Christmas at the Botanics confirms new star-themed installations for 2020

With just a month until Christmas at the Botanics opens, the team behind one of Edinburgh’s festive favourites has confirmed new installations that will feature in the 2020 trail.

The dazzling displays return to the Botanics for their fourth year

Over the 32-night run, visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh can once again embark on an extraordinary night-time adventure, following a trail of glimmering lights and sparkling illuminations.

In tribute to the hard work and dedication of Scotland’s NHS staff, the Botanics will this year invite 200 Blue Light card holders to mark the opening of the much loved trail, which has become a seasonal staple and source of joy for many across the capital and beyond.

With glittering trees of which many reach tens of metres high, visitors will be able to weave through the enchanting displays and enjoy over 900m of illuminated garlands, the Cathedral of Light and Laser Garden, as well as this year’s new installations.

Cyclamens are part of the new installations this year

New this year is ‘Starfield’, a display of 20 giant LED twinkling stars produced by audio-visual designers ArtAV who created an interactive floor projection at the 2019 trail.

In keeping with this year’s ‘star' theme, visitors can marvel upon brand-new installation, ‘Constellations’, an arrangement of six constellations – Orion, the Big Dipper, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Little Bear and Aquila – made using 60 glowing stars.

Also added to this year’s winter speculator is ‘Cyclamens’ which is an installation created by Liverpool Lantern Company and has recreated the flower in 30 three-metre-high bright blooms.

Rounding off the new installations for 2020’s festive extravaganza is ‘21 Diamonds’ which will beam a lightshow onto the Botanics’ iconic 1960s Glasshouses. Designed by Edinburgh-based Lightworks, the new attraction will enable visitors to see the invaluable Glasshouses home to the Botanics’ indoor Living Collection of plants in a completely new light.

Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “The opening of Christmas at the Botanics is always a highlight in our calendar at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, but never more so than this year. It not only forms an important part of our 350th anniversary celebrations but presents an opportunity for some much need festivity as we near the end of a difficult year for everyone. A year which has intensified the interdependencies of the health of people and the health of the environment.

"The festive trail not only helps us showcase and accentuate botanical diversity, but it also reinforces the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation in the race against time against the growing impact of the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.”

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes Christmas at the Botanics, added: “This year hasn’t been easy and, as one of a handful of festive celebrations able to still be held in Edinburgh, it is great to be able to provide some light relief and share seasonal cheer. We want to keep the festive spirit alive in Edinburgh, and we’re pleased to be able to return with a host of festive family favourites and world-first installations that will make for a truly magical night.”

Book your tickets online by visiting the RBGE website.

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