Each year, Kew Gardens hosts a nighttime Christmas event in the arboretum, a walk filled with lights and music. My w.wezen and I went a few years ago and found it enchanting. Word of mouth for this year was good, so we got tickets and headed out into the year-end cold for a look.
Entry is via on-line ticket application: book for a specific time and get a couple of hours to wander a loop through the park. There’s a small village with food and shops midway through, bathrooms and a kids play area. Otherwise, it’s a leisurely stroll through a half-dozen set pieces, lots of lit trees, and several good performances.
The stand-out arrangement this year was the five gold rings of Christmas, cast in flaming yellows circles, each surrounding iconic sculptures from the song.
I had a bit of fondness for the bauble-laden tree, marshmallows, and stage plays.
And the display of candles, and the light show over the lake, were both great.
I think the only discordant bit was playing with hats in the gift shop afterwards…
No worries, I didn’t purchase the pudding head.