Bull in a lantern shop

Having powered Weli Creative’s Magical Lantern Festival to phenomenal success in February, Midas turned it on in two locations this winter.

In Birmingham Botanical Gardens from November 16 to the first week of January 17, the Festival featured a trail of giant festive lanterns, Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees and penguins among them, highlights from London and elements built specifically for the Magic City, including a 3.5m Bullring Bull.

“Everything was created with a real wow-factor and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens was the perfect backdrop for these visually stunning lanterns,” Event Director, Naz Kabir said.

Magical Lantern’s sophomore year in the capital opens on February 7 and celebrates the Chinese Year of the Rooster to the theme ‘Explore the Silk Road’. Beginning with a 15m wide Houses of Parliament lantern, it promises a unique journey along the trade and culture route from Europe to Ancient China.

“Taking the Magical Lantern Festival to Birmingham was testament to its success in the south,” Dave Noble, Midas’ Managing Director, says. “The site is very different from Chiswick Park obviously, but we followed a similar power principle, ‘tune in, turn on and leave no trace’ and it went very well. 

“The London-leg has grown, but everyone is familiar with the method, and the space, now, so I’m predicting even more success. It’s great to see venturesome events like these thriving out of the traditional season and it’s a real pleasure to be involved.”