Photo Credit: Tom Stovall
After nearly two years of planning, NOVA Parks in Virginia opened the Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in 2012. As one of NOVA Parks’ premier destinations, the stakes were high. Considerable knowledge was in place from the long-running Bull Run Festival of Lights, another popular NOVA Parks attraction. But there were important differences. Foremost among those is that Bull Run is a drive-thru show. Meadowlark is a pedestrian experience, where visitors are in close contact with each other and the exhibits. Moreover, Meadowlark is a public botanical garden, so the theming and aesthetic content had to be seamless.
Hire The Right Consultants
Launching a light show requires expertise and design experience. The initial consultant was able to combine design layout and forecast electrical needs with staff input. What emerged was a page-by-page planning guide that provided distinct visual interpretations of the one kilometer (.6 of a mile) walk. This was a true “living document” for nearly 12 months as staff members and consultants worked out details of the physical plant and operations. This was a learning experience and collaboration was essential. That said, the park administrative team drove the process. A consultant must understand a particular site’s capacity for exhibits, power, and ultimately visitor flow—all issues the park staff should know in detail.
In moving through the planning process, operational priorities began to emerge. One of the greatest challenges was installation, which can be all-consuming the first year. On average, the installation time is about three months. The consultants must be engaged in this crucial stage as each exhibit will be placed and secured. In addition, many exhibits are software-driven and may require programming. Music often accompanies more complex exhibits; programming synchronization takes time and expertise. Over time, staff members may grow into managing some of these functions, but it’s the consultants who will ensure things are fine-tuned. This entire process brings considerable industry into a park. As a public garden, there is a focus on creating a peaceful, beautiful space; the light show installation compromises that goal, but surprisingly few complaints were received.