Know Before You Go for 2025

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Nau mai Haere Mai Welcome to a fairyland of 350,000+ sparkling lights that envelope a lakeside walkway to a trail surrounded by 60 light displays. 

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There's diving penguins, jumping fish, spurting whales and a host of colourful sea creatures amid thousands of dancing fairy lights  animated precisely to music.

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 The Glow Zone playground in the Exhibition Hall hosts glow hula hoops, quoits, hop scotch, 4 square, sensory bubble tubes, a pirate cove and glow in the dark face painting by world reknown body paint artist Cherie Meerlo.

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Join the countdown when the lights turn on at 9.00pm (after dark) and the wonder begins. We're open every night, rain or shine. Our last night is Sunday 5 January 2026.

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New Year's Eve Tue 31 Dec Pulse Classic Hits Band will be playing party anthems from 8.30pm and our spectacular earlybird new year’s fireworks display for kiddies is at 9.45pm. Gates open at the earlier time of 8pm and we closed at 11pm on New Year’s Eve.

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Parking onsite is free. Entry Gate 3 Kenilworth Rd Gate 4 Karamu Rd/24 SH51,  Hastings. Cash, eftpos, paywave & credit cards okay. 31 Dec parking only. 8pm to 9.30pm. Gate 1 will open, Kenilworth Rd cul de sac near railway lines. Online tickets only entry at Gate 1. Park behind the grandstand. Exit Gate 13 to Elwood Rd. This suits seniors. Visitors welcome to bring picnics, own food & fold chairs. Find a spot to view stage & fireworks, set up your base camp for the night and go exploring the lights anytime after dark. Check our facebbok page for latest updates for New Year's Eve onwards.

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Toilets at the entry/exit gate & behind the Exhibition Hall.

Late night Bites food court is located outdoors beside the Exhibition Hall. 

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Funded by Hastings District Council. Thanks to Clubs Hastings and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc for providing support services. We raised $30,000 selling candyfloss and toffee apples during the year and retail fireworks at Guy Fawke's.

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Happy holidays!