Perth Voice Interactive

IT’S always cold, often wet, and costs $40 a head, but the mid-winter Kings Park’s Lightscape light show has booked out.

It’s been so popular scalpers have been flogging tickets online, prompting the Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority to warn people to beware of ticket reselling websites “to avoid being scammed”.

After lighting up canopies and tree trunks along a 1.8km trail for six weeks, the Lightscape run ends this Sunday July 30, and even with an extra night added this week every timeslot is sold out.

The Lightscape concept is owned by Sony, and the record giant will split profits with Kings Park. Lightscape’s previously run light trails through Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens in London, a handful of American cities, and here in Melbourne and Brisbane. 

Perth council contributed $100,000 in cash and $100,000 worth of marketing time and extra public transport to bring Lightscape here. 

At this week’s council meeting lord mayor Basil Zempilas said “I’m delighted to be able to report, having spoken to the organisers today, that they have officially classed it as a sellout.

“That is, all tickets that they were making available to the general public of Perth and WA, have now been sold… 182,218 people will have gone through the gates at King’s Park to see Lightscape”.

“182,000 people through Kings Park, in winter, at night, absolutely outstanding.”

The final tally surpassed the estimated attendance of 150,000. 

The sold out run comes despite some complaints left online that the tickets were unaffordable for families, with the cheapest off-peak family pass going for $120.

by DAVID BELL