Sparkling by Twilight

Technical Concerns Coming into Play

Tour departure times at the Fremantle Prison vary throughout the year to ensure the experience takes place in full darkness, explains Christy. Visitors, who are provided regularly maintained torches, have to remain on the designated routes and emergency lighting, clear evacuation paths, and regular training on safety protocols are critical, especially in a heritage building.

Additionally, there are accessibility considerations to take into account. For example, low light may be challenging for guests with low vision, depth perception issues, or sensory sensitivities. And large, echoing spaces may impact visitors who are hard of hearing. Limited lighting can present challenges for visitors with limited English proficiency.

“The tour is advertised as 100% accessible due to entry ramps and a lift available at the final point of the experience, however we ensure visitors are advised that the broader prison footprint includes uneven floors, narrow corridors, stairs, and lowlight conditions,” says Christy.

Luminiscence productions are held in heritage venues like cathedrals and basilicas, which were not designed to host high-end video projection or modern show infrastructure, explains Leboucher. “Power supply, rigging points and equipment routing need to be engineered from scratch on each site, while preserving the architectural and historical integrity of the building,” he says. “Every alignment, every sightline, and every projector position is custom.”

Zoos and other facilities that feature animals need careful planning and consideration to ensure the animals’ comfort and safety. For example, at Sydney Zoo Glow, the animals have access to back-of-house and retreat spaces so that they can move away from activity, explains Michael Kelly, CEO at Sydney Zoo. “This is consistent with how we manage all aspects of the zoo environment and ensures animals maintain control over their space," Kelly says.

To create Smoky Night Lights at Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee, the facility hired Moment Factory, an entertainment studio, to partner with their director of animal care, conservation, and education so the program would remain harmonious with the zoo environment.

“To ensure we didn’t introduce undue stress, we measured the baseline audio floor of the zoo,” says Mathieu Grainger, producer at Moment Factory. “By working with the existing ‘noise floor’ of the area, we used slow fades and gradual builds to bring intensity while ensuring the transitions for the animals were seamless rather than startling.”

The red wolves were the only animals in close proximity of Smoky Night Lights, so they worked with the zoo to install natural baffling and fencing to minimize any sensory intrusion. The zoo team then monitored these animals for weeks leading up to the grand opening to ensure they showed no signs of anxiety, confirming that the natural amphitheater was as effective a barrier as it was a performance space.

At Night Safari Singapore, the Safari Tram Adventure is a fully electric fleet, which reduces noise. “This allows the tram to move closer to the animals and lets guests hear the park’s natural soundscape,” 

says Dr. Wen-Haur. “The trams also operate without headlights, preserving the dark, quiet atmosphere that allows visitors to observe the animals’ natural nighttime behaviors.”

Lighting was one of their most critical considerations. “To recreate the feeling of walking through a rainforest at night, we adopted a targeted approach to simulate a full moon night, keeping illumination low enough to minimize disturbance to the animals’ natural behaviors while still giving guests clear sightlines,” he says.

At the Sydney Zoo, specific consideration was given to light intensity, direction and color temperature so their installations didn’t spill into animal habitats. “In many cases, installations are positioned to ensure they are either outside of key habitat zones or oriented away from animal areas,” says Kelly.

And at the Louisville Zoo, the focus is on the experience itself rather than the animals, explains Maloney.

In Baltimore, Maryland Zoo’s Snooze program runs similarly; the educational overnight program, which offers night hikes, animal ambassador visits, and camping, ensures its animals are not on exhibit overnight, explains Amanda Fabian, their senior director of conservation education. She says this helps minimize the disruption of their natural routines.

Indoor programs take place in the Penguin Education Center, and outdoor Snoozes are held in open green spaces away from animal habitats. “Participants meet an animal ambassador in the evening and take part in a guided night hike designed to be low-impact and respectful of the animals’ environment,” says Fabian.

Expanded Marketing Efforts

Because of the diversity of these offerings, facilities are finding new and innovative ways to market their programs. For example, at the Night Safari Singapore, many of their marketing campaigns are anchored in featuring the animals themselves, but they also have other collaborations, explains Dr. Wen-Haur. “A recent partnership with smartphone brand Honor Device Co., Ltd. put their low-light camera technology to the test within the park—a natural partnership given our environment, and one that reached a younger, tech-savvy audience beyond our traditional visitor base,” he says.

This year, the marketing team at Louisville Zoo is prioritizing digital marketing, such as paid social, connected TV, and YouTube ads, as well as influencer partnerships to showcase their content. This is in addition to extended-format billboards designed to highlight the size and detail of the lanterns.

In addition to marketing Glow on their own channels, the Sydney Zoo has amplified its reach through their partners’ networks, including production partner Laservision, sister property Scenic World, presenting partner Commonwealth Bank, and major partner Carnival Cruise Line. They are also working with Nova 96.9, a local radio station, to build excitement across the Sydney market.

“These partnerships allow us to extend into new audiences and leverage established customer bases, significantly increasing visibility and engagement,” says Kelly.