A Las Vegas-level laser and lightshow is coming to Lake Burley Griffin

Posted on 19 January, 2023

Get ready to level up your January with Lights on the Lake.

Looking for a way to light up your life? Across four nights from Wednesday 25 until Saturday 28 January, Canberrans can soak in the summer sun around Lake Burley Griffin at a brand-new event Lights on the Lake. Once the sun sets, get ready to be stunned by a spectacular Laser Light Water Show, as well as midsummer night markets, music, and food and drink stalls. The best part? It’s completely free.

Alongside the National Capital Authority, VIVID Sydney regulars Oracle Liquid and The Electric Canvas will transform Lake Burley Griffin into a Las Vegas-level lightshow, where you can witness a stunning display of light and colour projected onto two enormous water screens, accompanied by a visual feast of lasers lights and a stirring soundtrack.

Aside from lighting up the lake the event will also be shining a light on Indigenous voices with The National Capital Authority working with members of the Ngunnawal community to film both a Welcome to Country and a Water Ceremony which will be displayed on enormous 100 by 50 metre water screens

“This is quite a unique experience because it’s never been done in Canberra,” says Oracle Liquid’s Glenn Turner. “I think anybody that’s coming here that hasn’t been to VIVID are certainly going to be seeing something that they have never seen before.”

Alongside Lights on the Lake’s massive screens, get ready to be awed by choreographed high pressure water jets and laser lights set to music, depicting scenes from across a vast array of Australian experiences and stories.

“This is a celebration of just the people of Australia and our environment and everything like that. I’d like the people to come with a completely open mind and not even expecting anything and we will give them the unexpected,” says Glenn.

The twelve-minute shows will be on display from sundown (about 8.30 pm, 9 pm and 9.30 pm) across 25 to 28 January, giving you multiple opportunities to fully soak up the details and scope of this free event.

Assisted by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council, the National Capital Authority are the first to bring an event like this to Canberra.

The midsummer night markets will be presented by the crack team behind Little Burley and Haig Park Markets so be prepared for gorgeous local produce that’ll lure you away from your picnic blanket. Think: one-of-a-kind clothing and locally made and designed art, jewellery, and homewares.

Speaking of picnics, make sure you leave space for delicious meals, snacks and drinks from a range of food and drink vendors that will set up shop right next to the shores. Get ready to dine on multicultural cuisine, decadent desserts and of course, ice cream.

Held over both the public holiday and the weekend, spend one of your nights enjoying all the lake has to give at Lights on the Lake.