PEOPLE in Bishopston and beyond saw the latest Window Wanderland season draw to a successful close, after lighting up the streets in yet another display showcasing the artistic talents of the local community.
Residents had been encouraged to decorate their windows as brightly and creatively as they wished, using all manner of inexpensive materials and designs.
Bishopston resident and set designer, Lucy Reeves Khan, founded Window Wanderland in the area in 2015, telling the BBC recently that she did so “when I was suffering from mobility issues and walking around the streets, seeing windows open and brightly lit, took me a little bit away from my pain”. She felt that if more people could decorate their windows for others to enjoy, it would cheer up winter evenings. Since then more than 350 festivals have taken place across the world. Festivals have been organised around the globe from Canada to The Netherlands as well as across the UK.
Over the six weeks of the 2025 season, 15 Wanderlands were held from Vancouver to Southmead, with the Bishopston weekend taking place from March 8 to 10.
Lucy and the team believe that: “With every festival comes a story, and we love hearing what inspires people to organise a Window Wanderland for their community. The biggest drive for us is bringing people together through our trails – not just in your own neighbourhood, but as part of the Window Wanderland family.”
Another important part of the Wanderland’s focus on family and community is the concept of Social Prescribing – “connecting people with local groups, activities and support to improve health and wellbeing is what we’re about both through our festivals and our mindful crafting Art Shop.
“Just this week we’ve heard how a girl, who is home-schooled due to health issues, found escapism through the planning and creative process of designing her sea-themed window for Bishopston Window Wanderland. “
Highlights from Bishopston 2025 included a collaborative design where a train spanned seven houses on Melita Road, a Lego space scene on Cornwall Road and a moving hot balloon on Kellaway Crescent.
As a CIC (Community Interest Company), Window Wanderland relies on funds from selling toolkits to keep afloat. Get in touch with the team on www.windowwanderland.com
By Rosie Watson