Jack’s very own light festival ready to go
IT was one boy’s dream — to hold a light festival in his hometown after he saw the Luma light festival in Queenstown earlier this year.
Just over a month later, Jack Farrell (12), who attends Alexandra Primary School, is holding the inaugural Glow at The Packing Shed.
It is a light festival with food, outdoor games, hot drinks, mulled wine, music, and an illuminated kids art exhibition.
It starts tonight and will finish on Saturday.
The 12yearold will host the event in his parents’ seasonal gallery and cafe in Earnscleugh.
Jack said local schools had contributed artwork and special creations to the festival.
For example, Jack wanted to focus on recycling, so The Terrace School created a chandelier made out of plastic bottles.
The bottles were painted with UV paint so they would light up in the dark.
‘‘My mum and I came with the idea to do this . . . we started ordering lights and putting fairy lights on all the trees.’’
Jack’s aunty Emma McLean said it was his passion for technology that inspired the festival.
‘‘School holidays is a fun time to have something happening,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s fun for families,’’ Jack said.
‘‘It’s about having fun and trying new things, if it’s a good idea.’’
Over the summer, Jack set up an icecream truck at his parents’ Court House Cafe in Alexandra to make a few dollars.
He put his success down to his parents.
‘‘My mum and dad encourage me,’’ he said.