NPDC’s TSB Festival of Lights sets record for new displays

More than 50 live acts, 24 Summer Scene kids’ events, 14 new light features, eight activities for Summer Seniors, four bands for the Powerco Lights Up the Night New Year’s Eve celebration and one Woofstock party for pooches – this season’s TSB Festival of Lights is a record breaker!

Located in the world-class Pukekura Park, the lights come on every night from 8.30pm to 11pm, rain or shine, from Saturday, 14 December. The last night of the NPDC-run festival coincides with Kiwi legends Six60’s sold-out show at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands on 1 February.

An estimated 125,000 will attend with thousands coming from outside of the New Plymouth District just to visit the festival. It brings an estimated $5 million in value to the economy each season.

“There are 14 new light features – a new record for the festival – and visitors will be dazzled, delighted and entertained,” says NDPC Recreation and Culture Manager Teresa Turner. “We’re also thrilled to be bringing five displays to our festival this year which have been showcased at the international light show, Vivid Sydney.

“The NPDC team has done an absolutely fabulous job in bringing new and highly original displays to our stunning Pukekura Park. There’s also something for everyone to enjoy with Summer Scene for kids, Summer Seniors and the return of the New Year’s Eve celebration while Woofstock will be great fun for dog owners.”

The 14 new light features are:
Regal Peacock
Spreading his brightly-coloured, illuminated feathers wide, the Regal Peacock will dazzle festival-goers. The display has sound, movement and light animations.

Trumpet Flowers (pictured, above)
You’ll feel as if you’ve shrunk when you enter this super-sized trumpet flower garden. Press the buttons to make your own music.

Trilogy
Trilogy lets you use your hands to draw with light. Featuring three light pillars, you and your friends can create your own visual masterpieces.

Push My Buttons
It’s up to you to decide how this light is feeling today… press one of the three buttons then watch as it lights up to reflect the mood you’ve chosen!

Parrot Party
As you get nearer, these parrots grow happy and excited, raising their voices in song and radiating colourful light.

Time Beam
Multiple light towers made from repurposed plastic containers, illuminated and hanging from the trees of Pukekura Park.

HYBYCOZO (pictured, right)
Welcome to HYBYCOZO; the Hyperspace Bypass Construction Zone. You’ll be drawn in by these stunning large-scale installations, which investigate geometry through light, shadow, and perception.

UVtopia
You’ll be positively glowing in UVtopia! Step inside and experience the wonder of the Fernery and Display Houses, lit by UV lighting at night.

Birds of Lumos
Watch as these wonderful kiwi come to life, glowing and pulsating different colours through their light-globe bodies.

Droplet
Droplet is a light drawing of microscopic organisms, suspended within a droplet of water.

Bridge of Rock
It’s time to rock out on Poet’s Bridge. Catchy riffs and melodies combine with an epic light show to create something rock-tacular.

Love Birds
Gliding above you, these love birds flutter with colour and light in the wind. Walk below the canopy and be immersed by the motion of the birds.

Visitors
Watch as the forest comes to life in a spectacular sound and light show that is out of this world.

Dream Tree
Awe-inspiring light and colour effects bring one of Pukekura Park’s oldest trees to life.

What’s on:
Summer Scene Kids
Load your summer holidays with daytime events that inspire, entertain and excite kids from five to 12 years old. A highlight is Splash Fest – a week of pool parties around Taranaki including Waitara, Inglewood, Okato and Todd Energy Aquatic Centre.

Summer Seniors
The programme for seniors has become a mainstay of the festival and this year has rock’n’roll at the Bowl, Tai Chi, a brass band, art in the park and the chance to learn creative floral design.

New Year’s Eve
The Powerco Lights Up The Night event features silent discos, food trucks and four live bands including headline act Racing. It will be an epic New Year’s Eve with Pukekura Park the place to be for friends and family to see in 2020.

Woofstock (pictured)
Pooches are invited to the park on 18 January for the first ever Woofstock! This daytime event will have dogs dressed up in 60s outfits and there will be prizes for best-dressed dog as well as Pilates for Paws and Parkour.

Festival Hub
Light Bites went down a treat last year and returns with food trucks in the Festival Hub. Also in the Hub will be VR experiences thanks to TSB, a rock’n’roll pop-up, a roller disco pop-up and free wifi thanks to Primo.

Entertainment
From 26 December to 19 January, more than 50 home-grown, Kiwi and international acts will entertain festival-goers at the Hatchery and Fred Parker lawns. See the event programme or head to festivaloflights.nz for all the details.

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