LISTEN: Christmas At The Botanics 2024 magical trail details revealed in exclusive podcast and report
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And that's just for starters.
A floating footpath, to showcase ethereal light installations beneath your feet and field turned into a sea of light are amongst other fantastical highlights revealed today by creative director Zoe Bottrell in a podcast chat with Graham Walker.
The enchanting mile-long outdoor trail is back for an eighth year at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, running 35 selected nights over six weeks, from November 21 to December 30.
BOOK NOW: Visitors are being urged to book in advance to guarantee their preferred time slot. Off-peak tickets at lower prices are also available. For all tickets, information, pricing and timings - CLICK HERE.
LISTEN: Hear the podcast - CLICK HERE.
Zoe outlines how Installations, designed by a range of international and UK-based artists, will portray the forest in a majestic light, beneath unique canopies drenched in seasonal colour and inspired by the landscape to create a festive adventure for all the family.
The historic garden will once again become a breathtaking trail of lights, sounds, smells and more, with beloved favourites and stand out new additions, creating a magical experience for all.
"I've always called our trails an attack on all of your senses. It's a bit of a corny phrase, but you'll see the place in a whole new light," says Zoe, founder and Managing Director of Culture Creative, who create the Christmas A The Botanics trail, for leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Live, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
In the podcast she reveals how a floating footpath with light installations beneath your feet will create a magical route to explore the gardens and its stunning tree architecture, starting with a copse of trees, lit up to showcase their towering height and grandeur.
Visitors then encounter a new Fire Garden, a mesmerising display of real crackling flames and flickering lights, interwoven among the trees, radiating warmth and wonder.
Drifting under your feet will be the Sea of Light, a large-scale installation of thousands of individually controlled LED lights, animated to a seasonal soundtrack.
Birds will appear to fly overhead as you make your way towards an immersive tunnel of string lights and walk between lit arches leading to Inverleith House, to marvel at a new festive animation, projected onto the building, courtesy of the talented team at Novak.
The journey continues as you bob along to the cheerful tunes of rocking Robins and get a glimpse of Santa Claus , who will give passing visitors a jolly ho, ho, ho welcome.
Twinkling candles beckon towards the magnificent Christmas Cathedral, the most popular annual returning favourite. Inspired by arched church windows, the walkthrough tunnel is illuminated by tens of thousands of LED lights. Cameras at the ready.
It's not just the most Instagrammed spot on the trail but is also a popular stop for wedding proposals.
As you enter the pond area, guests will then be amazed by lit Spiral Trees as they appear to float above the water, their reflections dancing in harmony with the shimmering lights.
The botanical wonderland continues with brightly coloured geometric greenhouses, leading to a cozy stop where you can indulge in a warm cup of hot chocolate and festive treats.
Re-enter the garden along a stunning One Small Thing gobo carpet, a projected pathway featuring wildlife imagery and winter foliage with impactful environmental messaging for visitors to interact with as they walk past. Also created by Newcastle based Novak, it incorporates the Garden’s mission to protect the planet's biodiversity by encouraging visitors to do one small thing and make space for nature.
A Mycelium Network installation, with mushrooms slowly transitioning through several colours, strobes and pulses,will also tell the story of the garden's dedication to soil health and the vital role of fungal networks, adding an educational touch to the festive outing.
Then journey to the Chinese hillside and get ready for one of this year's most jaw-dropping moments, called Candles, transporting Potterheads to the world of witchcraft and wizardry - here the candles flicker as they appear to float overhead, illuminating the tree-lined route.
The finale is Firework Trees, created by Brighton’s award-winning Ithaca Studio, that will shower shoots of light through tree branches, bringing them to life with vibrant bursts of colour that bounce from branch to branch. a series of glorious multi-coloured lights and sounds in a mesmerising co-ordinated display, celebrating the venue's natural landscape.
With lots of new experiences and the beauty of nature enhanced by artful installations, Christmas at the Botanics will be an unforgettable celebration of the festive season. In the podcast Zoe gives top tips on how to get the most out of a visit, from wrapping up warm and wearing waterproofs, to taking time to fully experience the immersive displays.
She also reminds visitors to book tickets early, to secure preferred time slots, especially for those with children or wanting to avoid busy times.
Culture Creative are a UK-based production company that creates My Christmas Trails, immersive outdoor after dark light trails using internationally renowned artists.They have 27 winter themed shows worldwide, now including Europe, and America, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
There's an emphasis on the importance of sustainability and protecting the venues. Zoe says the focus is on creating experiences in landscapes rather than just traditional Christmas lights, with specific lighting to showcase the unique landscape of each venue.
She describes three layers of their installations - celebrating the venue's unique features, touring international artworks and adding a Christmas layer.
New this year, Culture Creative have also just delivered Halloween themed UK events which look set to be rolled out in more locations in 2025.
But now it's all systems go to build of its My Christmas Trails - for full details of UK sites visit www.mychristmastrails.co.uk.
"Like Christmas cards, turkey and crackers, our trails have become a Christmas tradition with many people returning year after year," said Zoe.
"These are not like Christmas lights in shopping centres. We pride ourselves in creating experiences on National Trust properties, in botanical gardens, forests and pinetums, celebrating each venue's unique landscape, from its tallest and biggest trees, to waterfalls, bridges, houses or other parts of the infrastructure.
"There will be Christmas trees and you'll probably see Father Christmas - lots of things like that. But we have installations created by international artists, with something for all the family to enjoy.
"I have the ability to focus your attention where I want you to see it. If we light it up, you will absolutely focus your attention there. If we don't, and it's dark, it kind of disappears into the background. So some things that are always there during the day, we can really bring to life at night by making other things disappear. And that's quite, an interesting superpower we have.
"We have things to see, smell, hear and, in some cases, touch. We want you to experience the venue that you're in, not just stand there to watch some lights. The audio we program is equally as important, from Christmas hits to special pieces of music which are just completely the right thing in the right place - the grandeur of cinematic audio."
The trail attracted more than 95,000 people last year.
Zoe emphasised the importance of sustainability and ecological considerations, ensuring the venues are protected for future generations. All the new and returning installations along the one-mile illuminated trail are low in energy and have been selected to complement the Botanics’ environment.
Zoe added: “We use LED lighting and work to minimise the impact on wildlife.My team are going to hate me for saying this, but a phrase I often use is that all we should leave behind is footprints and memories.”
LINKS:
Website: www.rbge.org.uk/christmas
My Christmas Trails: www.mychristmastrails.co.uk/events/christmas-at-the-botanics
Facebook: =www.facebook.com/thebotanics
X: @TheBotanics
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