In the world of visual design, there’s an elusive concept known as experience design. It’s not quite a product and not exactly a space, but rather a crafted environment that appeals to the senses, evokes emotion, sparks curiosity, joy and escapism—the very things we crave in abundance these days. Designers across the globe are constantly seeking the next breakthrough, but sometimes, innovation simply means adapting a well-loved idea to a new setting.
Light parks have long been popular in Europe and the United States, especially during the winter holiday season, peaking at Christmas. They’re a natural fit for the early evening darkness that settles over many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
The international light festival LUMAGICA is coming to the tropical garden at Ganei Yehoshua in Tel Aviv, sponsored by Hever Club
(Video: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination; Music: Amir Perry)
Israel doesn’t have the snow, the cold, or Christmas—but it can still deliver the magic. From November 13, 2025, through January 15, 2026, the tropical garden and Ganei Yehoshua in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park will transform after dark (starting at 5 p.m.) into one of the most ambitious light experiences the country has seen.
The event, LUMAGICA, is an international light festival featuring over 30 large illuminated figures—most created specifically for the Tel Aviv edition—and some 300 smaller glowing elements including hearts, butterflies and light orbs. Organized by a joint Israeli-Austrian team, the festival promises an environmentally friendly, locally tailored experience that meets high European standards—designed to ignite the imagination (and Instagram feeds).
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The international light festival LUMAGICA. Uses no more electricity than four electric kettles
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
Tickets start at 49 shekels, with a reduced price of 39 shekels for members of the “Hever” club, which is also sponsoring the event.
From unicorns to symbols of unity
Behind the large-scale production stands MK Illumination, an Austrian company considered a global leader in creating urban light installations and immersive lighting stories for public spaces. But the connection to Israel isn’t a simple “off-the-shelf” import. It was developed locally—woven into the natural setting of Yarkon Park—by Israeli creative duo Anat and Sivan Farag. A couple in both life and work, the two come from photography and production backgrounds and have spent recent years transforming various Israeli locations into luminous, upgraded landmarks. For them, this project marks the next step.
Farag, whose name may sound familiar, is a descendant of Israel’s renowned family of photographers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he temporarily set aside his camera and devoted himself to light-based projects. “That’s the whole idea,” he says. “It’s not about holiday decorations anymore, but about spatial design—a new kind of cultural experience that suits Israel and reimagines how a city can light itself up.”
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Mischael Anton adjusts the final lighting on the dancer figures at the main stage
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
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Prof. Mischael Anton and Anat Farag during the installation process
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
“We’re turning the park into a festival just like the ones abroad,” he adds, “but with elements tailored to Israel—like a multi-colored unicorn, intertwined hands as a symbol of unity, blue and white stars and even a Christmas tree that’s been reinvented as a ‘Tree of Wishes’ with 3D ornaments. Israeli audiences are hungry for winter culture and light art.”
To help fine-tune the installations for both the tropical garden setting and the Israeli public, MK brought in Prof. Mischael Anton. A professor of lighting design and the global creative director behind all of MK’s international light festivals, Anton oversees productions for one of the world’s top experiential lighting firms, which has an annual turnover of about €165 million. His past work includes major events like the opening ceremonies at Qatar’s World Cup stadiums. His vast experience confirms that light festivals offer a universal form of entertainment that resonates deeply—even in desert regions like the UAE.
Anton, often referred to as the “architect of light parks,” was captivated by the lush vegetation of Yarkon Park, especially at this time of year when trees in Europe stand bare. Walking the paths of the tropical garden, he envisioned how he would integrate his sculptures into what he calls site-specific art. A musician and performer (violin, piano, drums and more), Anton describes himself as a “poet of light.” He began crafting illuminated pieces in his youth and views lighting as a natural complement to music. Now a professor, he teaches precise light design, down to the millimeter.
