Imvizar, an Irish-based augmented reality firm specialising in spatial storytelling, has teamed up with Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat and Spectacles, to bring a public Spectacles experience in Ireland, debuting at Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights in Merrion Square Park from 1-21 December.
For three weeks only, visitors will have hands-on access to the fifth generation of Spectacles which are currently available to AR creators and developers through the Spectacles Developer Program. This experience brings emerging AR technology into a live environment in a way that feels intuitive, magical and rooted in story, offering a new medium of entertainment and a unique chance for the public to experience the future of storytelling.
The partnership brings together Imvizar’s spatial storytelling expertise and the power of Snap Inc.’s Spectacles to introduce a new immersive layer to one of Dublin’s most popular Christmas time events. Imvizar’s deep understanding of immersive design and real-world environments has enabled Spectacles to be showcased safely and meaningfully at scale.
The experience was designed and developed by Imvizar using Spectacles, and supported by Dublin City Council’s Smart City team, marking an innovative addition to the festival programme and positions the city as a global leader in immersive public festival experiences.
See Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights through a new lens
Inside a dedicated zone in Merrion Square Park, visitors aged 13+ are invited to try Spectacles and explore a new layer of magic brought to life through Imvizar’s spatial storytelling.
With Spectacles, participants step into a winter wonderland called The Light We Bright, a shared AR experience created by Imvizar that brings festive scenes directly into the park.
Using simple gestures, visitors collect glowing stars that appear around them as if the environment is responding in real time. When enough stars are gathered, a Christmas tree forms in front of the group, followed by falling snow and constellations that swirl around their hands.
Designed as a Connected Lens for groups of up to five people at a time, the activation transforms Merrion Square into an interactive digital layer that reacts to visitor movement and brings them closer to the magic of Christmas.
Access is limited to participants aged 13 and over, in line with Spectacle’s platform policies.
Partnership with Spectacles
Imvizar is a leading innovator in spatial storytelling, shaping how wearable AR can transform public spaces into living stories that unfold around the people who step into them.
This partnership with Spectacles marks the company’s first step in bringing spatial storytelling to wider public audiences through wearable AR, offering a glimpse of how this technology can add meaningful layers to shared experiences, starting here in Dublin.
Michael Guerin, founder and CEO of Imvizar, said: “Spatial storytelling is at the centre of everything we do. We wanted to create a story that brings a real winter wonderland experience to people and moves them from simply watching to actively shaping the moment. Using AR glasses becomes less about technology and more about stepping into an immersive experience. Working with Dublin City Council and Snap on Ireland’s first AR glasses experience has been a wonderful opportunity to introduce something new to Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights.”
Qi Pan, Director of Computer Vision Engineering, Spectacles, Snap Inc. said:
“We are excited to team up with Imvizar and Dublin Smart City to turn Merrion Square Park into an AR winter wonderland. Augmented Reality is transforming how we experience and celebrate cultural moments – Spectacles, our AR glasses, will usher in new ways for people to interact with the world around us. In this experience, visitors will collect glowing stars to magically conjure a Christmas tree into existence through Spectacles with their friends and family during this festive season.”
Nicola Graham, Smart City Programme Manager said: “Dublin is committed to embracing innovation that enhances the experience of living, working, visiting and doing business in the city. Working alongside the Dublin City Council Events team, we’re delighted to support this project by having Imvizar and Spectacles as part of Dublin’s Smart City programme, helping to bring new technologies like wearable AR into public spaces. Together, we’re positioning the city as a leader in innovative urban experiences that combine technology, creativity and community.”
Event Information
Location: Merrion Square Park
Dates: 1-21 December
Times: 1730 – 2100
Eligibility: Ages 13+
Capacity: Up to five participants per activation cycle
Cost: €2 entry to Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights (AR experience included at no extra cost). Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.dublinwinterlights.ie
How to take part: Access is available to all festival attendees within Merrion Square Park during opening hours; no booking required
Directions: Entry via Merrion Square West
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