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sing-along.","metadata":{}},{"id":"5a574264-cb41-48f6-b8b3-18b6f4e02231","type":"paragraph","content":"If you’re keen to add something a bit different to the usual walk-through, Glow Boats are returning on the lake (bookings essential), and there’s a TSB Treasure Hunt for prizes you can participate in by scanning any of the QR codes around the park to get started.","metadata":{}},{"id":"8ce503f4-ef3f-4316-a540-926bc1d0bf25","type":"paragraph","content":"Getting to and from the park is made easy with a free Festival Bus running on a loop between Bay E on Ariki Street and the festival’s main entrance on Fillis Street, with the first departure at 7.30pm and the last departure from Fillis Street at 11pm. The service is wheelchair and pram-friendly, and runs across the festival period except public holidays.","metadata":{}},{"id":"a5d725e0-da5f-46f1-9bf6-14ca41a7a8cd","type":"paragraph","content":"For those driving into the CBD first, Centre City is offering free parking for the first two hours, with standard charges applying after that. No codes or bookings are required for the parking offer.","metadata":{}},{"id":"90aeec2b-5adc-4aac-9bd0-68baaa3f6909","type":"paragraph","content":"The Festival of Lights continues to be a major driver for summer visitation and spending in Taranaki. NPDC says around 155,000 people attended the 2024/25 festival, with 44% coming from outside the region, and it cites a BERL study estimating $15.8 million in total expenditure and $8.1 million in GDP value-add for the Taranaki economy.","metadata":{}},{"id":"31d69c45-04b1-4d19-b753-d592dd0949fb","type":"paragraph","content":"Those numbers follow a similarly strong previous season, with NPDC reporting 175,000 festival visits across 2023/24 and said BERL’s post-season analysis estimated more than $9.2 million added to local GDP, with a large share of out-of-region visitors saying the festival was the main reason for their trip.","metadata":{}},{"id":"1fb176a8-42a7-4950-8eb7-0580044e217e","type":"paragraph","content":"That influx typically translates into a busy stretch for accommodation providers, hospitality venues, retailers and visitor attractions, while also giving locals a free, family-friendly reason to spend summer evenings in the park.","metadata":{}},{"id":"46cc2cbc-26a5-4630-805c-413d4b76cf68","type":"heading","content":"Quick facts","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"c2b68d67-58d7-4a5a-915a-9ebf4290f4a8","type":"list","content":["Where: Pukekura Park, New Plymouth","Dates: Saturday 20 December 2025 to Saturday 24 January 2026","Entry: Free","Lights on: 8.30pm–11pm nightly (rain or shine)"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"e38e6d73-a588-4002-b93b-0dbb4837e22d","type":"heading","content":"What’s on","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"260f10fc-c113-43b9-bdab-4b3c901276b9","type":"paragraph","content":"The festival combines light installations throughout the park with live performances, kids’ events, outdoor cinema nights, and special one-off experiences across the season. The most up-to-date schedule (including wet weather plans and any changes) is on the TSB Festival of Lights official “What’s on” page here.","metadata":{}},{"id":"515f07e2-612e-44de-9ce5-5f9f167fb925","type":"paragraph","content":"Expect a mix of:","metadata":{}},{"id":"8e4f9fa4-4b8f-41f1-8097-7fdce3ce04c3","type":"list","content":["New light installations for the season, plus returning favourites","Live music nights and themed events (including New Year’s Eve celebrations)","Festival Kids sessions across multiple dates","Outdoor cinema screenings"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"64249dde-8b48-4121-bce7-58d16c5c870a","type":"heading","content":"Getting there","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"543ed89e-4433-4c06-bc70-cc9172bdb89c","type":"image","content":"https://assets.taranakimedia.co.nz/news/legacy-wordpress/4322/inline-1-be04307cfed7.jpg","metadata":{"alt":"","caption":""}},{"id":"5385d0ab-f164-420c-a634-b60695abd30b","type":"heading","content":"Free