A HAMPSHIRE light trail company is celebrating a successful start to its Christmas event at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.
More than 12,000 people visited the Light-Up trail at the botanical gardens, near Romsey, over the opening weekend.
Co-directors Libby Battaglia and Lucinda Croft said: "The sighs at night are definitely happy ones as the public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive - we're so happy for our artists and everyone who has worked so hard to make this year's event extra special.”
READ MORE: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens opens after dark for magical lights trail
@hampshire_chronicle Light Up Hillier Gardens 💫 The Christmas lights trail is back at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey, until December 31. #christmas #lightuptrails #hilliergardens #christmaslights ♬ The City Lights - Anthony Lazaro
Mum-of-three Maddy Fearnley, from Southampton, was more than impressed with Light-Up Trails’ second year at Hillier Gardens.
She said: "I can't get over how different it all looks. It's magical; the kids are having a great time. They love the Melody Garden musical stepping stones and the hot chocolate, of course."
Josef Baker-Martin, from Alton, went with his parents. He said: "What a wonderful walk on a cold night. I love the lasers and the sound and light show, Mum and Dad were mesmerised by the projections on the house but it's all fantastic."#
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Lashon Joely enjoyed watching the Projection Studio's Song of the Pine installation so much she had seen it three times. Lashon said: "I just think it's so clever. It's such a simple story, but there's something really personal about it."
Light-Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens runs daily from 4.30pm until New Year's Eve. Millions of LED lights have been used to transform the gardens in a series of art installations, many of them interactive or immersive, created by some of Europe's most skilled light and sound artists and designers.
Food and drink vendors have also stationed themselves at the half-way point in ‘Joy Village’ to give visitors a festive feast.
For more information go to lightuptrails.com/.
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