Odense is not normally a flashy place. Summer festivals and winter light decorations are about the only occasions when the city “allows” some sparkles. Otherwise, everyone seems to have come to terms with the low-key charm of summery Odense, and its moody, dark winters, survived with hopeful twinkles of cosy candlelight.

Glow Gardens Odense drops a light bomb on our relationship with Danish darkness. The cosy and shy street decorations, the cute little tea lights in every café – they face their shiny, radiant light-cousin; a garden of glitz and glow, contained (thankfully?) within 6000 m2 of “indoor wonderland.” I can’t say I’m the target audience for this luminous extravaganza – I love shadowy corners and dim lamplight; they keep the tea warm for longer and make blankets softer. But if you are (understandably) a lover of the light – you must see this place, before the “Glow Winter Adventure” goes dark again, on Sunday.

As a bonus, the Glow Flea market is open between 27 – 29. December, which is a nice full circle for those who started the year konmari-ing their life. Out with the old, in with the new – all basking in the artificial light of Glow, and the metaphorically cheesy light of a new year and a new decade.

Glow is closed between 24th and 26th December.

Photo: Glow Gardens Odense, @ixlphotography