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Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question or looking for some further info? Take a look through our most commonly asked questions and answers below.
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What is Wonderlights?Wonderlights is Ireland's largest and most mesmerising immersive light show experience. Since its inception in 2019 by Follow Fox Events, Wonderlights has transformed its host venues into dazzling landscapes with spectacular lighting displays and immersive projections. The experience is suitable for all ages and all trails are fully accessible. Each year brings new, inventive themes that weave together a magical tapestry of lights, colours, nature, and bespoke soothing sounds designed for each show. This enchanting spectacle provides a stunning backdrop of illuminated gardens and forest paths, featuring a blend of dynamic light installations, projections, interactive elements, and uniquely composed musical scores. Immerse yourself in an evening of wonder and joy, perfect for family outings, meet up's with friends, date nights, or group events. Wonderlights has recently won awards in the global Eventex Awards for 'Best Outdoor Event', 'Best Entertainment Event' and 'Best Community Engagement Event' - we are truly honoured to be recognised in such prestigious awards. Wonderlights is an enchanting evening spectacle for all the family, taking you on an awe-inspiring walking trail through illuminated trails The experience will captivate all ages - perfect for families, couples and friends. Guests can expect a magical mix of lights, colour, nature and sounds. Wonderlights brings each host venue alive with stunning lighting displays and immersive projections for all ages along a fully accessible trail. Featuring brand-new stunning displays that will leave you in awe, alongside some of our beloved classics that have captured hearts before, this experience has something for everyone. Ireland’s only multi-sensory outdoor trail, Wonderlights captures the imagination and safely transports guests into a world of wonder. Working with an international team of talented creatives to curate each spectacular show. Embracing state of the art technologies and dazzling displays Wonderlights continues to reach new heights for a best in class experience. Come outdoors this Winter and walk by night.. walk by Wonderlight!
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When will the event be on?Wonderlights is an evening event taking place from dusk onward on select dates throughout the winter season.
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Where is the event taking place?Wonderlights Malahide Castle will take place on select dates from November 7th 2024. Located on the grounds of the picturesque Malahide Castle and Gardens in Dublin. The venue is accessible by: Dart to Malahide Bus (route 47, H2) A 30 minute drive from Dublin City Free Parking available on site Wonderlights Marlay Park will take place on select dates from November 14th 2024 Located at the foothills of the Dublin mountains, just 9km from the city centre. The venue is accessible by: Bus ( Dublin Bus route 16 & 116) Taxi An 18 minute drive from Dublin City Paid parking available onsite - pre booking advised Wonderlights Fota House will take place on select dates from November 16th 2024 (pending licence) Located in the historic gardens and parklands of Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens The venue is accessible by: Train (a short walk away) A 20 minute drive from Cork City centre Parking available on site See our CONTACT US page for more
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How do I get there- Malahide Castle?Public Transport: -Get the Dart to Malahide -Get the 42 bus or H2 bus Drive - Free parking available Taxi + Bus Drop off + Collection Zone available
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How do I get there - Marlay Park?Public transport: -Bus ( Dublin Bus route 16 , 74 & 116) -Luas to Dundrum then a short taxi ride Taxi- An 18 minute drive from Dublin City. Taxi + bus drop off + collection zone available Drive- Paid parking available onsite - pre booking advised
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How do I get there - Fota House?Public transport: - Train to Fota station then a short walk to Fota House Drive- A 20 minute drive from Cork City centre. Paid Parking available on site - no pre-booking necessary, pay at barrier exit. Taxi + bus drop off + collection zone available (Pending license)
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Is there parking on site- Malahide?Yes there will be ample free parking available on site, please take care and drive slowly through the grounds.
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Is there parking on site- Marlay Park?Car Parking for Wonderlights at Marlay Park must be pre-booked online to guarantee availability. There are 2 car parks that will be open to our customers at different times. The car park you have access to depends on the Wonderlights session you are booked into: - Sessions up to and including 17:15: College Road Car Park - Sessions from 17:30 to and including 18:00 session: Grange Road Car Park - Sessions from 18:15 to and including 18:45 session: College Road Car Park - Sessions from 19:00 to close: Grange Road Car Park You may only arrive at the car park MAX 30 mins in advance of your session start time. Please pre-book your car park entry (€3) from our website before you arrive. Please note if you have not pre-booked, there may be limited parking available on the night, the cost will be €10 at the gate - this is not guaranteed so we strongly recommend pre-booking if you plan to drive to the event. The walk from the Grange Road Car Park is approx 2-3 mins to the entrance of Wonderlights. The walk from the College Road Car Park is approximately 10-12 minutes to the entrance of Wonderlights. If you have any concerns or for info on accessible parking, please contact our customer service team at tickets@wonderlights.ie who will be happy to help.
