A dazzling winter light trail will return near Romsey with a reimagined route and immersive displays.
Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens will run from Thursday, November 27 to Saturday, January 3, offering visitors a transformed experience through the illuminated gardens.
The event features new themed zones and a fresh route, with tickets available now at lightuptrails.com.
Libby Battaglia and Lucinda Croft, co-directors of Light Up Trails, said: "There are more lights than ever and our new trail will take visitors on a different journey through the gardens with more immersive moments and even more enchanting installations."
Returning to the gardens is Belgian light artist Bobolito&Co with a new version of the internationally acclaimed Rhizome installation, an immersive light and sound sculpture inspired by nature’s hidden networks.
The duo said: "It has evolved in a really fresh way at Hillier Gardens.
"We’ve added mirrors into the installation, so you get these extra layers of reflection and shadow.
"It’s like a celebratory edition that brings even more vibrancy and depth."
The event features new themed zones and an updated route (Image: Rob Luckins)
This year also marks the debut of new artists, including Edinburgh-based Bright Side Studios, who specialise in immersive design and projection mapping.
Cristina Spiteri of Bright Side Studios said: "We create illusionary animations within an environment so what the audience will see are the flowers and animals brought into the gardens suspended in the space."
Their installation, Seasons Of Light, takes visitors on a journey through the seasons, projected onto a giant scrim screen with the treeline behind lit to create a holographic effect.
Last year’s standout Super Peak Nights also return, with double the number of performers and new characters.
Visitors will encounter Ice Fairies, Featherlight figures, Flower Fairies, and fire performers - all brought to life by the stars of Steamship Circus.
Ms Battaglia and Ms Croft said: "The effect will be fantastic.
"It will transform Hillier Gardens into a living fantasy that’s part light trail, part theatre and wholly unforgettable."
The event has previously won Gold in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards.
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