PROJECT SNAPSHOT
LIGHTS BY THE LAKE 2025
Mid Autumn Festival at Jurong Lake Gardens
Client
National Parks Board (NParks)
Event Period
27 October to 12 November 2025
Audience Reach
Approximately 157,000 visitors
Project Type
Large scale public festival
Community and cultural celebration
Place based experience design
PROJECT overview
Lights by the Lake 2025 was a large scale Mid Autumn Festival held across Jurong Lake Gardens, including the Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden. Commissioned by NParks, the event ran over a three week period and welcomed more than 150,000 visitors.
The festival was designed as a public celebration that balanced cultural tradition with contemporary production. Visitors were encouraged to explore multiple zones across the gardens, experiencing lantern installations, lighting features, and scheduled performances in a cohesive and immersive environment.
The project required careful integration of creative design, technical execution, and operational planning within a live public park setting, while maintaining accessibility, safety, and cultural sensitivity.
AUX ROLE
AUX was appointed from the early planning stage and took responsibility for overall project coordination and delivery.
Our scope included creative direction, technical production, stage and lighting design, audio and video support, showcalling, event management, and logistics. AUX acted as the central coordinating party, aligning NParks, community partners, performers, and appointed vendors.
The team managed planning, execution, and live operations across multiple zones, ensuring consistent quality, smooth transitions, and clear communication throughout the extended event period.
PUBLIC OBJECTIVES
The primary objective was to elevate the annual Mid Autumn celebration through improved lantern quality and a more engaging visitor journey. NParks sought to create an experience that felt family friendly, culturally respectful, and welcoming to a broad audience, while introducing subtle technology to enhance engagement.
A key goal was to encourage movement across the entire site rather than concentrating activity in a single area. The festival was designed as a journey through the gardens, allowing visitors to discover different installations, moments, and performances at their own pace.
PLANNING AND DELIVERY
Planning began in April 2025 and covered the full project lifecycle, from conceptual development to live execution. The creative theme Journey to the West was developed in alignment with NParks’ visual guidelines and the natural character of Jurong Lake Gardens.
Custom lantern installations and light boxes were designed to integrate with existing architecture and landscape features. These were complemented by subtle lighting effects and motion elements that brought the displays to life without overpowering the environment.
Scheduled programming such as Rockestra performances added dynamic moments to the festival, creating focal points that complemented the static installations and encouraged repeat visits.
The event required a long production timeline, with three weeks of setup, three weeks of live operations, and two weeks of teardown. AUX managed daily manpower planning, site coordination, technical operations, and vendor alignment across multiple locations within the gardens.
VISUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Lantern Installations
The lantern displays formed the backbone of the festival experience. Designed to blend traditional craftsmanship with improved build quality, the lanterns were positioned across multiple garden zones to guide visitors through the site. Subtle lighting and motion elements enhanced the installations after dark, encouraging closer interaction while preserving the cultural character of the Mid Autumn celebration.
Pagoda and Garden Landmarks
Key architectural features within Jurong Lake Gardens, including the Pagoda and surrounding landscapes, were carefully integrated into the lighting design. Rather than overpowering the environment, lighting treatments highlighted natural forms and existing structures, reinforcing a sense of place and allowing visitors to experience familiar landmarks in a refreshed way.
Rockestra Performances
Rockestra added a live performance layer to the festival, creating scheduled moments of energy within the broader garden setting. Supported by audio, lighting, and LED systems, the performances complemented the lantern displays and attracted audiences to specific zones without disrupting the overall flow of the event.
Evening Atmosphere and Visitor Experience
As night fell, the festival transformed into a cohesive visual journey. Warm lighting, illuminated pathways, and animated elements worked together to create an immersive atmosphere across the gardens. Visitors were encouraged to explore at their own pace, experiencing multiple viewpoints and moments rather than a single focal point.
Our Scope of Work
This project brought together multiple AUX capabilities across planning, production, and live event operations.
Tech Advisory and Support
We provide technical guidance and on-site support for events, productions, and immersive experiences. Our engineers plan system setups, manage equipment integration, and ensure stable operations across audio, visual, lighting, and control systems. This gives partners confidence that every show runs safely and smoothly.
Events and Festival Management
We manage festivals, public programmes, and large scale community events from planning to execution. Our teams handle site layout, logistics, licensing, vendor coordination, safety planning, and show operations. The focus is on delivering clear crowd flow, reliable infrastructure, and engaging experiences for visitors.
Concert Production
We support concerts and live performances with staging, lighting, sound design, rigging, and show control. Our technical specialists work closely with artists, touring crews, and producers to create performances that feel immersive and well executed. The goal is consistent quality across rehearsals and show day.
Video Production
We produce videos for events, campaigns, livestreams, and virtual production works. This includes scripting, filming, editing, motion graphics, and content designed for LED volumes or XR environments. Our team works closely with clients to create visuals that support their message and audience.
Place Making
We design and manage public installations, precinct activations, and seasonal decorations that bring life to shared spaces. Our work supports community engagement by creating environments that feel welcoming, meaningful, and visually distinctive. Each project balances creativity with practical considerations of safety and maintenance.
Design
Our design team develops visuals, concepts, stage layouts, and brand assets that support events and activations. This covers creative direction, motion graphics, 3D visualisation, and production ready artwork. The goal is to provide clear visual direction that strengthens both planning and execution.
OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
Lights by the Lake 2025 achieved its intended outcomes, drawing strong public attendance and positive feedback from both the client and visitors.
Audiences responded positively to the improved lantern quality and the use of subtle motion and lighting to enhance the experience. Families and visitors appreciated the ability to explore the gardens at their own pace while encountering a variety of visual and performance elements.
The integration of technology with traditional lantern displays was highlighted as a key strength, offering a refreshed experience while maintaining cultural authenticity. Compared to previous editions, the festival demonstrated clear improvements in production quality and visitor engagement.
KEY LEARNINGS
The project reinforced the importance of early planning and clear coordination for long running public events with multiple stakeholders. It also highlighted the value of blending traditional builds with carefully applied technology to enhance place making without disrupting the natural environment.
For AUX, the project strengthened our experience in delivering large scale community festivals that require operational discipline, sensitivity to public spaces, and close collaboration with government agencies and partners.
