Nikka Yuko garden sets attendance records for Winter Lights Festival
By Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden on February 19, 2021.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden’s Winter Light Festival, during the garden’s two-month run, saw 19,585 guests come through the gates and enjoy a stroll under almost 170,000 lights. This represents a 17.6 per cent increase in visitation from last year’s festival.
Although Nikka Yuko had to make changes to how the festival was ran, they were able to open more evenings than before to accommodate the community throughout December and January, and the community did not disappoint. Throughout the two months Nikka Yuko ran the Winter Light Festival, 63 per cent of the nights were more than 80 per cent sold out with half of the nights in December completely sold out. The garden credits the mild winter weather as well as being a fully outdoor experience during a pandemic for the jump in visitation.
“Being an outdoor location certainly has its advantages,” says Michelle Day, Executive Director of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. “However, we still had to do our due diligence to ensure our guests and staff felt safe and could enjoy this year’s display without the usual large crowds. We always thank those who make our Winter Light Festival their annual tradition, but it was even more important this year to provide the same experience during a time when many people needed something bright and positive to enjoy with their loved ones.”
Government lockdowns near the beginning of December initially put a question mark on whether the garden would be able to move forward with their fifth annual festival, but the staff worked closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure they were either meeting or exceeding guidelines and AHS’s approval ensured guests were kept safe while taking in their family traditions. One of the more noticeable changes this season was the limiting of guests inside the garden at one time. In the past Nikka Yuko could see more than 600 people inside the garden at one time, but this year entry was limited to only 100 guests per half hour. The garden spans approximately four acres, so the limited capacity provided a quieter, private experience for visitors. Nikka Yuko is pleased to announce that, despite the significant increase in visitation, there were no cases of COVID-19 traced back to garden visitations.
This year Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden sent out a survey to those who attended the festival to gather feedback and assess areas of improvement. Of the 847 respondents, 93 per cent rated their experience as either four or five stars, with 56 per cent stating this was their first year at the Winter Light Festival.
“In addition to the ratings, we also saw many anecdotal comments of visitor experiences,” explains Day. “It’s heartwarming to read the countless stories of how important the festival was to our community this year, which reinforces the significance of Nikka Yuko as a place of serenity and peace for our guests all year round.”
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