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Is there parking onsite- Fota House?There is parking available onsite for €3 per car. This is paid at the barrier and does not need to be pre-booked online. We would recommend driving past the first carpark to the lower car park for added convenience and a shorter walk. (Pending license)
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How much time should I put aside for my visit?We recommend putting aside at least 90 minutes to enjoy all that Wonderlights has to offer. Each trail slightly varies in length, you should complete in approx 60 minutes at a leisurely pace, there will be parts where you will stop to enjoy the sites and take photos. You are welcome to spend some time in our Alpine Food & Drinks Village pre or post experience, where we will have a selection of food trucks serving up hot food and drinks, festive treats and snacks. Feel free to stay as long as you please, before the closing time on the day of your visit.
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What is the light-up wristband?After great success in 2023 our dazzling interactive RFID light-up wristbands return for 2024! Every child's ticket comes with one so they become part of the show for an engaging experience. The wristbands react to the environment as you move through the trail, changing colours and flashing in time with the music at each set, adding an extra layer of excitement. child an active part of the experience. After your Wonderlights adventure, you can keep the wristband as a memento of your visit. Wristbands come as standard as part of a child’s ticket, but if you too want to join in the wristband fun, other ticket holders such as Adults, Students, OAP’s and free Infant ticket for U2’s can purchase a wristband for €3.
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Are there many exhibits on our walking route?Every few minutes along the route you will come across one of our lighting exhibits. They are spread throughout the route. Please note there are sections between these exhibits where guests will walk by festoon lighting only. This experience is a walking trail, lighting display and outdoor event after dark.
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Will there be anywhere to buy food or drinks?Yes - we will have our popular ‘Alpine Food & Drinks Village’ at each venue - make sure you stop by before or after your Wonderlights experience to grab a winter warmer, some hot food or a tasty festive treat.
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Can I cancel my booking?No, unfortunately tickets are non-refundable but are transferable to friends and family.
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Can I reschedule my booking?If you think you may need to change your booking date or time and want that flexibility please ensure you create an account at the time of booking. You can change your booking only once, up to 96 hours before your scheduled visit. There will be a €10 admin charge per booking to change your ticket to another date/time. If you haven’t created an account, please contact tickets@wonderlights.ie to set one up for you. If another suitable date or time is not available, we would advise you to transfer your tickets to friends or family, and make a new booking for yourself at a more suitable date.
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Can I add more guests to my booking?Simply make a second booking for the same time slot and you can all go together as one group.
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I made an error when booking?If you have selected the incorrect date/time for your booking you can alter this up to 96 prior to the event if you have selected to create an account at the time of booking. There is a fee of €10 per booking to make this change. If you did not create an account at the time of booking please get in touch with our customer service team at tickets@wonderlights.ie who will be able to set one up for you If you have selected the wrong venue please get in touch with our team on Tickets@wonderlights.ie, we will do our best to accommodate a change of venue, subject to availability.
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I haven’t received my ticket yet?When you complete your booking online, your ticket - which is an email containing a QR code - is automatically sent to the email address you input at the booking stage. Please also check your spam / junk folders before contacting us as sometimes the email goes in there. Don’t worry if you still can't find it, email tickets@wonderlights.ie and we will send it to you.
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What should I bring?Please ensure you bring your QR code ticket - you can show this on your phone which will be scanned upon entry (please ensure the brightness on your phone is turned up). Please bring weather appropriate clothes, you will be outdoors for the duration of the event, dress warm and waterproof if necessary. Umbrellas are welcome. Please read our terms & conditions for event safety information before your visit.
