Christmas light event “driving tourism into Cardiff”

The event had installations including a glowing network of mushrooms

A councillor has praised a Christmas lights trail “one of the standout attractions in Wales’ festive calendar” after nearly 97,000 tickets were sold.

Cllr Jennifer Burke, cabinet member for culture, sport and parks, told Cardiff Council in January that 96,727 tickets were sold for Christmas at Bute Park.

The five-week festive lights attraction took place for the first time in 2021 and last year’s trail featured a glowing network of mushrooms, a tunnel made of neon ropes and a sea of light. 

While most attendees - 90% - came from within a 45-minute radius of the park, Cllr Burke added that some came from further afield. 

Cllr Burke said: “Ticket sales reached beyond north Wales, into Bristol, and from London, evidencing that the event is driving tourism into Cardiff.”

She added that the total sales “further established the event as one of the standout attractions in Wales’s festive calendar”.

Local artists created the installations

Local artists created installations for the third year running and were supported by the Ignite Cymru scheme, funded by the Welsh Government.

Cllr Burke continued: “The scheme is imperative to the attraction as it provides invaluable opportunities for young Welsh and emerging creatives to gain exhibition experience, as well as creative work experience for those not in education or employment.”

The event organisers donated over 1,200 tickets to local families, foodbanks, schools and disability organisations. 

An economic impact assessment into the event is due to be published in February.