1 Aug 2018

With just one week to go until House of Travel Botanic D’Lights begins, preparations are in full swing to turn the Botanic Gardens and the Arts Centre of Christchurch into an after-dark kaleidoscope of colour.

Staged over five nights, beginning next Wednesday, House of Travel Botanic D’Lights is designed as a fun showcase of the work of New Zealand’s leading lighting artists, designers and creatives.

Kids play with an interactive lighting display.

Children play with an interactive lighting display.

This year the lighting trail has been expanded beyond the grounds of the Botanic Gardens for the first time to also take in the historic buildings of the Arts Centre of Christchurch.

With the lighting installations all created around the theme of ‘escape your reality’, the event will transport people to a magical world where colour and light dance playfully together.

Arts Centre chief executive Philip Aldridge says it is wonderful for the precinct to be involved in “such a remarkable Christchurch event”.

“Illuminating the stunning restored Arts Centre with surreal light installations and projections will show off the precinct in a whole new light, which is something we’re really excited about,’’ Mr Aldridge says.

Christchurch City Council Events and Arts Manager Karena Finnie says more than a year’s planning has gone into this year’s House of Travel Botanic D’Lights.

“Pulling an event like this together is a massive undertaking but we’re really excited to unveil it to the public. The lighting trail is going to feature more than 40 light and projection displays by 27 different artists so it is going to be visually spectacular.

“Many of the displays are interactive so it is will be a great after-dark experience, particularly for the kids,’’ Ms Finnie says.

Entry to House of Travel Botanic D’Lights is by gold coin donation, with all the proceeds going to Nurse Maude Hospice.

The event is on from 6pm to 9pm from August 8 to 12.