Holiday Hi-Lights with Zachary Pearson
My passion is seeing how lights enhance the environment while telling a story. As Vice President of the IESNYC, my goal is to continue 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 attend 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.
Astra Lumina (Queens Botanical Garden)
Open until February 11, 2024
astralumina.com/new-york
Astra Lumina is a magical evening filled with wonder and beauty. Having experienced Foresta Lumina by Moment Factory at Coaticook, Ontario in 2018, I expected nothing less, and they certainly succeeded in bringing their mystical world to NYC. The story of a celestial visit from the stars is masterfully told through nine installations, each more mesmerizing than the last. From the foggy glowing Astra Archway entrance to the towering Falling Stars sculpture, through the undulating Celestial Trail, past the giant shimmering Astral Genesis orb and all the artfully clever and artistic surprises in between, this is an encounter that should be on your must-see list. Ending with an interactive element where you can name your own star is a perfect finale.
Pro tip: Enjoy a themed beverage while strolling through the displays. Also, be sure to bring fully charged mobile devices in order to enjoy the added layers of story and narrative available via the QR codes at the start of each section. Note that each installation has an associated run-time for its show that is also listed on the entry plaques to each experience.
Lightscape (Brooklyn Botanic Garden)
Open until January 1, 2024
bbg.org/lightscape
A standout installation in 2021, followed by a somewhat diminished encore in 2022, has returned this year with an array of outstanding light art from international and local creators. Eighteen installations are laid out along a winding path through the gardens and include a multi-fountain, musical light show at Dancing Watercolors that sets the tone for this year's vibrant and exciting iteration. Lantern Garden offers a tranquil, picturesque lantern display mirrored in twin reflecting pools while Submergence is an immersive walk-through experience of thousands of points of animated, suspended light. Experience returning favorites like the gigantic illuminated dandelion seeds at Light a Wish and the Winter Cathedral tunnel of lights cleverly located in new locations to provide fresh context. Pass beneath a hanging canopy of floating red poppies at Floraison and stroll past the icy white outline of the Frost Tree on your way to the breathtaking Sea of Light display.
Pro tip: The iconic field light show towards the end of the experience can, and should, be viewed from two distinct vantage points, from the initial viewing level adjacent to the installation and from one of the overlook paths winding up the final hill. Also, be sure to take a moment to stop and enjoy the music that accompanies the different installations.
Glow and Holiday Train Show (NY Botanical Garden)
Open until January 13, 2024
nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show/nybg-glow
Experience the return of large installations throughout the gardens like Dandelion Corner and Glittering Gazebo as well as the lit up facade of the Mertz Library Building. In contrast with last year's variety of environment-based and show based installations, the displays themselves are the same as last year. With the exception of the long-cycle show at Luminous Lake and the striking colors at the Home Garden Center, most of the remaining installations have had their music and coordinated show turned off or did not return at all this year. If you saw this show last year and were considering returning for this winter's iteration, I would recommend attending this year for the expanded Holiday Train Show, but not necessarily for Glow.
Pro tip: Plan to spend some extra time exploring the intricate structures and detailed layouts at the Train Show and enjoy some photo-ops. Grab a bite of tasty local flavors at the Bronx Night Market featuring food vendors celebrating NYC's diverse cultures and you may stumble upon a pop-up performance by American Circus Theatre.
Other shows to consider this season include LuminoCity (Eisenhower Park), a favorite whimsical lantern festival that has been featured over the last two annual Hi-Lights, the Winter Lantern Festival (Queens County Farm Museum), and Holiday Lights (Bronx Zoo).
