The ‘magic of storytelling’ has been confirmed as the theme for this year’s Festival of Light, taking place for the fourth time at Longleat in Wiltshire.
The annual light event offers visitors a wide-ranging collection of illuminated lantern displays to explore. This year the Festival of Light will run from 10th November through to 2nd January.
What can groups expect?
This year’s festival will draw inspiration from tales new and old; including popular stories like Little Red Riding Hood and the Nordic influenced Little Mermaid, as well as the local legend of Somerset’s ‘Gurt Worm’ dragon.
The inspired narrative of the festival’s 2017 theme will see guests travelling through a ‘mysterious world’, encompassing captivating scenes and characters from well-known tales, with the aim of evoking a sense of fantasy and nostalgia amongst all ages.
The series of giant illuminated lantern displays has been conceived by Longleat’s in-house design team to create a new and immersive literary experience for guests to capture the magic of storytelling.
Highlights will include scenes from well-known fiction, including Cinderella’s horse-drawn pumpkin carriage; Snow White’s infamous encounter with the peddler woman; and Thumbelina’s toadstool valley.
Other featuring characters will include the Sugar Plum Fairy, Rapunzel, the Snow Queen, the Ugly Duckling, and the Frog Prince.
Christmas spirit
The winter event will culminate with Longleat’s Enchanted Christmas Tree Show – a large-scale light installation. There will also be a Santa train for guests to take a ride on, and an immersive grotto to explore.
Longleat’s Elizabethan stately home will be dressed in traditional Edwardian festive décor, too. Guides throughout the house will interact with guests and each other in traditional costume to depict Christmas in the Edwardian period.
Groups of 12 or more will benefit from discounted entry and perks such as complimentary driver tickets and lunches, and organiser tickets.
For further information visit www.longleat.co.uk.
