Glow Light Festival and sakura

The other week I went to a light festival called Glow in my local park. I missed it in the past few years for different reasons and figured I should finally go this year. This used to be a free event, but the organizers started charging an entry fee this year. It was Pay What You Decide, and I paid the recommended price. I didn't mind paying as running these events cost money and all the funds go back to the community instead of profit making. I'd rather contribute something in case they cancel these events in the future. It's a small price to pay to keep the community alive otherwise this world can be such a boring place.

I arrived about 20 minutes before my timed entry slot, and there was already quite a long queue waiting. They were very strict with letting people in at the correct time, which was good in a way, as it avoids having too many people in the venue at the same time.

I've been to this park a few times for walks, but only during daytime. I was a bit disoriented when I got in as it was so dark, and very muddy, I had to be careful where I walked. The first thing I saw and recognised was the fountain. It had been transformed into a Dancing Fountain, with lights and music, very fancy.

A bit further on were the Swings lit up in lights and with a long queue of kids waiting to have a go. Sadly no swings for me again.

In pretty much every village or town in UK you will find some sort of remembrance memorial. This is where people come on Remembrance Day to pay their respects to those who fought and died in the wars. It was a fitting place for the Peace Shrine. In the weeks before the festival, I saw the organisers were looking for people to donate glass jars and volunteers to help create this display. It was very nice to finally see over 200 glass jars decorated by the local community and standing there in solidarity for peace.

I think Needlework Community on Hive will love this display called the Magical Mushrooms. It's a mushroom garden crocheted by the local community, they look so whimsical when lit up in neon lights.

I love interactive displays, like Shadowplay. It creates colorful silhouettes when you stand in front of the wall. This is such a simple yet effective display and offers a lot of fun, yeah, it's very easy to please me.

There is a strong sense of community in this light festival, where many of the displays were created by the locals. Lightopia was another one. Old lampshades were hung up on the tree and lit up in funky neon lights. I wouldn't mind having this at home, it would be so cool in my living room!

Meet Roosie everyone! Roosie is a life size cow, and is also created by a local group. The sculpture is about the youngsters from the group first encounter with a cow in a nearby city farm. "The vibrant neon hues pulsating through the sculpture mimics the electrifying energy of the initial connection." Confession, that was the blurb from the official program, I didn't write it!!!

Wood Wide Web was the only display that I didn't get, but thankful there was an information board. I learnt nature has something called mycelial, an underground network that connects plants and trees to share resources. When visitors press the blocks, the light shoots out in different directions connecting the trees mimicking the mycelial. Learning something new every day.

The UV Garden is definitely my favourite out of all the displays. This part of the park is a separate garden dedicated to a journalist called Jill Dando who was born and grew up in the area. She was a national journalist with the BBC and was shot dead in 1999. To date, her death is still unsolved. The artwork here is created by residents in a local rehab center. I love how enchanting everything is, and it gives so much strong energy and vibes. Maybe it reflects how the residents are feeling and their aspiration to a brighter future.

Last and not the least, as I was leaving the UV Garden, I wanted to take a photo of the lights in the rest of the park. I tried to be creative, and focused on a flower off a branch with the lights blurred in the background. What I didn't realise at the time, because it was so dark was that the flower is a sakura! I only saw it when I got home and opened up the photo on my computer. Now I have to go back to the park to get a better view of the sakura during day time, they are beautiful when they are blooming.

You can checkout all my travel post on the Pinmapple here or click on Mr Pinmapple below