There is just over 1 week to go until the new immersive Christmas Light Trail opens at Blenheim Palace. On Friday 25 November, the hour-long family friendly experience will open to visitors. The first trail takes place at 5pm with the last walk leaving at 8pm. Visitors are advised to book their tickets in advance, as some nights are already sold out!
The Christmas Light Trail has been designed by Culture Creative who are leading specialists in developing site specific projects in heritage and landscape settings. Working within the UNESCO World Heritage Site has created a trail of two halves; celebrating Blenheim Palace's landscape with a seasonal twist.
The first half enhances the formal beauty of the gardens, punctuated with stunning artistic responses to the space and context. The second half playfully responds to the lakeside woodland path and the fairy folk who may or may not inhabit it.
From international artists' bespoke light projections to 10m tall sculptures towering amongst the singing trees; the journey will lead visitors through a series of magical displays.
Visitors can look forward to an innovative tableau imagining Father Christmas' Oxfordshire Home, which is being created at the Great Lake Boathouse. Families will be able to see and hear Father Christmas and his Elves busily making preparations for the festive season as they walk past in the final part of the Christmas Light Trail.
Just one of the hidden gems behind the 'sparkle' of the event and an example of the calibre of the Culture Creative team brought together to create this stunning experience, is Clare Elliott. She has brought her design flair into play in creating the costumes of the larger-than-life Elves and Santa who can be discovered along the Trail.
Claire began her career as a costume, props and puppet designer/maker at Cosgrove Films in Manchester and has won a BAFTA for her costume design in previous projects.
Don't miss the iconic Blenheim Palace Parkland in illumination for an unforgettable after dark festive trail. Discover Christmas trees that sing, a swaying lawn of fibre optic colour, a fairy-lit arbour and the lakeside Boat House where you can glimpse Santa and his elves along the way. The waterfall cascades will also be bathed in light and the Temple of Diana, where Winston Churchill proposed, will become the perfect romantic setting.
