On selected dates from November 11th 2016 right through to January 2nd 2017, the team over at Longleat will be transforming the grounds into a winter wonderland, with attractions aplenty for you and your family to enjoy.
This year’s Festival of Light will present creatures great and small, showcase stunning works of art, and even celebrate the beloved characters of Beatrix Potter as part of the Safari Park’s 50th anniversary. Here are just a few of the event’s standout attractions.
Lanterns Menagerie
As ever, the Christmas season will see Longleat lit up by stunning lanterns. This year, those lanterns will be designed to honour the park’s most famous inhabitants, so you can count on encountering eight unique and majestic lion lanterns to commemorate the first residents to call the park home back in 1966. Complex porcelain giraffes, giant gorillas, and silk elephants will also be on show, and you’ll find Peter Rabbit and friends as stunning lanterns to celebrate 150 years of Beatrix Potter.
Santa Express
If you’re going to be bringing some kids with you to The Festival of Light, you can bet your Christmas tree that they’ll be dead set on riding the Santa Express. A miniature railway that runs along the Half Mile Lake to Longleat’s North Pole Halt, the Santa Express will take you to meet jolly old Saint Nick himself, and your kids might even come away treasuring a special gift. Just be advised that booking is essential.
Artic Corner
This is the first time Longleat are creating their Arctic Corner, and its set to be the ideal place for your kids to burn off some of their energy. Filled with themed inflatables and arctic lanterns, the Artic Corner will let your tykes slide down icebergs or step inside a life-sized snow globe. Longleat elves will be there to help you make the most of your visit, telling festive tales and even helping you make your very own Christmas decorations.
Winter Safari
The weather outside may indeed be frightful, but you can still check out Longleat’s famous Safari Drive Through. Many of the animals will be taking the chance to snuggle up inside, but plenty of critters, including Longleat’s tigers and lions, tend to be a lot more active during the cooler months, so you might be in for an exciting encounter. You can even pet some of the park’s less temperamental guests at the Animal Handling Hall.