IESNYC Holiday Hi-Lights by Zachary Pearson
Zachary Pearson
IESNYC Board Member | Lighting Designer, Fisher Marantz Stone
My passion is seeing how lights enhance the environment while telling a story. As a member of the IESNYC Board, I want to share light as an art form and encourage the next generation to embrace the possibilities and never stop exploring. Over the years, I have been fortunate to visit light festivals worldwide. This Holiday season, I’ve had the opportunity to experience several festivals in our area and want to share my experiences at three of them.
I invite you all to visit one, or several, of these events to see the enchantment light brings to the Holiday season. It is inspiring to get out and see the magic that our medium, light, is able to create.
Holiday Lights (Bronx Zoo)
Open Until January 8th, 2023
bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights
Engaging displays of realistic animal lanterns in natural environments. Live performances, ice carving demonstrations, interactive play areas, and roaming illuminated puppets make this event unique.
Enjoy cozy, make-your-own s'mores over a fire at The Patio and delicious empanadas and specialty adult beverages, only offered in the Somba Village.
Pro Tip: Although the 3PM ticket will allow entry at the end of the Zoo's typical hours, most exhibits will be closed shortly after the 3PM arrival time and the evening's offerings don't become available until much closer to the main events launch at 5PM.
NYC Lantern Festival - Journey to the East (Staten Island)
Open Until January 8th, 2023
winterlanternfestival.com
An exciting, fresh display harnessing the beauty of lanterns to bring intricate depictions of creatures and characters from traditional legends and tales from another culture to life.
An additional improvement this year was the vastly more accessible location-directly adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
Pro Tip: Plan to arrive via the Staten Island Ferry which is free and adds to the adventure of the evening.
LuminoCity (Eisenhower Park)
Open Until January 8th, 2023
luminocityfestival.com
LuminoCity returns and is as whimsical and magical as ever. This year's display is bigger and better, with some towering new, walk-through pieces. Also included is the addition of life size, unlit animatronic dinosaurs among the prehistoric lanterns. Photo ops are scattered throughout the layout.
Pro Tip: Enter through the North Gate entrance to see one of the newest interactive elements-responsive, illuminated flowers which bloom as you advance through the entry.
Both below were standouts in last year’s lineup and recommended to see once again this season.
Lightscapes at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Open Until January 8th, 2023
bbg.org/lightscape
Shimmering Solstice at Old Westbury Gardens
Open Until January 1st, 2023
shimmeringsolstice.com
