14 Aug 2020

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Christchurch residents are being asked their thoughts on CHCH is LIT – a new outdoor lighting festival that ran in the central city and New Brighton in July.

Christchurch City Council wants to grow the event, which was put together this year by the Events and Enliven places teams to help fill the gap created with the postponement of this year’s Botanic D’Lights Tirama.

“We’re keen to know how happy people were with the event and what we can do to build on it. This year the event was created as a passive lighting experience that could proceed even if there were restrictions on mass gatherings because of COVID-19,” Christchurch City Council Events and Arts Manager Lucy Blackmore says.

“Next year we plan on running CHCH is LIT again in the central city and New Brighton, with more significant lighting installations, entertainment and activations. This is a permanent move away from holding Botanic D’Lights in the Botanic Gardens and is part of the Council’s refreshed public events programme.”

While the event is not being held in the gardens, the area will still have lighting that will be showcased as part of CHCH is LIT.

CHCH is LIT will be held annually, but will be of a larger scale every second year as it is replacing Botanic D’Lights which had been held biennially. The lighting experience is one of several events the Council has planned for winter, with others including Kids Fest and New Brighton Fireworks Spectacular – which has moved from November to July.

Ms Blackmore says there are real benefits to running a lighting event in the city or New Brighton, where people can support businesses by shopping or going out for a drink or meal while out enjoying the installations.

“The event will run for longer than Botanic D’Lights did, meaning people will be able to come more than once to enjoy the lights. Or spend one evening in the central city and another out in New Brighton.”

It is also hoped the move to the central city and New Brighton will help alleviate congestion issues that occurred when Botanic D’Lights ran in the Botanic Gardens.

Feedback is being collected via an online survey until Friday 21 August, with random $50 Westfield vouchers being given out to participants.