Christmas Lights Spectacular

LIVING IN NEWCASTLE AND THE HUNTER REGION, WE ARE SPOILT FOR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO EVENTS, ARTS, FOOD, WINE AND TOURISM DESTINATIONS. THERE'S OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND WATERWAYS, NATIONAL PARKS, WILDERNESS AREAS AND, OF COURSE, HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS (HVG). THE HVG CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR IS QUITE LITERALLY THE LARGEST IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE YET TYPICALLY ATTRACTS VISITATION MOSTLY FROM SYDNEYSIDERS RATHER THAN LOCALS.

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THERE IS A SENSE THAT LOCALS BELIEVE IT'S JUST ANOTHER LIGHT DISPLAY, THE SAME EVERY YEAR, SEEN IT ONCE, DON'T NEED TO SEE IT AGAIN - BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

A favourite of families, lovers and everyone keen to get into the Christmas spirit, this mesmerising display encompasses 5 hectares of the 14-hectare gardens and utilises over 3 million lights. It opened to the public on Friday, 5 November and will run through until Australia Day 26 January 2022, every evening from 5.30pm until 10.30pm, so there's no excuse not to get along and be amazed.

Chief Elf at the HVG Christmas Lights Spectacular, Amanda Andrews (aka the Events Manager), is only new to the team of 41 locals who all work together to make HVG the attraction that it is. There's the horticultural crew of 20, the maintenance crew of eight, the floating crew of six and the management team of seven. The Christmas Lights Spectacular takes three months to set up and two months to dismantle with one month break from all things Christmas before planning starts all over again. This effectively means that staff work on the display year-round – planning, sourcing and installing.

This year, with covid restrictions taking up such a significant portion of the year, it was more challenging than most. What would typically take a team of 12 three months to install was done in just four weeks. It is a truly remarkable feat and an indicator of how passionate and hardworking the team at HVG are when it comes to this cornerstone event.

"After another difficult year for many Australians, we are thrilled to invite people back to the Christmas Lights Spectacular. It is truly the perfect escape for families and their loved ones to relax and enjoy our rides, attractions and lights as we embrace the Christmas season," says Amanda, who is loving her new role. "My favourite thing is how super creative it is. I have a background in choreography and performing arts, so the fact that we can let our imaginations run free with our ideas being bought to life by the incredibly talented crew really feeds my creative spirit."

There is an emphasis on creativity and community, with the team working together to brainstorm crazy ideas and then turning them into a reality. Shane Bolton, the Asset and Maintenance Manager, has been with HVG for eight years and is hailed as a 'genius' by Amanda. Everything that is used to create the displays is designed and sourced by Shane and his team. The giant baubles, for example, are designed by Shane, who then sends the designs overseas to be created. It's a long way from his role as an Engineer in the mining industry.

Ian Farrell, Head of Maintenance, has been with HVG since it began. It's his job to take the designs and newly created pieces and craft the displays. Ian's wife also works at the gardens and is a Storybook Garden painter. Amanda considers it a privilege to work with such amazing, fun people who have developed a family-like community with a strong sense of ownership over the business's success. The staff have grown with the gardens, and are invested in its ability to deliver crowd-pleasing events, striving to create bigger, better and brighter displays, becoming more creative and technologically advanced every single year.

The message Amanda wants to convey to locals is that the Christmas Lights Spectacular changes every season. There is always something different to see and enjoy with technology constantly evolving. As a result, it is never the same.

This year, don't miss the dancing Santa in the new waterfall display, which includes more than 32,500 hand installed lights. In addition, there are new Mega Trees along the edge of the lake with a light sequence set to music, and be sure to check out the giant Bauble Tree. Another first this year is that Santa has his very own purpose-built igloo – Santa's Cave, where he and his elves will be available for Santa photos every night until 24 December.

There is also plenty of live entertainment to be enjoyed this year, with each month offering slightly different options, opening up the opportunity to visit the Christmas Lights Spectacular more than once during the season and enjoying new experiences each time. It's an element of the event that Amanda feels quite passionate about.

"Events and varied entertainment are what will keep the local community coming back to the gardens," said Amanda. "Creating large scale events from scratch that fully engage the local community and act as a drawcard for visitors is what attracted me to this job. We've got licenced characters appearing every day, carollers, fairies, jumping elves and next year it's my intention to stage a Carols by Candlelight event as part of the Christmas Spectacular. The pandemic prevented anything like that from happening this year, unfortunately, but it's an exciting and obvious way to add even more spectacle to our annual event."

Visitors will be joined by cheeky elves tumbling through the gardens, a real-life lightup fairy in the magical Fairyland, and Disney characters wandering through the Storybook Garden. To light up your Christmas spirit, you can also tune in to the sound of Christmas with Roving Carollers every night in December up to Christmas Eve. The Amazing Jono will thrill his audience with his magical stunts, and the one-person circus act that is the incredible Bravissimo will groove and hoop to delight everyone every Friday and Saturday during November and January.

