A new family show is heading to Birmingham Botanical Gardens that’s set to light up the festive season. Magical Lantern Festival, which debuted in London earlier this year and is now nominated for four prestigious Event Awards, is coming to the Midlands from 25 November 2016 until 2 January 2017, for a festival of light and illumination.
A spectacular fusion of art, heritage and culture, visitors will enter Christmas at Birmingham Botanical Gardens through a giant 12-metre wide lantern entrance, before following a stunning trail around the gardens. From Santa and his reindeers to flowers and animals, these giant lanterns will light up the beautiful ponds, woodland, gardens and pathways of the Birmingham attraction.
These unique, artistic and beautifully constructed installations are tailor made designs produced in China, and brought over to Birmingham especially for the event. Joining Santa and his reindeer will be a beautiful 12-metre wide lantern scene featuring penguins, snowmen, Christmas trees and baubles. There will also be a giant Christmas fairy themed area, spanning an impressive 500 square metres across the garden landscape, with a floating fairy surrounded by beautiful butterflies and a garden floor awash with thousands of brightly lit tiny lights.
Celebrating over 2,000 years of lantern festivals, Christmas at Birmingham Botanical Gardens will also feature some traditional Chinese lanterns, alongside the Christmas lanterns. Bamboo pandas will spread out into the open space, alongside a mesmerizing Chinese Pagoda lantern that’s wrapped in gold silk and stands at eight metres high. Vibrant colours will continue with a proud peacock lantern that stands at 12 metres wide and three metres high; and even a magnificent scene of giant birdcages, wrapped in flowers and housing brightly-illuminated birds will capture your imagination with its vast 10 metre width and eight metre height. You’ll even see a larger than life grasshopper that stands at almost two metres tall.
Event Director, Naz Kabir from Weli Creative, the team behind Magical Lantern Festival, said:
“We cannot wait to bring Magical Lantern Festival to Birmingham for this very special ‘Christmas at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ event. We have been working for over a year to plan this event and we want Birmingham to be proud to host it. Our very first festival in London, earlier this year, welcomed over 110,000 visitors and we want to replicate that success in Birmingham this Christmas.
“Whilst celebrating Chinese culture, we’re also bringing some unique Christmas-themed lanterns that have never been seen before. These lanterns are not your average size; everything has been created with a real wow-factor and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the perfect backdrop for these visually stunning lanterns. We have even re-created one of Birmingham’s best-loved icons – the Bullring Bull – which is 3.5 metres high and will be a real attraction at the festival.”
In addition to the lanterns, there will be a Virtual Reality Experience at the event, using the latest technology to transport you into an immersive world. Headsets and simulator chairs will accompany a range of games from 3-10 minutes to suit all ages from running with dinosaurs to virtual rollercoasters.
James Wheeler, CEO of Birmingham Botanical Gardens said:
“Our Gardens have been making memories for families in Birmingham and beyond for over two centuries – the Magical Lantern Festival will be the largest and most spectacular show we have ever hosted. We’re looking forward to putting some extra sparkle into the festive period this year and can’t wait for visitors both new and familiar to see the Gardens in a whole new light.”
Christmas at Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the perfect festive event for families and groups of friends, bringing Chinese culture to life in the heart of the Midlands. There will also be a Santa’s grotto for children, and a range of international food and drink stalls.
Tickets go on sale from Thursday 15th September, priced at £12.50 adults, £10.50 concessions, £8.50 children and £38 for a family ticket. For more information about the festival and to book tickets, visit – www.magicallantern.uk Book early and receive 20% off tickets until 30th September by entering code SEPT20 when purchasing online.