festival bus","metadata":{"level":3}},{"id":"273a626f-6f73-4f57-9277-812a9b114d63","type":"paragraph","content":"A free Festival Bus runs on a continuous loop between Bay E on Ariki Street and the main entrance on Fillis Street.","metadata":{}},{"id":"aab9f3b4-cba5-498e-98b5-2f74efe737c7","type":"list","content":["Service hours: 7.30pm–11pm (first departure 7.30pm; last departure from Fillis Street 11pm)","Dates: 20 December to 24 January (excluding public holidays)","Accessibility: Wheelchair and pram-friendly"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"3e139dc4-3bd2-462f-85b4-8bfd10838bb8","type":"heading","content":"Free parking at Centre City","metadata":{"level":3}},{"id":"9873b799-455e-4a4a-9701-0a1ffd4eddbc","type":"paragraph","content":"Centre City offers free parking for the first two hours during the festival period, with standard charges after that (no code needed).","metadata":{}},{"id":"d67d737e-f24e-4533-839c-45338d6342a2","type":"paragraph","content":"A good plan is to park at Centre City, then hop on the free Festival Bus from Ariki Street.","metadata":{}},{"id":"9260d087-d510-489a-99c6-d4bbf5234089","type":"heading","content":"Other parking options","metadata":{"level":3}},{"id":"23ee5ec8-866f-4900-876c-61d3c084050c","type":"list","content":["Fillis Street (main gate)","Rogan Street","TSB Stadium car park","Victoria Street"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"9fdffa8a-3e9e-4db7-8cf3-5483fc776649","type":"paragraph","content":"The Bellringer Pavilion car park is closed to all vehicles during the festival from 5pm to 7am the following morning.","metadata":{}},{"id":"3e4e319e-be49-4c55-80b1-1c166f498884","type":"image","content":"https://assets.taranakimedia.co.nz/news/legacy-wordpress/4322/inline-2-860c1e262b83.png","metadata":{"alt":"","caption":""}},{"id":"24f816b0-4b74-4202-9162-eb3ce50e7d35","type":"heading","content":"Maps","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"d47a2c89-36a8-454f-89d9-9a56cf5c2f32","type":"paragraph","content":"Use the official maps to plan your route and find entrances, facilities, and light locations.","metadata":{}},{"id":"ebe7b291-422f-4daa-a965-7a9dd271a19d","type":"list","content":["An interactive digital map is available here.","A PDF download is available here."],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"da655685-3c25-44a3-b870-161f54134e6c","type":"image","content":"https://assets.taranakimedia.co.nz/news/legacy-wordpress/4322/inline-3-8f76aaf43606.png","metadata":{"alt":"","caption":""}},{"id":"4aec9e8a-617c-4782-a200-0d288dca6ac0","type":"heading","content":"Food, picnics and facilities","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"d94ae411-8efe-4d25-9b75-26037cddde87","type":"paragraph","content":"You can bring your own picnic or use on-site options:","metadata":{}},{"id":"2aaba59e-b786-4f6c-931c-400a819c9ff4","type":"list","content":["Festival Hub / Light Bites on select nights (food trucks and more)","The Teahouse open nightly for hot food, ice creams and drinks (including coffee)"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"b4c95a48-1233-4afd-92a4-5da66943c858","type":"heading","content":"Glow Boats","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"cd0bfc3b-7c7b-4e1d-8f38-a3c26830fdd7","type":"paragraph","content":"Glow Boats return on the lake, with bookings required. Key details include pricing, duration, age requirements and boat capacity are available here.","metadata":{}},{"id":"e63b7312-1092-490e-a54e-d85967129b04","type":"heading","content":"Accessibility","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"3fc54db7-6be5-457d-a34c-6f13c73ea141","type":"paragraph","content":"The festival provides mobility options and Access & Inclusion evenings. Details include:","metadata":{}},{"id":"27a91eda-e1f4-46b3-9111-a317ffab8786","type":"list","content":["Wheelchairs available for pick-up from the Festival Hub (bookings essential)","Mobility scooters available via Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre