I visited Land of Lights which is back at Gulliver’s Valley for second year - and I was blown away
Land of Lights returns with grand opening and appearance from young Maltby fundraiser, Noah Playforth
For the second-year running the fantastic lantern festival has returned to Gulliver’s Valley.
This year the festival was opened by super fundraiser Noah Playforth, from Maltby, who helped raise more than £50,000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
Noah set out to raise £1,000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice by running a mile a day in November last year. He was just seven years old when his videos went viral on social media and was even picked up by ITV’s This Morning.
By December 2025 he had raised more than £50,000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and this year he was shortlisted in the national JustGiving awards 2026.
Land of Lights is a family-friendly one-mile route, that takes you through dreamlands featuring dinosaurs and giant doughnuts. There is also music, entertainment and stops for hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
The festival is very much aimed at families with children, so I went with 3 friends to see if it would be something we could enjoy. As we went through the doors to start the trail my friend, Deborah, turned to me and said: “This would be so cute for a first date.” She wasn’t wrong.
You could easily be mistaken in thinking that this was a Christmas trail because of the time of year but apart from one section at the end there wasn’t a reindeer in sight. So if you’re someone who wants to leave your festive activities until December you’re safe here.
The lanterns were so impressive. They were intricate and detailed and looked amazing against the dark night. There were also loads of them. The whole trail was packed and I didn’t feel like I was walking ages to see the next ones.
Accessibility wise, my friend uses a mobility walker and she commented on the wide paths and how accessible the park was. Buggies and families could all manoeuvre around each other with ease and no one got stuck behind anyone who stopped for photos.
Rachael Lyon, festival manager, said: "Thank you so much to Noah and Hilary for opening Land of Lights 2026! Noah is an absolute legend for what he has done for his local community, and our charity partner Bluebell Wood, so it will be an honour for him and his family to join us and help with the big lantern switch on!
“Land of Lights continues to attract visitors from across the region and beyond, supporting local businesses and bringing people together during the winter season. We’re proud to offer an accessible, affordable and family-friendly experience, and we look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to see it for themselves.”
The festival is open to the public on Sunday 8 November and will run on selected dates until 30 January 2027.
Find out more about Land of Lights at: https://rothervalley.landoflights.co.uk/