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How much are tickets?We offer 3 pricing tiers: (1) Preview (2) Off peak (3) Standard - with select dates and times available for each depending on your chosen venue. (1) PREVIEW RATE: - All ticket types €15 (plus booking fee of €1.95 per ticket applies - no booking fee for free infant tickets) We are offering a select number of preview tickets that will be available during the first week of the experience at each venue at the discounted price of €15 per person. Make the most of the discount and join us on these early dates to preview your chosen Wonderlights experience before everyone else. Preview tickets are limited and only available for selected dates and times. Please note the preview tickets cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or offers (including the priority early bird discount). Preview Times at Malahide Castle - Thursday 7th November - all entry times - Friday 8th November - all entry times - Saturday 9th November - for entry times between 7pm and 8pm - Sunday 10th November - for entry times between 7pm and 8pm Preview Times at Marlay Park - Thursday 14th November - all entry times - Friday 15th November - all entry times - Saturday 16th November - for entry times between 7pm and 8pm - Sunday 17th November - for entry times between 7pm and 8pm Preview Times at Fota House - Saturday 16th November - all entry times - Sunday 17th November - all entry times (2) OFF-PEAK RATE: - Adults: €23.50 (18 yrs and over) - Children: €21.50 (includes interactive RFID wristband) - Student: €19.50 (13 – 17 yrs, or 18+ with student ID required) - OAP: €19.50 (ID required) - Infants: (under 24 months) FREE (but must have a ticket) (Plus booking fee of €1.95 per ticket applies - no booking fee for free infant tickets) (3) STANDARD RATE: - Adults: €25.50 (18 yrs and over) - Children: €23.50 (includes interactive RFID wristband) - Student: €21.50 (13 – 17 yrs, or 18+ with student ID required) - OAP: €21.50 (ID required) - Infants: (under 24 months) FREE (but must have a ticket) (Plus booking fee of €1.95 per ticket applies - no booking fee for free infant tickets)
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Where can I buy tickets?Tickets are available through our website. Sign up to our priority list to be the first to hear any information about your chosen venue and receive an exclusive early bird offer for signing up.
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Do I need to pre-book tickets?Advance online booking is strongly advised as many popular timeslots sell out quickly. If there are tickets remaining they will be available to purchase at the gates on the night, but as this cannot be guaranteed, online booking is best to avoid disappointment.
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Why is there a booking fee?These are charges passed on to us by the bank for their services to process credit/debit card transactions, also for the installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software and all other costs associated with our ticketing system.
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Can I buy tickets as a gift for someone else?To gift someone a visit, please purchase their tickets via our website. Afterwards, if you would like to switch over the name on the booking and the email address so that any future correspondences will be sent to them then you can get in touch with our customer service team at tickets@wonderlights.ie. If the booked date and time does not suit, we will do our best to accommodate them on an alternative date & time of their choice where available. We do not offer gift vouchers unfortunately as this is a short-term event with limited capacity that can sell-out, so it is best to have a pre-booked date and time.
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What if the event is cancelled, how will I know?In the unlikely and unfortunate event that an event has to be cancelled, we will send you an email by 2PM on the day of your visit, we will also post on our social media pages. The event will only be cancelled if the weather in the location is perceived to be a danger to the public (e.g extremely high winds), or if there is a major failure in the electrics. Please check your emails before you make your way to the venue. The event will be cancelled when: – The weather at the venue is perceived to be a danger to the public due to very high winds – There is a major fault in the electric system The event will NOT be cancelled when: – There is heavy rain, snow or very cold weather at the venue, please wrap up and wear warm, appropriate clothing – There is heavy rain or snow in another part of the country – we advise visitors to take note of weather conditions for their journey and allow ample time to get here A decision will be made by 2pm on the day and visitors for the day will be contacted by email and a message will go out on all our social media platforms advising any cancellations due to weather
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What happens if there are any technical faults or severe weather conditions?The organisers of the event will do everything in their power to ensure the smooth running of the event. In the unlikely event of something going wrong out of our control, we will facilitate, in the best possible manner, to deliver the event as close as possible to the organised event plan.
