Lights, laughter and a whole lot of sparkle — our sixth year at Nutley Farm

This year marked our sixth season delivering full technical production at Nutley Farm’s Christmas Lights & Reindeer Experience — and what a run it’s been. From initial concept and site-wide design to the long nights of installation and the on-the-fly maintenance that keeps everything glowing, we’re proud to have played a big part in making Nutley Farm one of Dorset’s must-visit festive attractions.

Making the magic happen (the technical side)

Working across the entire site, our brief is always the same: make it reliable, make it beautiful, and make it interactive. That means planning power distribution and cable runs that can cope with the sheer scale of the display, creating lighting designs that guide visitors through the trail, and maintaining the systems every night so nothing lets the show down.

This year we pushed the envelope with a record number of lights across the trail and festive area, and introduced more of our new LEDJ Spectra Flood Q40 washes in several key locations for big, even washes of colour that really bring the trees and set pieces to life. Those fixtures give us punchy output, fast colour mixing and excellent consistency across long runs — perfect for large outdoor displays.

We also brought more interactivity to the experience. Using our own sensor networks and push-button stations, we rolled out interactive elements that let families trigger light sequences and surprise moments as they moved through the trail. Those moments — a short burst of colour, a dancing wash, or a little animated sequence — are small, memorable delights for kids (and adults) and help keep the trail feeling fresh every time you walk it.

Design, installation and 24/7 maintenance

A site like Nutley Farm needs careful choreography. Our team worked from the ground up: survey and design, specifying fixtures and power, coordinating with other suppliers and traders, then installing and commissioning the whole system. Once open, we ran nightly maintenance and fault-finding patrols so guests only saw the show, not the behind-the-scenes running.

Because the site is large and busy, resilience was key: redundant power feeds, weatherproof distribution, and clear labelling meant our engineers could diagnose any issue quickly and get lights back on without disrupting visitors.

What visitors love about Nutley Farm

Nutley Farm’s Christmas Lights & Reindeer Experience has become a real Dorset favourite — a family-friendly trail and festive experience that attracts visitors across the South West. The organisers say they “add something new each year” and work hard to make the event bigger and more magical season after season.

Local reviews regularly praise the warm, authentic feel of the trail — visitors comment on the low light pollution of the rural setting and how the trail can feel a bit like Lapland, thanks to the extensive displays and immersive scenes. That atmosphere is exactly what our lighting and interactive design aim to enhance.

Community and charity — a festive partnership

Nutley Farm’s Christmas event is about more than lights. It’s a fundraising fixture too: the event has raised considerable sums for local causes over the years, and continues to support organisations such as the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. The community impact of the event is one reason the trail draws so many local families each season.

A few highlights from this year

• Rolling in dozens more LED fixtures (including the LEDJ Spectra Flood Q40s) for consistent, powerful washes across the woodland and main displays.

• Deploying our sensor-triggered interactive stations and push buttons so guests can actively participate in short light shows along the trail.

• Delivering a robust power and distribution plan that kept the entire site running smoothly for every night of the season.

  
  

Behind the scenes — why scale matters

Large outdoor festive events demand engineering discipline. Weatherproofing, spares planning, scheduled maintenance windows and a clear communications chain between event control and technical teams are non-negotiable. Our experience at Nutley Farm — six years and counting — means we can anticipate common issues and resolve them quickly, keeping the visitor experience uninterrupted.

Thanks — and see you next year

A huge thank you to the Nutley Farm team for trusting us with the technical production once again, and to the volunteers, traders and guests who make the trail what it is. We love being part of a project that brings so much joy to families and does good for the community at the same time. Nutley Farm keeps getting bigger and better each year; tickets are in high demand, so it’s no surprise the event often sells out for popular dates.

If you’re planning a large festive display, an outdoor event or need a technical partner who handles everything from design to maintenance, drop us a line — we’d love to help make your next event shine.