“Afterglow”

Elder Nelson and I were excited to go to another event for the Brisbane Festival. This one was called “Afterglow”…an amazing light journey. The Brisbane Festival goes on for the entire month of September and offers all kinds of fun things to do with families or friends.

On September 24th, Elder Nelson and I decided to drive into Brisbane, about 35 minutes away, grab some dinner downtown and then we walked over to the entrance of the Brisbane Botanic Park, to start our fun light journey of Afterglow. Here is what the Internet says about Afterglow…they can say it much better than I can.

Before posting what the Internet has to say about Afterglow, I just want to say we really loved taking our time walking through the beautiful Botanical Gardens and experiencing all the different light and flames journey. It was mesmerizing, very creative and very relaxing. Yes, indeed, we are so happy we got to experience Afterglow! There is just something about dancing flames and lights after dark that is hypnotic and very appealing to everyone. Loved it!  

Internet description:     

Let the fire guide you this September, as the City Botanic Gardens come alive with Afterglow – a breathtaking new after-dark experience that invites you to follow the flame into a world of wonder.

Journey through a glowing dreamscape of fire sculptures, candlelit installation live performances and illumination. Beneath tree canopies and across shimmering waters, the gardens will transform into a living artwork of flame and shadow as night falls and time slows.

Follow the trail through stories whispered in smoke, where every step draws you deeper into a world where light bends through branches, fire pulses in rhythm, and embers flicker.

With ambient soundscapes curated to stir the soul and design-led installations crafted by world-renowned fire artists and local creatives, Afterglow is a slow-burn multisensory journey designed to spark wonder, reflection, and awe.

Whether you’re bringing the family, planning a date night, or seeking a quiet escape, Afterglow is for everyone.

Come for the magic. Stay for the stillness. Leave glowing long after the night ends.

Let the fire guide you this Brisbane Festival as City Botanic Gardens come alive with Afterglow – a breathtaking new after-dark experience that invites you to follow the flame into a world of wonder.

Among the many delights Brisbane Festival is offering, Afterglow should be on your list of must-do experiences. This fire trail in the City Botanic Gardens offers patrons a special multi-sensory experience in which not only fire but striking light installations combine with ambient soundscapes.

The first installation you come to, Ba-nguru Milpa (Spiritual Awakening) is thousands of LEDs and fiery candles that snake along the ground, accompanied by a narration about how fire, smoke, oil and water have always been an intrinsic part of the Indigenous culture. Clapsticks and didgeridoo sounds evoke mystical elements. It’s worth taking your time to relish the sight and inhale the aroma of the fire pits.

Meteor Walk by Steve Holmes, from Filament Creative Studios, leads you along a wooden walkway into an enchanting stroll under dangling pendulums of flashing lights, which evoke other-worldly stalactites.

“Meditative” is definitely an apt description of the whole experience, which feels like a visit to a living outdoor art gallery.

After that you come to Ros-O by TILT – a French artistic studio that focuses on the exploration of light and its interplay with art, architecture and space. This installation has the appearance of clusters of reeds, some up to seven metres high, which pulsate with moving lights, accompanied by soaring sounds and staccato banging, evoking the feeling of watching low-key fireworks (without the high volume). It’s worth sitting on the bench and soaking up the mesmerising beauty and ambience, which complements the surrounding trees of the gardens.

A lantern trail with a difference sees 30 selected Brisbane creators of all ages having their work displayed in the Fire & Flourish Lantern Project. The theme is of the powerful duality of fire, with it being able to destroy but also renew, especially in relation to the cultural and spiritual significance to First Nationals people. Brisbane visual artist Sam Harrison, along with Brisbane Festival, selected the entries that explore subject matter relating to nature, such as the land and the creatures that depend on it for survival. It’s a joy to see such a diverse range of interpretations in this colourful display. At this point in the 1.4km trail you might be tempted to indulge in some marshmallow toasting over fire pits.

From here, you can enjoy the view of an avenue of spectacularly illuminated bamboo creating a natural arch over the next part of the trail.

Towards the end of the enchanting trail is Fire Performance by Flux, a duo who twirl and dance with large flame-lit frames. Performed at 15-minute intervals, the short but impressive piece is set to hypnotic, pulsating music.