Light show switches to tickets

TICKETS must now be booked to attend the highly anticipated Awaken – Bendigo brought to light show at Rosalind Park, opening this Saturday.

Available now, entry passes to the free event are due to COVID-19 requirements according to manager of tourism and major events at the City of Greater Bendigo Terry Karamaloudis.

“We anticipate that Awaken is going to be a hugely popular event not only for residents but also for visitors from Melbourne and elsewhere,” he said.

“Our priority is to run a COVID safe event and ticketing the event will allow us to manage numbers safely.

“It is still a free event that will take place during the school holidays and I encourage residents to take advantage of booking sessions during the week to get the best experience and not miss out.”

Mr Karamaloudis suggested locals should check out the display on weeknights to avoid tourists expected to attend on the weekends.

“By attending during the week, it helps to ensure sessions are evenly booked over the event’s three-week run and reduce disappointment, particularly during weekends when visitors from Melbourne and elsewhere will be keen to visit and stay.”

Other COVID safe event measures include the installation of fencing around the park with a single entry and exit point where attendees must check in using QR codes.

The park will still be accessible as normal until 5pm each night of the show.

Awaken includes 13 installations created by Laservision, an Australian based company creating sensory experiences in locations across the globe including shows for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

As well as lighting up the dark nights, Mr Karamaloudis said the show will educate people on Bendigo’s vast history dating back to its traditional owners as well as the flora and fauna found at the park.

“The trees will actually talk to you and they will tell you the story of the actual structure so the botanical nature of the tree, its purpose, what it does for the environment,” he said.

“The Bendigo Creek bed, in my personal view is going to be the absolute highlight of Awaken where the creek bed is going to be turned into a flowing river using laser lights.

“The laser light projections off the top of the poppet head, I think you’ll be able to see those from almost anywhere north, south, east or west, wherever you are in Greater Bendigo because they will reach up a significant distance into the sky.”

To book tickets or for more information on the event including a map and FAQs visit bit.ly/3zdgVoJ.