We are celebrating our 20th anniversary in November this year.
In the lead-up to our anniversary in November, we'll be looking back at where it all started, the early years of producing local events in and around Northumberland, and the first time we were invited to meet the team at Kew. We'll also be spotlighting some of our favourite events that we have worked on over the years; and the incredible artists, venues, and creatives who work with us and make it happen.
Queen of Culture
To kick off our blog, here's a great round-up, summed up by Caroline Clift talking to Zoe in Stand Out Magazine.
Culture Creative began as a small events company with offices in Alnwick. At the start, we worked closely with Northumberland Council and One North East but, very quickly, we started to grow, and in partnership with other organisations began producing our own events.
The pivotal moment for Culture Creative came in 2013, when the first ever Christmas at Kew opened. This event, which has been running for over 12 years, spearheaded the creation of our other light trails in Botanic Gardens across the world, including Chicago Botanic Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne.
Christmas at Kew continues to trailblaze our festive season in the UK, with all our other trails opening within a few days of our flagship event in Kew Gardens.
At the heart of the trail has always been the iconic Palm House show.
Here’s a snapshot of how it has developed each year.
Kew 2013-2024 Photo credits Rikard Osterlund, Geraint Lewis, Sony Music
This year’s Christmas at Kew dates are 14 November to 4 January 2026. This year, in preparation for the Palm House’s refurbishment which starts in 2027, the Palm House will play a supporting role, with all eyes and lights turned towards the Museum No 1 at the opposite end of the Palm House Pond. There we will celebrate the story of Christmas using images of festive plants, herbs, spices, and fruits chosen from Kew’s world-renowned collection. All of which play a special part in everyone's Christmas.
Key to being leaders in the creation of light trails worldwide, is having great relationships with our suppliers. With White Light this goes way back to 2005 when they supplied equipment for one of our very first lighting events - Northumberland Lights. Now, 20 years on, they still continue to be one of our main suppliers in the UK, supporting our ambition, listening to our need to balance creative intent with ecological responsibility, and rising to the logistical challenge of moving thousands of lighting fixtures across multiple sites in a matter of weeks.
Understanding our ambition...
Tony Simpson, our Head of Lighting, explains why our relationship with White Light is built on more than just equipment.
Tony Simpson
"Our trails are about more than just lighting trees.
They’re about creating moments, whether that’s the quiet magic of a winter woodland or the eerie tension of a haunted graveyard. Every fixture, every angle, every colour choice is deliberate."
