Behind the Magic: Meet Kylie Hodkinson

Pic: Kylie & Steve

Some people step into the spotlight. Others quietly stand behind it, making sure everything shines.

For the 10th Light Up Winter Cromwell, Kylie Hodkinson was one of those special people.

When the opportunity came to step in and co-event manage this year’s celebration, Kylie simply got on with what needed to be done. No fuss, no complaints, just calm determination, a willingness to help wherever needed, and a quiet confidence that became a huge support for the entire crew.

From the trenches of event planning through to the final moments of the night, Kylie was a steady hand and an absolute legend behind the scenes. She tackled challenges, found solutions, supported the team, and helped bring thousands of people together for a night of winter magic.

But Light Up Winter is only one part of Kylie’s incredible contribution to our community. She’s a woman of many talents, sharing her creativity through local drama classes and supporting wellbeing through her own Cromwell-based business, Grounded Breath.

And fittingly, Kylie helped us all breathe a little easier during Light Up Winter this year. Calm, capable and quietly reassuring, she brought exactly what the team needed, a steady hand, a positive attitude, and the ability to make things happen when it mattered most.

Whether she’s helping people find their voice, their calm, or their community, Kylie has a gift for making a difference.

And right beside her was husband Steve, who jumped in wherever he was needed, bringing plenty of muscle, lending a hand, and becoming another valued part of the Light Up Winter team.

Looking back on her first Light Up Winter experience behind-the-scenes, Kylie said:

"You really don’t understand the scale of something like Light Up Winter until you’re right in the middle of it. There are so many moving parts, so many people giving their time, and so much heart behind every little detail. It was busy, exciting, challenging and incredibly rewarding. Seeing the community come together on the night made every early morning, late night and problem solved completely worth it."

Kylie and Steve, thank you for stepping up, showing up, and helping create the magic of our 10th anniversary. Our community is lucky to have people like you. 💛✨