Caption: Julian, Charlotte, Anneliese Williams, and Mayor Sam Coupland. Martin's Gully Gumnut Light Sculpture for upcoming Armidale Light Festival in Central Park. Crafted almost entirely from recycled materials collected from their homes, the sculpture features egg cartons, toilet rolls, CDs, old discarded pipes, and Gum leaves from their playground. Inspired by Martin's Gully's beloved school mascot, Gully Gumnut.
Illuminating light shows, fabulous fire twirlers, giant lantern puppets and community performances and installations will all be part of the entertainment lineup at the region's newest event, The Armidale Light Festival, to be held at Central Park and Tingcombe Lane on 23 August 2024.
Central Park and Tingcombe Lane will come alive from 4.30pm, showcasing local, community and professional artistry through the power of light, including an enchanted 'fibre field' garden, coordinated with sounds and light, that will be a magical experience for young and old.
Kids workshops, roaming entertainers, live music, and a lantern parade will keep the whole family entertained, while Tingcombe Lane will be alive with fire pits and food vendors to make for a cosy winter's night out.
The Light Festival, delivered by Armidale Regional Council, is funded through the NSW Government's Open Streets Program, led by Transport for NSW.
Minister for Roads, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
"We're excited to support this event in Armidale.
"Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our streets and CBD are a critical part of our public and social infrastructure. Great streets make great towns and centres and reflect the local community and culture.
"The Open Streets program is about temporarily transforming our main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces.
"The colour and diversity of these 130 events, which are funded by NSW Government's Open Streets Program, celebrates the unique personality of each town or suburb. This is what our vibrancy agenda is all about, backing locals to create events and entertainment that works for their local community."
The Festival's theme "Elements of Nature" will explore the wonder and beauty of our region and its natural environment, offering free entertainment for the entire community.
"We are very excited to launch the inaugural Armidale Light Festival, a celebration that will illuminate our city's rich culture and creativity," said ARC Mayor Sam Coupland.
"The Armidale Light Festival is not just about lights; it's about creating a magical experience for everyone and bringing our community together. From community performances to digital projections, and an immersive light show, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
"With the cost-of-living crisis impacting many families, it is great to be able to put on an event that is free for the entire community and that celebrates the last few weeks of the winter months. Our goal with this festival is to create a vibrant, inclusive event that brings joy and inspiration to everyone who comes along."
"Council is so pleased to be working with and showcasing local suppliers, preschools, schools and local community groups to bring this new event to life – these collaborations not only create fantastic events for our region, they also showcase the strong community we live in."
The Armidale Light Festival will start at 4.30pm in Central Park on 23 August 24.
This free festival has been funded by the NSW Government through the Open Streets Program - a $8.7 million funding program to energise streets and create thriving local spaces that support businesses, creative sectors and the community through community events and activations.
