The magic lights that dazzled
Review: Christmas in Bute Park light trail by Kathryn Williams
CHRISTMAS is back with a bang in Cardiff and there’s so much festive fun to be getting on with to make you feel excited for the season. And a new attraction is the Christmas in Bute Park light trail, so we went along on the opening nght to see what it’s like.
The pictures ahead of the visit were enough for me to anticipate what was to come and I couldn’t wait to explore the installations in one of Cardiff’s most beautiful areas, the historic Bute Park which is set right behind the castle.
Tickets for the light trail are already few and far between ahead of Christmas Day, but at £18 per adult, £13 per child, would I consider it worth the visit? It’s a big spend for a family during an already expensive time.
But it’s absolutely worth it. It’s a huge treat in the run-up to Christmas and not only that, it’s like stepping into another world.
Quite simply, it’s magical.
If you’ve got a Scrooge temperament and muse, “But why pay to look at fairy lights?”, forget about it, this is not for you – it’s much more than that and allows you to soak up a moment or two away from everyday life.
The trail itself is around a kilometre long and weaves around Bute Park. When we visited there was a steady stream of people on the trail but not so many that you were stuck behind anyone – although it wouldn’t matter if you were, as this is a place to meander in awe.
From the golden, twinkly boulevard of lit-up trees, to giant flowers, flickering fire gardens and a Stranger Things-Upside Down-vibe full of coloured lasers and multi-coloured light shows, this walk is really, really beautiful and plucks you out of the everyday franticness of post-Covid life.
Other than the way it makes you feel (pure wonderment), you will be impressed by the sheer amount of planning by the 25 technicians who set up more than a million bulbs in around two weeks.
This is an installation that will deservedly charm the thousands already booked in. And if you’re on the fence about buying a ticket, I’d say do it, and get one of the mulled wines, too – it was delicious.