For the fourth year running, Hunter Valley Gardens is set to host the Christmas Lights Spectacular, Australia’s biggest Christmas lights display.  A wonderful experience for the whole family to enjoy, the Gardens will be alive with colour every night from Thursday 11 November until Thursday 6 January 2011 (excluding Christmas Day & Night). This year Hunter Valley Gardens have even more reason to celebrate as Christmas Lights Spectacular has just been awarded the Hunter Central Coast Tourism Award, in the ‘Festivals and Events’ category, for the second year running.

General Manager, Kyle McKendry says, “We are thrilled that Christmas Lights Spectacular has been recognised as the top event in this category and we guarantee that this year’s event will be even more magnificent and exciting than ever before. With thousands of people having visited last year we are sure many more families will come along to see an even bigger and brighter display this year.  It’s a great opportunity to experience the Christmas spirit that the lights inspire.” After 6 weeks behind the scenes testing and preparing lights, the horticultural team have put the shovels down to begin the rollout of Christmas lights for the 4th annual Christmas Lights Spectacular.

The official opening for this exciting event on 12th November is still several weeks away but with over 25km of strings lights and enough net lights to cover the SCG, not to mention the 100’s of pieces that make up the various themed scenes the race is now on to ensure the best display yet.  “All the horticultural staff get involved and they really enjoy the challenge of setting up the displays. We have some great new scenes this year including a Jurassic display with 4m high dinosaurs, a giant Christmas stocking as well as a 6m long paddle boat.”

With exciting new displays of over 1 million lights, plus festive food, beverages, children’s entertainment and of course Santa Claus, the Christmas Lights Spectacular is bound to capture the spirit of Christmas and create lasting memories for all. This year Hunter Valley Gardens has made several additions to the Christmas Lights Spectacular including scenes from the Jurassic Park era with fearsome dinosaurs and lava filled volcanoes, scenes from The North Pole, fountain firework lights, cherry blossom trees, a larger than life nativity scene and even a touch of Sydney thrown in with the famous Sydney Harbour scene created in stunning lights. Kids will also love the ever popular cactus light display as it makes a reappearance this year.

Another exciting addition is the Lemax miniature Christmas village featuring a little white chapel, a chocolate shop, and a shopping village just like the actual Hunter Valley Gardens. The majestic 10 metre waterfall, the piece de resistance of the Sunken Gardens, will be illuminated with thousands of underwater lights creating a magical atmosphere that will capture the imaginations of both the young and the old.  Fundraising will take place throughout the event for community based charities, with funds donated last year to Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Australian Citizens Radio Emergency Monitors (ACREM) and the local Lions and Rotary Clubs.

Children will be able to have a professional photo taken with Santa or to simply sit on his knee and talk about their Christmas wish list. Well known children’s group The Little Scallywagz will entertain them with a fun energetic upbeat Christmas show at 7pm and 8pm every night and there will also be roaming performers and carol singers, keeping everyone entertained.  The gates will open nightly from 6.30pm with pre-lights entertainment and food stalls so that families can make an evening of it. The lights display will commence at 7.30pm.

Entry to the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be $10 for children aged between four and 15 and $17.50 for adults and children 16 and older.  Children aged three and under receive free entry and every child will receive a FREE glow stick.  If guests have visited the Gardens during the day they are entitled to a discounted entry to the Christmas Lights Spectacular of $10 per adult and free entry for children with a receipt as proof of entry. This year, for the first time, Hunter Valley Gardens have introduced an online ticket purchasing system.  Visitors can pre-purchase their tickets to the Christmas Lights online at www.hvg.com.au which will allow express entry into the attraction. This service will be available from 10th November, just in time for the start of the event

For those looking to do something a little different this year for their work Christmas party or even a festive dinner with friends, dinner packages are available at $47.50 per adult and $25.50 per child which includes entry into the Christmas Lights Spectacular and a delicious two course dinner. For an event with a difference, the 10 individually designed display gardens are also available for private functions ranging from cocktail parties to formal sit down dinners.

To find out more about the Christmas Lights Spectacular, for dinner packages and for Christmas function bookings, please visit www.hvg.com.au or call 02 4998 4000. In the event of wet weather, please contact Hunter Valley Gardens to find out if the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be open.

HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

It's our birthday so come and celebrate with us!

Have fun for free on the ferris wheel, jumping castle, and other amusement rides. There will also be free birthday cake, pony rides, face painting, activities and much more.

All rides and activities are free after Garden Admission. Ph 02 4998 4000 for more information and bookings.

The Wollombi Valley Short Film Festival will be held on Saturday 2nd October.

This year we have a special message to young and aspiring film makers. Jason Van Gendersen from Tree House Creative is a creative artist, and winner of Australian film festivals with several international screenings. In 2009 Jason and his partner Shane Emmett won 1st & 2nd prizes at the Wollombi Valley Short Film Festival and donated the 2nd prize of $750.00 to Valley Artists to encourage youth in the art of film making.

Their film Mankind Is No Island won 1st prize at Tropfest New York. It was the first ever ‘mobile phone’ film to make it into the finals and was the winner at VA’s 2009 film festival. It cost $57.00 to make! They will return this year to present the youth award.  All you young ones get out your cameras, phones, video cameras and make something of yourselves! You could be the winner of $750.00 and have lots of fun in the process.

Joining Jason, our judges for this year are:  Michael Noyce, Noyce Bros. Wines, Wollombi - a generous Valley Artists sponsor.          

Rob Gibson has worked on feature films and programs as diverse as The Aunty Jack Show and the AFI award winning movie Flirting, where he won that year’s best editing award. In recent years he has been an editor on a number of television programs including Packed to the Rafters and Sea  Patrol. Rob’s highly unusual autobio pic Video Fool for Love opened the prestigious Hot Docs festival in Toronto Canada.  He is currently shooting a feature film Away in the Country locally at Laguna. For an entry form and further information go to www.valleyartists.org or email filmfestival@valleyartists.org. Entries close 17th September.