Home in the World

Last Updated on February 10, 2024 by Home in the World

Things always seem to spin just that little bit faster in the last quarter of the year, and 2022 has been no different. Suddenly we’re two days out from Christmas. High time to soak up some of the festive vibe in the city!

This year, the City of Perth, with sponsorship from Rio Tinto and Lotterywest, has once again put on a literally dazzling show across a 6-km-area of the downtown area – a wide variety of quirky installations, plus vivid light projections on iconic buildings running from 7.45 p.m. to midnight. The Christmas Lights Trail is split into two sub-trails: the North Trail and the South Trail.

I tried to catch as many of the installations as I could, taking advantage of the fact that parking in the city is free after 6pm. They were all within a pretty easy walking distance, and were also accessible for those in wheelchairs, using prams etc. I downloaded the Perth Trails app (available on iOS and Android), which is extremely user-friendly and helped a lot with navigating my way around. I’ve actually now kept it on my phone, as it has a lot of other interesting trails around Perth too – so not just something for Christmas time. There’s definitely potential in there for another blog post or two!

NORTH TRAIL

The North Trail starts in Northbridge, heads over the railway line to Yagan Square and is then primarily concentrated around the Murray Street Mall, Forrest Place and cluster near the junction of Wellington Street and William Street. I only got to the city-side installations, but what I did see was impressive indeed.

SOUTH TRAIL

The South Trail includes the Hay Street Mall, Cathedral Square & Council House, Barrack Square and Elizabeth Quay. I started at the western end of Hay Street, taking in more of the fun displays along the mall and its laneways, before admiring the fairy lights at the Perth City Library, the projections & animations on St George’s Cathedral and Council House and the dazzling recreation of the Perth skyline outside the Bell Tower.

OTHER SPARKLES

But it’s not just the official Christmas Lights trail that will bedazzle you as you wander the streets of Perth’s CBD. Many office blocks have stunning decorations of their own in their lobbies, and some buildings like His Majesty’s Theatre have donned their own festive façades. So don’t hesitate to ‘stray’ off the trail and see what else you can discover.

And if you can’t make it into the city before 25 December, don’t worry; the lights will remain up until 2 January, so you can prolong the Christmas magic a little longer. Those of you on Instagram may also want to check out the little reel I made of the Christmas Lights Trail here.

Wishing a wonderful festive season to everyone celebrating, and thinking of those for whom this time of year is difficult. Here’s hoping 2023 is a happy and healthy year for the world.