Srinivas Gopal, General Manager of Hospitality and Leisure Division says, "The Hunter Valley region is known for its outstanding food, and the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be no different, with an array of delicious options that will keep up your Christmas spirits all night long including woodfired pizza, Mexican Cantina, German Grill Haus and a dessert tent."

For families who wish to BYO picnic, there is the option to enjoy a packed meal or BBQ in the park near the HVG Shopping Village. HVG offers re-entry passes if you're coming back in the same session. To take advantage of this option, you'll need to see the staff at the entry gate. It is not permitted to bring picnics into the gardens themselves.

Those who make an annual visit to the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be thrilled to see lots of old favourites such as the Lovers Tunnel, where it's pretty popular to pop the question and is the perfect opportunity to indulge in some festive romance.

Kids will be excited to see 'Hunter', the giant illuminated teddy bear again, as well as the Giant Castle. For those that have been missing international travel, the Around the World display enables you to visit famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, London's Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal as well as our own Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

A visit to the Christmas Lights Spectacular would not be complete without taking a spin on one (or all) of the HVG rides. Be bold on the daring 35-metre-long Super Slide, which is back for the first time since 2019, get dizzy on the Swing Chairs as you fly 11 metres off the ground, or try the twisty twirly Teacups, relax on the 25-metre-high Ferris Wheel and take in the

amazing views or take a charming spin on the traditional Venetian Carousel.

This year, for the first time, HVG is offering a combined day and evening pass so that visitors can enjoy the whole garden experience during the daytime as well as the evening's Christmas Lights Spectacular. Enjoy everything the gardens have to offer during the day, exit by 4.30pm when the gardens have to be vacated, enjoy a beverage at a nearby winery or pub and

then return from 5.30pm when the light shows begin. It's the perfect day out.

Kim Jacob's, HVG Marketing Manager, says, "We have carefully implemented COVID-safe measures to ensure everyone can attend safely and finish off the year joyfully. We look forward to inviting everyone to this magical event as we celebrate the Christmas season and a wonderful New Year."

New Year's Eve features the garden's famous fireworks display where visitors and locals alike can create cherished memories and kickstart 2022 in magical style.

The Christmas Lights Spectacular is a not-to-be-missed event for all ages, ideal for the entire family. Why not start an annual tradition to really get everyone into the festive spirit, especially after the challenging year that has been experienced by all? The dazzling immersive displays and entertainment program promise to delight and thrill the young and the young at heart. It's the perfect festive escape and a guaranteed good time, right on your very doorstep!

Tickets must be booked in advance from the website.

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PLAN YOUR VISIT

DECEMBER

• 1st – 24 December - Roving Carollers will ensure the festive spirit brings a warm glow to your heart.

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Tumbling Elves will surprise and delight you with their antics.

• 1st – 24 December - The Countdown to Christmas includes appearances by all your favourite licensed characters, including Elmo, Care Bears, Paw Patrol, Minions, Snoopy, Trolls, Cat in the Hat, Hello Kitty, Peter Rabbit, The Gingerbread Man and more.

• New Year's Eve - A sparkling fireworks display will light up the sky at 9pm.

JANUARY

• Monday – Wednesday - Find a real light-up fairy in the magical Fairyland.

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Wander through the storybook garden and find real-life Disney princesses.

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday – Real-life fairies can be found in the storybook garden too!

• Friday and Saturday - The Amazing Jono, a magic stunt clown, and Bravissimo, a one-person circus act with hoops, will entertain the crowds.

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TICKETING

Tickets are only available online in advance of your visit. NSW Dine & Discover vouchers can only be used for purchasing ride passes and at selected food stalls. Unfortunately, NSW Dine & Discover vouchers cannot be used for online ticket purchases. All visitors must be double vaccinated with proof. Gates will open at 5:30pm and will close at 10:30pm.

Christmas Lights Spectacular tickets are on sale now from the HVG website www.huntervalleygardens.com.au and prices include:

NIGHT PRICES

Adult $32.00

Children (4-15 yrs.) $25.00

Children (3 yrs. & Under) FREE

Family (2ad+1chd) $79.00

Family (2ad+2chd) $ 99.00

Extra Child (with Family) $22.00

Rides tokens are $5 per ride or $25 for a Bonus Ride Pack of 6 tokens.

COMBINED DAY/NIGHT PRICES

Experience the best of both worlds with the HVG day/night pass. Beautiful Gardens by day, and as the sun goes down, enjoy the stunning Christmas Lights Spectacular. Passes are valid for one day and one night entry on the same day. Gardens are open from 9:00am - 4:30pm and Christmas Lights Spectacular from 5:30pm - 10:30pm. NOTE: Visitors must exit the gardens between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

Adult $49.00

Children (4-15 yrs.) $39.00

Children (3 yrs. & Under) FREE

Family (2ad+1chd) $119.00

Family (2ad+2chd) $149.00

Extra Child (with Family) $37.00

GROUP RATES

If you are visiting Christmas Lights Spectacular with a group of 12 adults or more, HVG offers excellent rates for social groups, schools, afterschool care. To be eligible for these rates, you must book in advance with the HVG Groups Department. Please email groups@hvg.com.au for more details.