The group behind a drive-through light show planned for Ogden Point in Victoria last Christmas has shifted it to the Cowichan Valley, starting next week.
Island Wonderland, to be held at Cowichan Exhibition Park Dec. 15-31, is billed as an immersive, outdoor walk-through show and display featuring atmospheric sounds, lasers, holographic displays that are manipulated as people walk through them, and projection mapping that turns objects into video displays.
Participants go through five zones following a wolf guide.
Last year’s Ogden Point event, intended to be contact-free due to the pandemic, quickly sold out its 8,000 tickets, but was cancelled due to lack of certainty about whether public health orders would allow it to go ahead.
Ticketholders had the option of getting a refund or allowing their money to fund the next event. Those who chose the latter option were given discounted tickets for this year.
“It’s not just a typical display of a whole bunch of Christmas lights,” said Graham Meckling, one of the founding producers, noting their goal is to produce something uplifting.
Meckling said many of the themes displayed through the event are in tune with the West Coast.
Six 30-minute shows will run daily. Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors, and $12 for children ages six to 12.
Tickets can be purchased online at Islandwonderland.ca.
Cowichan Exhibition Park is at 7380 Trans Canada Highway, north of Duncan.
