Yahoo News From a rainbow road to a laser forest, Northern Lights creates a world of magic
When Northern Lights made its debut in Newcastle last year it proved a huge hit, attracting a whopping 100,000 visitors over its run.
Billed as the city's first festive light trail, it invited families to explore Leazes Park after dark and its 14 sparkling installations totally transformed a familiar space and made it something magical. My favourite was a laser garden of lights and a rainbow tree so I was keen to see what was in store on this return visit by its award-winning creators From The Fields.
Could it be as magical and would I like it as much? The short answer, I'm glad to say, is yes and I can only imagine at the work that's gone on behind the scenes to create this sparkling new world.
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And it is all-new. This year's Northern Lights, which had already sold 70,000 tickets by Friday's opening night, might follow the same meandering route but it brings fresh illuminations and there are 15 of them this time, including two by a South Shields artist.
Stevie Thompson has managed to find inspiration in mushrooms and snails to create pulsating fibre-optic scenes and we're fascinated by a Mycelium Network trailing the ground then images of Psychedelic Snails, a couple poised half-way up trees. We've already seen stunning displays such as Whispering Nights, a carpet of around 2,000 candles which glow golden like flames then, as you watch, they become a sea of red. The flowing, changing colours are mesmerising and very relaxing.
We might be following the same path as last time but I am soon disorientated as we wind our way around the mile-long route, not that you really have any idea of distance as you constantly seem to change direction and attention switches to something new. There is new music accompanying each work, adding to the atmosphere.
It's easy to be swept along with others but most of the installations change before your eyes so it's worth stopping to watch for a while. A giant lotus bloom floating on the park lake changes colour in time to the music: its petals like giant diamonds at one point; royal blue the next and then ruby red.
It took us a while to work out whether this centrepiece, Lily of the Lake, was slowly rotating too and it was not just the effect of water rippling around it. There is something new to see at every turn.
A glittering stag lurks among trees at one point, offering a private selfie opportunity, and we almost missed a screen showing lovely animal projections until we caught sight of an elephant appearing to plod through a clearing. There are new photo opportunities at plenty points along the route this year and I saw as many adults as kids posing behind the illuminated outlines of gingerbread men - and even a couple of dogs having their snap taken through special photo frames.
There are also a few extra places to stop off for a hot drink or mulled wine - or even fish and chips at the lake - as well as an area of fire pits for toasting marshmallows although the main area for refreshments is the Christmas Village near where the route starts and where you end up at the end of the loop.
Be warned: the areas in between the dazzling artworks can be very dark and the contrast between them had me in danger of wandering off-course more than once. Lasers are back this year and again there's a chance to bypass this attraction.
But rather than the strobing green lasers of last time, this new piece, Kaleidoscope has multi-colour lights that flutter around us, through the trees above our heads and engulf us. I like the lasers as much as last time although they have the same confusing effect which, along with occasional bursts of dry ice that come as we gingerly make our way along, have us laughing and totally reliant upon the rope guides at the side of the path.
What turns out to be another favourite awaits near the end of the route although I'd already glimpsed it earlier from a distance. Sea of Light turns the park bandstand - against the backdrop of St James' Park - into what resembles a whirling fairground ride as the bulbs covering every part of it light up in vibrant colours that swirl and change so fast it looks like it's moving. I loved its all-over silver effect best.
But all 15 installations are beautiful. We walked, immersed in colour, along a stretch of Rainbow Road and through Framed, a tunnel of angled changing-colour frames, and saw snowflakes and fans of fibre optics that look like flowers. There are collaborations this year between young patients at the Great North Children's Hospital and musician Beccy Owen and including the Alan Shearer Centre alongside Stevie Thompson's commission.
Northern Lights is a remarkable achievement, making our familiar park so unfamiliar. I was reluctant to leave behind all that colour and cheer so we lingered with a drink in the Christmas Village at the end, where there is real fairground element for the kids with a big wheel, helter skelter and ride for young ones alongside the food and drink outlets.
The light trail is a real festive treat so if you are able to go then do, while you have the chance. It runs until December 31: for remaining ticket slots see here.
