Walsall Illuminations

The Walsall Illuminations take place in Walsall Arboretum around 35 acres of lakes, trees and gardens. It is a family event with something for everyone. It is an annual autumn event and has over 250 illuminated features with scenes from children's favourite TV characters, musicians and dancers, clowns, jugglers, acrobats and more. The shrubs and tress in the rock garden are picked out with subtle lighting and many of the very large trees are floodlit in greens and purples. Across Hatherton Lake there is a laser and projection show with a mix of aerial beams and laser graphics. There are also children's rides.

Tim Ellis	Tim Ellis
Since around 1875 the centre green of Walsall Arboretum has been illuminated in these early days it was candles in glass jars and in 1892 fairy lamps were added to a grand floral display. However it only became an annual event in 1951 and over the years it has grown in size and moving with technology improvements has incorporated the latest light advances. In 1951 the illuminations included a fountain in the middle of the lake which threw 8 jets of water 25 feet in the air, an illuminated waterfall, garden lights on flowerbeds, the show used 3000 lamps and about 3 miles of cable. It only lasted for one week and attracted 200,000 visitors. Since then it has run annually the first year for 15 days and today it lasts for 5 weeks from end of September to beginning of November. There have only been two occasions when it has not run in 1998 when the lake flooded and in 2002 when storm force winds damaged trees and made the area unsafe. The route around the illuminations is about a mile and all pathways are flat. It is advised you take suitable clothing as there is limited shelter on site.	The Green Clock
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   Tim Ellis

Location: Walsall Illuminations, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall, Staffordshire Grid Reference: SP019990 Ceremonial County: Staffordshire Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Google Aerial Photo Getting there: Just outside Walsall town centre at the junction of A461 Lichfield Street and A4148 Broadway north. Access: All paths are tarmac's so no muddy grass areas. Park and ride is provided. Car park is free but there is a charge for the bus ride to the site, you can get a combined park and ride/entry ticket. See website for details. Website: www.walsall-lights.com Other Useful Websites: Email: boxoffice@walsall.gov.uk Address: Walsall Arboretum off Lichfield Street, Walsall Postcode: WS4 Telephone: 0845 111 2909 Opening Times: Vary depending on when you visit but the earliest is 6.30pm and last admission is 9.15pm, with the park closing 1 hour after last admission. See their website for full details. Charges: A range of prices apply - see their website for full details. Nearby Locations: Other Location Pages: Illuminated Events Notes: Wide range of refreshments available. No vehicles allowed in the park. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads at all times. Not taking place from 2009-2011 as the Arboretum is undergoing major refurbishment, they hope to return in the autumn of 2012.

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