Spring has hit the New England a little ahead of schedule. The wattle trees are vibrant yellow, the mix of white, orange, red and bright pink blossoms have engulfed the city, the temperature sits on a perfect 16 degrees. With the rain we have had over Winter, every patch of dirt that can grow grass, is growing grass. Armidale, like so many of our towns and farmland is looking healthy.
Armidale’s Central Park is no exception.
The Armidale Light Festival 2024 kicked off at around 4pm on Friday night (24 Aug), as the Spring light was in the golden hour. For photographers and artists, this is the moment when everything looks its best. The crowd was eager to get the party started, and those who had planned, worked, and rehearsed were ready to put on a show. And what a show!
Before sundown, before the lights were turned on, the festive mood was already in full swing. The smell of food cooking, the sound of the TAS band and the PLC Chamber Orchestra filtered through the air. Children chased a giant puppet as it strolled through the park and a dance troupe danced with fire.
As the sun set the lights came on. A massive canvas dome with a three-metre ceiling was lit up from the outside. Children were drawn to the psychedelic light show. Parents snapping photos of their children laughing and dancing in the lights. Inside the dome, another projection. This one was a giant screen, with video art and a musical score that attracted hundreds of adults and children who all stood and soaked up the experience.
As the night fell, the lights grew brighter and even more brilliant.
The park’s trees glowed. The ground, covered in optic fibre flowers and palms looked like a science fiction fairyland.
The artists had created a functional installation, en masse, for the entire community to explore and enjoy. Central Park was packed, with new visitors streaming in through the rainbow archway at the entrance all night.
The 2024 Armidale Lights Festival will be remembered as a hit. Artists showing how important their work is in lifting a community’s spirit, and the community showing its appreciation for their work.
If you missed this years Armidale Light Festival, you can watch a short video of the night on our YouTube channel, New England Today.