For the Tel Aviv edition of LUMAGICA, Anton will spend just over a day on-site, meticulously planning and adjusting everything from a large pair of dancers on the main stage—designed to appear as if in motion through the use of light—to a glowing bear, rhino, hot-air balloon, reindeer, squirrel, panda and a carriage perfect for photo ops. “I love telling stories through light,” he says. “We don’t replicate parks—we create unique experiences for each location. Right now, we’re operating dozens of parks worldwide, all different, and many change year to year.”
The Tel Aviv festival will launch in parallel with LUMAGICA events in eight other cities, including in Austria, Germany, Italy and Poland.
The park that arrives in shipping containers and the architecture of light
Behind the magical experience of LUMAGICA lies a highly complex logistical operation. Around 10 shipping containers—collectively weighing over six tons—have been delivered to Israel, packed with more than two million energy-efficient LED bulbs and hundreds of handcrafted elements designed specifically for Yarkon Park. “All of it is ecological and fully recyclable or reusable—nothing goes to waste. Our cables are also protected by patented, all-weather technology,” explains Prof. Anton.
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Over 300 small glowing objects hang in the park, alongside around 30 large-scale figures
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
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Designers created universal characters intended to resonate with a broad audience
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
Throughout the park’s tropical garden and Tel Aviv’s amphitheater, roughly 30 large-scale light sculptures have already been installed. Some rise up to five meters tall; others, like the friendly panda, are set at a child’s eye level. Light paths connect the installations. “But it’s not just the scale or variety that sets our parks apart—it’s the philosophy,” says Anton. “We combine design, technology and sustainability. Each light park consumes the electricity of just four kettles.”
MK Illumination operates in more than 120 countries and produces around 6,000 light sculptures each year, using advanced technologies that blur the line between urban infrastructure and public art. In parallel with the Tel Aviv event, MK is currently running festivals in Austria, Germany, Romania, Italy and Poland. At the heart of its approach is efficient LED technology, combined with metal frames and other recycled materials. The sculptures are designed to be taken apart, reused and reassembled—Anton promises 100% reusability—while smart control systems minimize energy consumption. The displays are built to withstand all weather conditions, from snow and rain to desert heat.
“The festival is international, but the content is distinctly Israeli,” adds Farag. “This isn’t another imported Christmas event. The Israeli edition speaks a local language—free of foreign religious symbols or potentially sensitive imagery. Instead, we’ve emphasized universal themes like family, togetherness and animals, including lions and a monkey family. There are also swans gliding across a pond, a wall of water with projected lights and visuals, and a pool of illuminated water lilies.”
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A vivid light display projects figures and colors onto a water wall
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
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The traditional Christmas tree has been reimagined as a Tree of Wishes
(Photo: Sivan Farag, MK Illumination)
After exploring the illuminated trail—designed to delight and to be photographed—visitors will arrive at a European-style food market with wooden stalls offering hot drinks, comfort foods and sweet treats. The grounds will also include carnival games, family-friendly rides, prizes and experiences that, as the organizers say, “let you walk away with a teddy bear.” There will be dedicated photo zones designed for the visual age. Farag, who knows the world through the lens of a camera, says every sculpture has been designed with social media in mind. “We’re creating experiences—but also Instagram backdrops,” adds Anton.
The festival’s original soundtrack was composed by Israeli musician Amir Pery. Lighting throughout the park has been designed to be soft and non-flickering, making the event accessible for families with sensory-sensitive children and individuals on the autism spectrum.
From a design perspective, Farag and Anton have turned Tel Aviv’s public space into a glowing canvas for two months—possibly more, depending on demand. What is a green urban park by day becomes an artistic playground by night, blending light, motion, shadow and color. “Light is a tool of urban branding,” says Farag. “Just as cities in Europe have turned light festivals into tradition, here too it’s a vehicle for boosting tourism, supporting businesses, enhancing city image and fostering local pride.” Permanent light installations recently developed by the team in cities like Yeruham, Eilat, Jerusalem and Netanya have already helped draw people in, revitalizing businesses and public spaces alike.