Redruth Interactive Christmas Lights Trail

We experimented with something a bit different in Redruth town centre. The transformed 8 shop windows into interactive festive displays that people could control from outside using their phones.

The trail combined existing willow sculptures, newly made willow pieces, and hand-cut card sculptures, all brought to life using lights, electronics, and ESP32 WiFi controllers. Visitors could connect to a simple webpage on their phone to change lighting effects and interact with the displays directly from the street.

Part of the project was about creating playful festive moments in the town centre during the darker winter months, but it was also an experiment in how technology and creativity can make spaces feel active and engaging, even when buildings are closed or waiting for new use.

Illuminated willow sheep — Redruth’s Tolgus Lamb lit up at The Mining Exchange Gallery

One of the most interesting things for us was seeing how people reacted to discovering that the windows were interactive. Some installations worked better than others, especially when it was immediately obvious that passers-by could take part. It gave us lots of ideas about visibility, interaction, and how digital public art could work in town centres.

The project also tested ways of controlling installations from outside buildings without needing permanent staff or open venues. At the time, visitors connected directly to each installation’s WiFi network. Now that parts of the town centre have public WiFi available, we can already see ways we could make future versions much easier and more seamless to use.

Projects like this are part of an ongoing interest for us at Fluxus Cornwall CIC: finding creative ways to bring life, curiosity, and interaction back into public spaces through homemade technology, art, invention, and play,

Controlling the illuminated mine engine house sculpture from outside the library – using a phone and the sculpture’s WiFi connection

It was encouraging to see people stopping, exploring the trail, and interacting with windows that would otherwise have simply been dark shopfronts in winter.

The project was funded by Redruth Town Council, whose support helped make the trail possible.

Mel Martin, Business Liaison Manager, said:

“It was a pleasure to work with Paddy of Fluxus Cornwall on our unique, creative, sustainable and forward-looking lights trail project for Redruth. The project was delivered on time, on budget, with good humour, and all challenges were met head on and resolved. It is hoped that the working relationship can continue next year to expand the year 1 work for Redruth.”