Words by Smiley Team
Beautiful lights aren't only for Christmas – they can be displayed all year around to capture people's hearts and a community's gaze.
Window Wanderland is an award-winning, Covid-safe project, which provides resources for communities around the world to set up their own magical window displays, day or night, throughout the year.
The project brings neighbourhoods together to reduce social isolation and inspire creativity – but now they need your help to keep running.
Born out of direct experience of social isolation by Lucy Reeves Khan in 2015, Window Wanderland was set up to increase community engagement and improve wellbeing, through creating accessible and inclusive window displays.
Lucy experienced years of isolation after chronic illnesses – she'd take short nightly rehabilitation walks around her neighbourhood in Bristol.
She said: “I noticed that if my neighbours’ curtains were open, I didn’t hurt so much. At first, I assumed I was just nosy, but I soon realised it was the warmth of the light and the sense of kinship that was making me happy.”
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Inspired to create a community festival filled with light and life, she organised the first Window Wanderland in 2015. In it, windows come alive, to light up communities – from simple to spectacular displays, on small and tall buildings.
Since then, hundreds of Window Wanderlands have been organised by communities around the world, spreading happiness and bringing people together.
Window Wanderlands are a local neighbourhood trail held over a weekend, or longer. A local organiser develops the Wanderland with a local project team, using interactive online resources.
The displays, in residents’ street facing windows, form the trail and are viewed from outside, so they are Covid safe as well.
Window Wanderlands are held in all areas, from cities and small towns, to rural villages, and areas with social deprivation.
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Last year, they experienced a huge increase in events, which put a lot of pressure on such a small social enterprise.
They want to continue to support the 93 communities that put on Wanderlands, and encourage new areas to take part – but they need more funds to do so.
So now they’re trying to raise £5,000 to continue their work.
After donating to the crowdfunder, one person wrote: ”Window Wanderland is one of the highlights of my winter. Our road has been doing it together for the last five years and have had lots of fun getting involved.”
Another added: “You bring light and life to communities. Keep going!”
Make a donation to their fundraiser, and keep bringing light and life to local communities whilst transforming streets across the country.
Find out more about Window Wanderland on its website to find out how to set one up in your area.
