Glow takes over Cork's Bishop Lucey Park as Santa’s elves lead the Christmas build up
Cork City has, once again, been transformed into a winter wonderland courtesy of the annual Glow festival, attracting little elves and angels, and their parents, from far and wide.
“I think it’s fabulous. The snow machine makes it very real and the lights are lovely. It’s brilliant to have a place like this at Christmas for the kids. It’s great, they love it,” said Michelle Murphy from Mahon who was one of the first parents through the gates this year.
She was accompanied by her children Shay, 4, Abi, 7, and Chloe, 11, and their grandmother Angela O’Leary.
“I think it’s fantastic for children, it’s magical really,” said Angela, with four-year-old Shay nodding his head in agreement.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Shay has been to Glow — last year he particularly liked Mr Potato head, we’re told, and this year the giant monkey is his favourite. His sister Abi has a different highlight — she said it was fun sending a letter to Santa using the elaborate contraption at the entrance.
The annual festival, which opened yesterday and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December 20, includes a 30m-high giant ferris wheel, a vintage carousel, a myriad of crafts and food stalls, and an interactive experience in Bishop Lucey Park.
Titled Santa’s Workshop, the park event is free — children can play with various moving woodcuts, post their letters to Santa, let loose giant, festive jack in the boxes, and get their picture taken on the Glow train or on Santa’s special rocket.
“Apart from the big moon, which we had last year, everything is new. If we had the same stuff as last year people would notice. People are coming in especially to see it so we wanted to give them a new experience,” said Mike Leahy, artistic director for Spraoi, the company behind Glow’s park experience.
“There were 80,000 through the park last year so, weather permitting, hopefully we’ll get a good run again this year and people will enjoy it. It’s kind of aimed at kids, but you’ll find maybe 60% of the people that come through are adults so we have to try and entertain them as well.”
Mike has been planning Santa’s Workshop since the summer and has been overseeing the creation of the different attractions for the last eight weeks. His team entered the park on Thursday and managed to put everything together in little more than a day.
“It’s been Christmas for me for the last three months,” he jokes.
“But in all seriousness, anything that draws people into towns these days is a good thing. And this event in particular, it’s free. Of course you can buy something at the market or pay to go up on the wheel, but Bishop Lucey Park is totally free so whether you’re a millionaire or a pauper you get the same experience. I like that.”
In addition to the Glow festival, which draws an estimated 170,000 people into the city, the Sugar Cube on Grand Parade will, between December 4 and 6, turn into a Santa’s Grotto with a twist.
Instead of receiving a gift, children will be invited to bring a toy, food or basic toiletries so that Santa can pass the parcel on to a less fortunate child.
The generous children, who will obviously go straight to to top of the nice list, will also have the chance to talk to the big man himself and tell him what they want for Christmas.
For more details on all to see and do in Cork this Christmas, go to www.GlowCork.ie.
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