stepped on to compose music.
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A rainbow tunnel, angel wings, an 18m-wide pulsating peacock, and a field of 70,000 flickering roses make for a photogenic night out, while acrobats and musicians dotted among the installations keep things lively.
Food stalls and bars will keep 'lightopians' (that's you) fed and watered, and kids can let off steam with rides and a virtual reality experience.
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Ian Xiang, Creative Director of Lightopia, said:
We have designed a world in which light, sculpture and art combine with traditional, Chinese lantern-making techniques to create something London has never seen before — a world where guests are not just invited to view the show, but to become a vital part of it. Many of the exhibits will react differently depending on who is manipulating the lights, so the experience will change from person to person, night to night.
Lightopia is at Chiswick House and Gardens, 22 January-1 March 2020. Tickets are £20 adult/£13 child and need to be booked in advance. See the other light festivals in London this winter, including Canary Wharf Winter Lights in January 2020.