Trust (contact details on the accessibility page)","An electric buggy service from the TSB Stadium entrance for visitors who are less mobile","QR-code audio descriptions for light installations"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}},{"id":"8632551f-ea69-4b52-b754-899e854e44d7","type":"heading","content":"Official links","metadata":{"level":2}},{"id":"c50115ca-0875-4957-924d-dbe4e97817d0","type":"list","content":["Festival home","What’s on / programme","Festival bus","Accessibility","Festival Hub / Light Bites","Glow Boats","TSB Treasure Hunt"],"metadata":{"ordered":false}}]15:[["$","script",null,{"type":"application/ld+json","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"$2b"}}],["$","$L2c",null,{"taxonomyType":"tag","taxonomyName":"Festivals","taxonomySlug":"festivals","activeContentType":"stories","initialData":{"stories":[{"id":"504a3b3d-721d-4924-a736-aefeaed54d76","title":"TSB Festival of Lights Kicks Off Five Weeks of Art and Entertainment in Pukekura Park","excerpt":"The TSB Festival of Lights launches tonight at Pukekura Park, offering five weeks of stunning light installations, diverse live entertainment, and family-friendly activities, free for all to enjoy.","content":"$2d","author":"Tony Skilling","category":"Entertainment","topics":["Entertainment","Events","Festivals"],"location":"New Plymouth District","tags":["Events","Festivals","Pukekura Park","TSB Festival of Lights","Light Art","Live Music","Family Events","New Plymouth"],"publishDate":"$D2025-12-19T23:13:18.000Z","imageUrl":"https://assets.taranakimedia.co.nz/news/legacy-wordpress/4322/featured-0-f1f68dd3c332.jpg","videoUrl":null,"isFeatured":false,"created_at":"$D2025-12-19T23:13:18.000Z","author_id":"3da23643-666d-4d44-97f6-c6a046263f61","locations":["New Plymouth District","Taranaki","Pukekura Park","New Plymouth"],"comments_enabled":false,"discussion_question":"Which Festival of Lights installation has been your all-time favourite?","badge":"Festival Launch","ads_enabled":false,"ad_placements":["above"],"primary_topic":"Entertainment","primary_location":"New Plymouth District","video_id":null,"social_headline":"TSB Festival of Lights Kicks Off Five Weeks of Art and Entertainment in Pukekura Park","social_badge":"Festival Launch","social_secondary_image":null,"social_secondary_position":"top-right","social_secondary_size":200,"social_secondary_x":860,"social_secondary_y":20,"social_show_watermark":true,"social_watermark_opacity":100,"social_bg_zoom":1,"social_bg_offset_x":0,"social_bg_offset_y":0,"social_secondary_zoom":1,"social_bg_image":"","social_credit":"","status":"Published","image_caption":null,"badge_color":"yellow","social_badge_color":null,"slug":"tsb-festival-of-lights-kicks-off-five-weeks-of-art-and-entertainment-in-pukekura-park-4322","deleted_at":null,"seo":{"title":"TSB Festival of Lights Kicks Off Five Weeks of Art and Entertainment in Pukekura Park","keywords":["TSB Festival of Lights","Pukekura Park","Light installations","Art","Entertainment","Family","New Plymouth","Events"],"og_image":"https://assets.taranakimedia.co.nz/news/legacy-wordpress/4322/featured-0-f1f68dd3c332.jpg","provenance":{"source":"Taranaki Media legacy WordPress website","source_url":"https://taranakimedia.nz/taranaki-news/tsb-festival-of-lights-launches-with-five-weeks-of-art-and-entertainment","body_transfer":"verbatim with native block conversion","source_author":"Tony Skilling","source_post_id":4322,"source_body_sha256":"5681e2e592a878cb70b7d7be66183ae90b80f01c89f8714ab1a656a093495be7","source_published_at":"2025-12-19T23:13:18.000Z"},"description":"The TSB Festival of Lights launches tonight at Pukekura Park, offering five weeks of stunning light installations, diverse live entertainment, and family-friendly activities, free for all to enjoy."},"disclaimer":null,"is_breaking":false,"breaking_until":null,"page_bg_color":null,"updated_at":"$D2026-08-05T06:14:21.920Z","gallery_id":null,"facebook_comments_sync_enabled":true,"is_alert":false,"alert_sent_at":null}]},"taxonomyIcon":"Tag","taxonomyImageUrl":null}]]