The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland will mark its 25th anniversary with an extended after-dark celebration from October 2-4, featuring live music, fairground rides, fire jugglers, LED performers and a fireworks display.
Milestone celebrations at the Grand Cascade
The attraction, originally the vision of the Duchess of Northumberland, has become a major visitor favourite, known for its dramatic water cascades, the Lilidorei fantasy play village and the creative Poison Garden. For the anniversary weekend, its grounds will be transformed with entertainment set against the darkening sky.
Pyrotechnic experts behind the renowned firework finales at Kynren - the outdoor theatre attraction in County Durham - have been enlisted to create a dazzling spectacle. The display will be part of a striking water show at the central Grand Cascade, which will also include lights and lasers.
Food, history and family fun
Food and drink vendors will be set up across the garden, serving pizza, hot dogs, waffles and Pimm's during the long weekend. In front of the waterfalls, a giant screen will stream previously unseen footage from the garden's creation, showing how the attraction came into being.
Mark Brassell, chief executive officer of The Alnwick Garden, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating 25 years of The Alnwick Garden and it has been a pleasure to revisit the history of the garden and how we got to where we are today. Over the past year, we’ve heard from former colleagues and friends of the garden, from those who were there when the doors first opened to the teams who helped make much-loved attractions like the Poison Garden and Lilidorei a reality."
Tickets and additional attractions
Children's attractions will include performances, storytelling, games and a bubbleologist. Mark said the celebration will have something for everyone, adding: "Marking a quarter of a century is a momentous occasion which deserves a celebration to match and I believe the team have outdone themselves with our anniversary weekend."
Tickets for the event are on sale now. Day tickets include access to the evening entertainment, while separate tickets for entry from 5pm are also available. Up to four children under 16 can be admitted free with every paying adult. All-day tickets cost £19.70 and allow entry from 10am (a fifth child would cost £6.90), while evening-only tickets cost £11.
The Alnwick Garden has also announced the return of a Winter Light Trail from November 20, as well as a Father Christmas grotto at Lilidorei, which will be adorned with festive decorations and enveloped by 1,500 Christmas trees from earlier in that month. The anniversary event runs until 8.15pm each evening.
