Oct 31

Oct 31 Luminara at the Enchanted Forest 2025

I have a confession to make, and that is that I’ve been to the Enchanted Forest more than once this year. First for the press preview, and then again simply to enjoy it with family. It says much for this year’s show that I discovered something different on each visit.

What struck me the most at first was how this year’s theme, which explored the connection between nature and technology, with a distinctly sci-fi feel, felt very much more intense than other years. Rather than soothing you with sound, the entire forest pulsed with energy, and there were a lot of interactive installations. On this visit I also was rather blown away by the hot fried chicken and chips with barbecue sauce!

On my second (family) visit I loved seeing the forest again through a toddler’s eyes, and I cannot tell you how long we spent at the giant flowers connected to motion sensors, which opened and lit up as we waved at them, and the seed eggs, flashing multicoloured when touched. This idea carries all the way around the forest, with the sense that you have a part to play in making everything come to life.

Perhaps because we spent more time here on this visit, I also noticed what I hadn’t the first time (with a hint from a helpful steward), that the show ’synced’ about every 20 minutes, bringing all the lights and installations together under one sound. This part was rather spectacular, with the whole forest suddenly going dark, then lighting up again dramatically, and finishing with everything turning multiple colours.

Churros and hot chocolate by the fire are a must when visiting The Enchanted Forest, and it makes for a bit of a sensory break as well, leaving you refreshed and ready to keep going.

The show was a great success as always, especially with the youngest member of my family, and I can foresee that I’ll be roped into playing at ‘going to the Enchanted Forest’ for some time to come, perhaps even until next year’s show rolls around. People of all ages were also having an amazing time though, and the organisers do a fantastic job of coming up with something different each year. Some I absolutely love and some I simply like, but it doesn’t seriously occur to me to miss one. I can’t wait to find out what the next theme will be!

Early bird tickets for next year go on sale on Monday 3rd November: www.enchantedforest.org.uk