For the fifth year running, Adelaide has been transformed into a wonderland of light, sound and dreamy visions thanks to Illuminate Adelaide.

The team behind this winter festival have once again pulled together an array of talented artists, innovators and technology experts to transform the cultural centre of Adelaide into an absolute wonderland of light and music that brings joy to visitors of all ages.

North Terrace is the perfect promenade to view the spectacle, with some of Adelaide’s most historic and impressive buildings being used as backdrops to epic projections.

Incredibly even Government House is included this year, with the gates of this normally off limits building, open to the public for a viewing from the garden of a dizzying display of art projected across the entire building. Called a path of light and time, this mesmerising monochrome geometric light show was created by Spanish artist Javier Riera.

Another huge scale projection story is ‘I give you a mountain’ by Scottish artist Joan Ross, which covers the façade of the Art Gallery of SA. The animation explores the Leverian Museum which houses items sourced on voyages by Captain James Cook in a collage of pictures that looks at the impact of colonialism on our planet.

MoonGarden is a garden of 19 spheres that invite you to dream as you wander through these domes of various sizes and see the interplay of light and shadow. They make excellent backdrops for silhouette photos. This installation is by Canadian artist Lucion.

Dotted around the precinct you’ll also find some fun illuminated neon benches that you can actually use. This installation called …please have a seat, is by German artist lichtbankobjekte by M+V.

One of the displays that has us completely mesmerised was Mycelium Network by Custom Fibre Optics UK. This is an incredible dazzling fibre optic artwork which emanates from the base of a giant fig tree and spreads from there, depicting the unseen world that sustains ecosystems. It is absolutely wonderful and allows you to imagine the complete root systems of the tree and plants within the surrounding garden, right down to fibre optic mushrooms.

A popular exhibit was Voices, by South Australian creative studio Pulsing Heart, which is an interactive display where visitors are encouraged to spin the 50 tubes, which bring the light and sound sculpture to life. With all of the tubes spinning, the sound of the Sydney Philharmonic Choirs echo through the streets.

As well as all this, there are also some interactive displays, roaming illuminated angels, open fires set up in the city streets and a hub called Base Camp, where you can rest a while and purchase food and drinks to enjoy while sitting around open outdoor fire pits.

A terrific bonus for those who are RAA members, if you show your membership card or App, you have access into the RAA Lounge, a bar in a clear marquee that is heated and furnished with comfy couches and other sitting areas. Not only that, your first drink, with choices including beer, wine, soft drinks and even gins, is on the house! Now that’s something to love.

All of this, and I’ve only scraped the surface of the entertainment on offer from now until the 20^th of July. Grab your warmest coat, beanie and scarf and head into the city while it’s on. Full details of the program with both free and paid events, is on the Illuminate Adelaide website.

We stayed in the city at the Majestic Rooftop Garden Hotel which was in the perfect location on Frome Street, for what we wanted to see on North Terrace and Rundle Street in Adelaide. The room was very comfortable and had views to the east and a couple of spectacular sunrises.

The rooftop garden is on level 7 of the hotel and guests are welcome to go there and take their own drinks and food to enjoy the views. We did just that by paying a visit to Adelaide Central Market first, to pick up some delicious produce for a charcuterie platter.

Enjoy the light and friendly ambiance of this festival,

Cheers,

Glenys