Candlelight walk in Avondale / Balade aux chandelles

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It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas… 

This Sunday we went to the Candlelight Walk in Avondale Forest Park, near Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. This family-friendly event is hosted every year by the Ballinacor Community Project.

Nestled among autumn leaves or at the foot of formidable trees, hundreds of tealights in glass jars flickered along the winding forest trails in the mild November night. It was beautiful and magical. 

Yet with a constant stream of people young and old pounding the darkened path, it was difficult to keep track of the acorns, let alone to pause and look up at the night sky through the bare branches.

There was a first pit stop at a marquee where the Rathdrum Scouts served 320 s’mores to the younger walkers. Further along, a leprechaun handed out chocolate coins out of his pot of gold. Near the end, one of Santa Claus’ fairies sprinkled sparkly fairy dust over all passers-by. 

The walk ended outside Avondale House, with refreshments and snacks by the bonfire.


Ce dimanche, nous sommes allés faire une balade aux chandelles au domaine de Avondale, près de Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. Cet événement familial est organisé chaque année par l’association Ballinacor Community Project.

Blotties parmi les feuilles d’automne ou au pied des arbres, des centaines de bougies dans des lumignons de verre illuminaient les chemins forestiers, par une douce nuit de novembre. C’était d’une beauté féérique.

Mais avec un flot ininterrompu de marcheurs petits et grands sur le sentier à peine éclairé, il s’avéra difficile de garder un œil sur les graines de chêne, et carrément impossible de faire une pause pour savourer le moment et regarder le ciel nocturne à travers les branches nues des arbres.

Il y eut un premier arrêt près d’une tente brillamment éclairée, où les scouts de Rathdrum firent griller plus de 300 chamallows pour les participants les plus jeunes. Plus loin, un lutin distribuait des pièces en chocolat tirées de son chaudron d’or. Près de l’arrivée, une des fées du Père Noël saupoudra de la poudre magique sur tous les passants.

La balade se terminait devant la maison d’Avondale, où une buvette servait des boissons chaudes près du feu de joie.

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Spectrum Mum

 

4 Responses to “Candlelight walk in Avondale / Balade aux chandelles

  • Oh that really does look magical, with s’mores and chocolate coins, that would have kept me going! What a brilliant idea and your photos have captured it brilliantly. Thank you for linking up to #PointShoot

  • This looks beautiful and great fun #PointShoot

  • What a beautiful celebration! Gorgeous photos. I can use a dab of pixie dust next time I am out and about! Bella! #pointshoot xoxo

  • Ah how beautiful! It sounds a little handwork keeping track of the kids but no doubt the s’mores made things easier #pointshoot

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