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Photos: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Unveils 'Enchanting' After-Dark Experience


By

Jen Carlson

Published Nov 19, 2021


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The light tunnel, which will no doubt be the selfie centerpiece of the exhibit

 

Jake Dobkin / Gothamist

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By

Jen Carlson

Published Nov 19, 2021


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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is offering a new, illuminated after-dark experience called "Lightscape," a twinkling maze winding through their 52-acre landscape. We're not talking a string of blinkers from your grandma's attic here—they've got "over one million dazzling lights," and it will take you a soulful hour to navigate your way through it all. This is perhaps the only place in New York City to forest bathe and light bathe simultaneously.

Here's what it all looks like from a drone:

Your one-mile journey will include site-specific music and other curated sounds, along with 18 works of light art, "among them the Winter Cathedral tunnel, Fire Garden in Oak Circle, Sea of Light, an animated light installation covering Cherry Esplanade, and a series of new light-based artworks by local artists," according to the BBG's press release.

We're talking 14,000 glowing orbs of light, 600 strands of lights, a 98-foot-long tunnel of light, 42 sculptures, 20 treetop sculptures, 2 lasers, one wish tree, chandeliers, five new poems by Jacqueline Woodson projected in light, historic buildings bathed in light, and more.

Additionally, there will be concessions available along the trail, including hot drinks, snacks, and a roast-your-own s’mores station. You can see the full menu below (and yes, it includes spiked peppermint hot chocolates).

Map of the light installations

Courtesy of BBG

Lightscape is now open at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and runs on select dates through January 9th, 2022. Nonmember regular admission tickets are $34 for adults and $18 for children ages 3–12—find more details at bbg.org/lightscape.

Drone footage by Jake Dobkin and Alex Tween.

Yellow Magnolia Canteen by Ben Yakas on Scribd

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Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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