Upper Hutt’s bid to be in the spotlight
Visitors to Upper Hutt’s Carnival of Lights will step into an illusion, featuring thousands of lights to create what appears to be a garden.
Sparkling Botanics is a light and sound installation by award-winning studio Angus Muir Design.
The Highlight: Carnival of Lights is a three-night event over Easter. First held in 2017 in Lower Hutt, when it attracted more than 100,000 visitors, it was held in Upper Hutt in 2023 for the first time.
Last year, more than 55,000 people attended and festival director Ryan Gardiner says this year’s event is not to be missed.
It features a range of international and national installations, as well as performers and interactive light shows. Angus Muir Design, which once turned Wellington’s cable car tunnel into a light installation, is one of the headlining acts.
T-P Tunnel is a 5.5-metre tunnel that is flooded with light, while Sparkling Botanics transforms a garden into a mesmerising nocturnal landscape.
The event aims to deliver immersive experiences that include performers, artists and light installations colliding to create a fun carnival atmosphere.
New to this year’s event is a talent show for performers from throughout the region. Gardiner says the focus will be on performers who creatively incorporate a light component into their act.
The winner will be decided by a public vote on the event’s social media page.
Although originally created by the Hutt City Council, it is now run by a trust, Late Night Lights, that aims to work with charities and put on a community event.
Last year, it raised almost $10,000 for Autism New Zealand. This year, it’s teamed up with Ronald McDonald House, which will get $1 from every ticket purchased.
The 2023 show also had economic benefits for Upper Hutt, with a 7.3% increase in the city spend during the four days of the event, compared to Easter 2022. HighLight: Carnival of Lights is at Brewtown in Upper Hutt from Friday, March 29, to Sunday, March 31. A low sensory evening will be held on Thursday, March 28. Tickets can be purchased at: highlight.org.nz/tickets.