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Is there accommodation on site?There is no accommodation available on site unfortunately but we recommend the following hotels near by: Malahide Castle The Grand Hotel Malahide 4 minute drive Portmarnock Hotel 8 minute drive The Clayton Hotel 16 minute drive Clontarf Castle Hotel 20 minute drive Carlton Hotel 15 minute drive Marlay Park Clayton Hotel Leopardstown 10 minute drive Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel 17 minute drive Talbot Hotel Stillorgan 18 minute Drive Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge 20 minute drive Fota House- Cork Fota Island Hotel & Spa A short walk Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Cork A 12 minute drive Midleton Park Hotel A 14 minute drive Clayton Hotel Silver Springs A 16 minute drive Castlemartyr Resort A 23 minute drive
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Can I take photos?Yes, we encourage you to take lots of photos. Photographers are also welcome for non-commercial shoots. If you wish to bring a tripod, please be considerate to other guests, not blocking the pathways. Please take note of venue opening and closing times. Drones are not permitted. For enquiries for commercial shoots, please email tickets@wonderlights.ie
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Can I bring my dog?Although we would love you to have your 4 legged friends join you, dogs are not permitted in the walled garden and inner castle grounds. We ask that you please leave your dogs at home for this one. Guide dogs are welcome.
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FeedbackThankfully the majority of our customer experiences are very positive. However, we welcome all types of feedback – we strive to be the best we can be, but we may make mistakes, we are human too. We are here to listen to you to better ourselves and try to create the best possible experience. We would expect and appreciate you giving us the opportunity to do so. Please contact us directly should you have any issues. Remember people can have varying opinions and expectations. Please take time to read our FAQs before your visit. Please note: We do not expect to agree with all comments. We will listen and take your feedback on board – this is how we learn. We encourage all feedback once it is balanced, constructive and fair. We cannot accept rude or personal comments or those of a defamatory nature. The best way to send feedback is to email it to tickets@wonderlights.ie. We kindly ask for your patience during our busiest times.
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Is the event wheelchair accessibleThe event has been designed to cater for all ages and abilities and the paths are deemed to be suitable for MOST wheelchairs. If you have any specific questions to help you assess whether it is suited to your specific needs, please get in touch directly at tickets@wonderlights.ie If you are in any doubt we can arrange a site visit for you to make a call on it.
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Can I bring a buggy?Yes, you are welcome to bring buggies along. The paths are deemed suitable for most prams.
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Special Needs – EpilepsyThe event has been designed to cater for all members of society, of all ages and abilities. Our trails are wheelchair and pram friendly. However, care should be taken whilst navigating the route. We would advise that young children be supervised at all times because of the nature of this outdoor event. If you have any questions or specific special requirements, please get in touch directly at tickets@wonderlights.ie and a member of our team would be happy to help.
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Is the event suitable for children / infants / elderly / people with disability or special needs?The event has been designed to cater for all members of society, of all ages and abilities. Our trails are wheelchair and pram friendly. However, care should be taken whilst navigating the route. We would advise that young children be supervised at all times because of the nature of this outdoor event. If you have any questions or specific special requirements, please get in touch directly at tickets@wonderlights.ie and a member of our team would be happy to help.
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Do you offer discounts for carers?Visitors with special needs may admit one accompanying carer free of charge. Please note booking a carer is not a confirmed ticket - proof will be required on the day of your visit to gain entry. Please bring documentation or ID which confirms the visitor is unable to visit independently without the aid of a carer. We have a limited number of carer tickets for each session and they will be available on a first come first served basis. If you have any queries about this you can get in touch with us at tickets@wonderlights.ie
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Can I host an event at Wonderlights?We welcome all kinds of events. From birthday parties to large corporate groups, community and charity groups. For groups of 50+ please get in touch with us directly at corporate@wonderlights.ie and a member of the team will get back to you shortly. We have lots of flexible booking options to make it super easy on the organiser.
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Can I make a large group booking?You are welcome to book in a large group online. If you are a group of 50+ and would like to find out more about our group and corporate packages, pay by invoice, or require flexible booking options - please contact us directly on corporate@wonderlights.ie. We welcome groups of all sizes and can cater for exclusive events and anytime-use flexi ticket options.
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Sponsorship EnquiriesPlease email corporate@wonderlights.ie for details on sponsorship options.
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Food VendorsIf you are interested in trading at Wonderlights, please email us with details of your offering to tickets@wonderlights.ie
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ArtistsWe are always on the look out for new talent and installations for our new shows - please email details to corporate@wonderlights.ie
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