In an organization known for its spectacular displays and events held both indoors and outdoors, the New York Botanical Garden’s display of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail” is over-the-top spectacular.
The not-to-be-missed toy train extravaganza is located in the Bronx borough of New York City and held in the beautiful Italian Renaissance revival Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (where the orchid show is held both inside and outside the domed building annually). But the current extravaganza along tree-lined, sculptured garden paths is a fantasy vision guaranteed to delight all ages.
It’s a perfect family outing to usher in the holiday season, but hurry because it’s only on view from dusk to 10PM every Thursday through Sunday until December 1st. After that, a holiday display will replace it.
Based on Disney’s Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail, it was created by Adventurelive, the producing team behind Broadway’s Hamilton, and LETSGO, the Madrid-based creative team behind Tim Burton’s Labyrinth and Lights in Nature. It was presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical.
Bringing the film’s distinctive characters to life, the outdoor adventure features more than 8,300 square feet of dazzling light installations forged by cutting-edge technology, including interactive video projection, intelligent LED lighting, and 3D printed sculptures of the film’s iconic characters. The experience ignites the senses and invites audiences deep into the imagination of the story’s visionary creator.
The previous paragraph describes the creative effort behind the exhibit, but once on the ground, the experience becomes personal and dramatic. Leading the way toward a large orange neon pumpkin, which serves as the entrance into the exhibit, you are led along paths that have flashing organic forms playing on the pathways, while the huge trees on either side are highlighted with changing colors against the night sky. You can’t help but feel like you’ve entered into a magical forest of delights.
Once past the orange pumpkin, you encounter a brightly colored tunnel leading into the heart of the exhibit where Tim Burton’s characters are displayed.
Delighted visitors of all ages lined up to have their pictures taken with the beloved characters, patiently waiting their turn. There was such an air of fun and friendliness that I found myself chatting with many groups along the way. Everyone was in high spirits and meandering rather than rushing through, taking time to embrace the fantasy.
The Garden is accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers alike, and there are helpful attendants from the entrance all the way through the exhibit to lend a hand if need be.
Barbara Angelakis is one of the founders of LuxuryWeb Magazineand its Senior Travel Writer. She travels the four corners of the world with a thirst for knowledge and a twinkle in her eye, seeking out the history of people and places and sharing her experiences. She specializes in culture and history along with luxury destinations, hotels/resorts/cruises/spas, and most recently Jewish Heritage, exploring the historical connection between Jews and their host countries. She has been recognized for outstanding coverage as “Journalist of the Year” by the Tanzania Tourist Board and is the recipient of the MTA Malta Tourism Press Award, the first American to receive this honor. For the past 25 years, Barbara has written extensively for LuxuryWeb Magazine, and her work can also be found at The Jerusalem Post, Jewish Link, Epoch Times,and Vision Times.
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