Longleat has lifted the curtain on the craftsmanship behind its much-loved Festival of Light, revealing the sheer skill, patience and artistry that go into bringing its festive lantern trail to life. This year’s celebration turns its attention to British Icons, with Wallace & Gromit taking centre-stage alongside classic scenes from across the nation.
Fresh images and video released by the estate show everything from hand-painted silk to sculpted metal frames, with design lead Daisy Mercedes guiding viewers through the long creative process.
“There is so much time, work and incredible energy that goes into creating The Festival of Light,” she said. “We’ve been developing this design for over a year, from early sketches and structural checks right through to fabrication.”
Among the most striking creations is the famous rocket from A Grand Day Out. Built from the ground up, the piece took four weeks to construct even before any design time was added, giving a sense of the scale and detail involved.
Scott Ashman, Longleat’s Head of Operations, said the estate was especially proud of this year’s partnership.
“We’ve had this event since 2014, and this year is particularly exciting as we’re bringing together two national treasures – Longleat and Aardman. Being able to showcase Wallace and Gromit, Feathers McGraw and many more in lantern form, and set them alongside scenes inspired by British Icons like London’s streets, is a real treat.”
Once designs are signed off, each lantern begins life as a metal structure before silk is stretched and shaped around it. Where the silk isn’t printed, artists hand-paint every detail, from feathers to facial expressions.
Capturing Aardman’s unmistakable style proved a welcome challenge.
“When working with Aardman, it’s all about getting those expressions right,” said Daisy. “You want people to recognise the characters instantly, even when they’re static.”
Aardman co-founder Peter Lord said seeing the finished lanterns in person was extraordinary.
“I’d seen photographs before our visits, but seeing them for real is amazing. I’m incredibly impressed by the artists and craftspeople who have created these extraordinary lanterns.”
Visitors can enjoy Longleat by day before watching the lantern trail glow into life as evening settles. Day Tickets and Non-Safari Day Tickets remain available on selected dates until 11 January 2026 via longleat.co.uk.
