Infinite Energy Light Up Winter is a free family event in Cromwell next month set to banish the winter blues with bumper light demonstrations and a new temporary ice-skating rink. 

The night’s activities are live entertainment, street food stalls, night market, mass lantern release, light up your hat competition, curling and ice-skating. 

New this year will be light demonstrations by Tūhura Otago Museum and the Dodd-Walls Centre.

Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group marketing and communications manager Marion Low said the 2022 event was going to be as bright as ever.

Marion said they were hoping for 1000 lanterns to light up the night: the breathtaking highlight of the whole event.

“[It is a] magical moment when the crowd falls silent as all the lanterns drift into the sky.”

To keep everyone warm there is a craft cave for younger visitors where they can snuggle up with a book, and for adults mulled wine will be available. 

This year the event has moved from the mall and will take place at Cromwell's Big Fruit Reserve.

Tickets for ice skating go on sale on June 1, and sessions can be booked from July 8-14. The celebrations are on Saturday July 9, from 4.30 - 8.30pm. 

Light Up Winter started in 2017 and has grown into a bigger and brighter community focussed event every year since. .

Organised by Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group, the event requires the support of community volunteers and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Around 100 people need to help to set up, pack down and also assist on the night. There are a great variety of jobs from helping to decorate to manning stalls. People can volunteer as little as one hour of their time. 

If you’d like to help please contact [email protected]

The Central App is a sponsor this year and is running a 'Shop & Win' competition together with participating retailers in the Cromwell Mall. To enter you need to shop at the mall during the month of June and scan a QR code that will be displayed in stores.

See our new section in The Central App for information about the chance to win a Winter VIP experience and other great prizes.

Click our Shop n Win button on the app to enter!