Christmas Lights Spectacular | Fabulously Festive Family Fun

Christmas in the Hunter Valley means one thing for locals and visitors alike - the largest light display in the Southern Hemisphere! Held annually at Hunter Valley Gardens (HVG), the Christmas Lights Spectacular operates from 4 November 2022 through to 26 January 2023 and is open daily from 5:30pm to 10:30pm.

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The Christmas Lights Spectacular has become an annual Christmas tradition for many families who look forward to seeing what is new and different every year. Only a short 2-hour car trip from Sydney, it’s a perfect weekend getaway that will impress the entire family with a stunning display of sparkling light installations across over 5 hectares of the 14 hectares of breathtaking gardens. The team behind this enormous undertaking are proud of what they’ve achieved over the years and considers it a personal challenge to bring new and exciting elements to the display.

“We’ve got over 3 million lights on display this year,” said Kim Jacobs, HVG Marketing Manager.

“And we’ve increased the display area, added an extra pathway and spread things out a little bit. Feedback from our visitors so far is that they love this extra space. In recent years, due to covid, the pathways had to be strictly directional to manage the crowds safely. Visitors can relax a little more this year and wander where their fancy takes them. The experience is more relaxed. And another bonus is that kids can now return to sitting on Santa’s lap for their photos,” said Kim.

“People are telling us it’s the best year yet. It’s a truly family-friendly experience. No matter your age, there is something for everyone. The Gardens are full of exciting attractions, rides and performances with old favourites and new experiences. It’s a perfect escape for families and their loved ones to relax and embrace the Christmas season. It’s a family highlight in the festive season calendar for many of our visitors, that’s for sure, and we’re so proud that that is the case."

A favourite of families, lovers and everyone keen to get into the Christmas spirit, this mesmerising display never disappoints. The HVG team comprises 41 locals who all work together to make the Christmas Lights Spectacular the attraction it is. There’s the horticultural crew of 20, the maintenance crew of 8, the floating crew of 6 and the management team of 7. The installation takes three months to set up and two months to dismantle, with one month break from all things Christmas before planning starts all over again, effectively meaning that staff work on the display year-round – planning, sourcing and installing.

The Christmas Lights Spectacular changes every season. There is always something different to see and enjoy with technology constantly evolving. It is never the same. Returning for the first time this year since 2019, children can pen Christmas lists and letters to Santa and post them to the North Pole at the special Santa Letterbox. The stunning new displays include a 14m Christmas tree, an 8m tall present stack, a 2.5m giant illuminated Santa, a new LED 12 Days of Christmas display and lots more. You can explore Santa's playground, climb up onto Santa’s Sleigh, run underneath an 8m illuminated snowman, or capture the perfect family moment next to the giant Christmas Tree.

For those that do make an annual visit to the Christmas Lights Spectacular, they will be thrilled to see lots of old favourites such as the Lovers Tunnel, where it’s pretty popular to ask your sweetheart to marry you and is the perfect opportunity to indulge in some old-fashioned festive romance. You can still take a trip around the world by spotting famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, London's Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal as well as our own Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House dotted throughout the displays. How many can you spot?

Much better than a shopping mall, get your photos taken with Santa at the Christmas Lights Spectacular, available in the large marquee located in the event area from 6:30pm – 10pm every night until 24 December. For a truly memorable family photo, there are other largerthan- life Christmas characters to join in the photo fun, and if you’ve been good, they may have a special treat for you too! The kids will love the chance to sing along with the Kids Carols every Saturday and Sunday in December featuring special performances by the Scallywagz, The Pretty Amazing Jono, Bravissimo and the fabulous Christmas Fairy, as well as the Rocking Elves show performed every Thursday and Friday, sure to get the whole family’s toes tapping.

The fun doesn’t stop after Christmas, either. HVG is the place to be on New Year’s Eve, with the family-friendly fireworks display at 9pm a firm favourite with visitors and locals alike. The January school holidays are sorted with entertainment for the little ones, including Paw Patrol, Cocomelon and Sesame Street characters.

A visit to the Christmas Lights Spectacular would not be complete without taking a spin on one or all of the HVG rides. Be bold on the daring 35-metre-long and 12-metre-high Super Slide, which is perfect for thrill seekers; get dizzy with your adrenaline pumping on the Swing Chairs as you fly 11 metres off the ground, or try the twisty twirly Spinning Teacups ideal for the little ones.

For a truly magical experience, take a moment to relax on the 25-metre-high classic Ferris Wheel, where you can take in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside and all the sparkling lights below or take a charming spin on the traditional Venetian Carousel that was handmade in Italy to the HVG team design for some vintage style fun.

“The Hunter Valley region is known for its outstanding food, and the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be no different,” said Kim.

“We’ve increased the array of delicious food options that will keep up your Christmas spirits all night long. This year we’ve got a great selection of food and beverage stalls, including woodfired pizza, Greek souvlaki plates, Healthy Patch with spuds, wraps, nourish and acai bowls, yoghurt cups and snack boxes, Snack Land with pluto pups, churros, corn on the cob, pies, sausage rolls, fairy floss and popcorn, Wings with BBQ, periperi and country-fried, and a dessert tent with gelato, crepes, doughnuts, slushies and Tropical Sno plus Loaded Fries all on site but if you fancy bringing your own food, that’s fine too, we just ask that you enjoy it in the park.”

For families who wish to BYO picnic, there is the option to enjoy a packed meal or BBQ in the park near the HVG Shopping Village. HVG offers re-entry passes if you’re coming back in the same session. You’ll need to see the staff at the entry gate to take advantage of this option. It is not permitted to take picnics into the gardens themselves.

HVG is again offering a combined day and evening pass so that visitors can enjoy the entire garden experience during the daytime as well as the evening’s Christmas Lights Spectacular. So enjoy everything the gardens have to offer during the day, exit by 4.30pm when the gardens have to be vacated, enjoy a beverage at a nearby winery or pub and then return from 5.30pm when the light shows begin. It’s the perfect day out.

In a first for the event, organisers have created a new family pass that covers one adult and two children in response to requests from visitors. Teenagers to the age of 15 are included in the child rate, and children under three are free.

The Christmas Lights Spectacular is a not-to-be-missed event for all ages, ideal for the entire family or a group of friends. Why not start an annual tradition to get everyone into the festive spirit? The dazzling immersive displays and entertainment program promise to delight and thrill the young and the young at heart. It’s the perfect festive escape and a guaranteed good time, and with so many local wineries, restaurants and accommodation providers in the surrounding area, there is so much to see and do and plenty of places to stay if you want to make a weekend of it. Come early in December to kick start the festive season in style. And remember – it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s largest light display. If you were travelling overseas, you wouldn’t want to miss visiting it.

Tickets must be booked in advance from the website. So visit www.hvg.com.au and secure your new family Christmas tradition today!