2,000 visitors experience the magic of Night Lights on opening weekend
BOYLSTON, MA – The highly anticipated Night Lights: Color Cascade opened Saturday with a splash. Two thousand people visited New England Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA, over the weekend to take in one of the most dazzling winter light displays in the region.
In addition to experiencing New England Botanic Garden’s formal garden spaces, conservatories, and Visitors Center decked out in over a quarter million lights, first-day visitors also enjoyed a special cultural celebration of Diwali Lights, made possible by a partnership with the India Society of Worcester. Against the colorful cascade of lights, attendees enjoyed Indian cultural programs featuring traditional music and dance, an artisan bazaar, displays of Southeast Asian plants, and more. The Diwali Lights celebration kicked-off the Night Lights season, which continues through January 5, 2025.
At Night Lights: Color Cascade visitors can expect to be immersed in a kaleidoscope of colors that sparkle, twinkle, and shine. Artful displays inspired by nature celebrate bright, bold hues while dramatic uplighting on trees, illuminated orbs, and lights that give the impression of fireflies in the forest fill guests with wonder. A nostalgic model train display and towering trees constructed from living bromeliad plants make the event even more magical.
“Night Lights is special because it welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to join in a festive celebration of the winter season,” says Grace Elton, New England Botanic Garden CEO. “An evening at Night Lights inspires treasured memories, so it’s no wonder that some visitors have made our annual winter light show a yearly tradition. We couldn’t be more grateful for the enthusiastic community response as Night Lights helps fund the Garden’s mission of connecting people and plants all year long.”
Opening weekend also saw the nighttime debut of a skating rink — a first in Night Lights’ history — which welcomed skaters to glide under the night sky. The rink adds to the exciting lineup of activities that visitors can enjoy at Night Lights. Roasting s’mores over fire pits, holiday shopping, and taking fun photos with family and friends, are a few. For those who are hungry, dinner with a cup of mulled wine from the onsite café, the Farmer and the Fork, while taking in the lights, will also be an experience to remember.
Night Lights marks its sixth year as a signature event at New England Botanic Garden. Year-end holiday celebrations first began in 1994, and over the years, these events grew and evolved to feature a stronger focus on winter holiday lights and to welcome a growing number of visitors each year. Today, planning and preparation for Night Lights begins in February with more than 2,000 staff and volunteer hours dedicated to bringing the show to life.
Tens of thousands of people from across the region will make Night Lights part of their holiday experience in the weeks ahead. The Garden recommends purchasing tickets online soon as popular evenings are selling out fast. Night Lights runs daily from 4 to 10 PM through January 5, excluding November 28, December 24-25, and January 1. Tickets are available at nebg.org.
About New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a nonprofit organization located at 11 French Drive in Boylston, Massachusetts. A regional destination, the Garden is operated on 200 acres by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, one of the oldest of its kind in the country, and is open to the public for garden viewing, trail walking, educational programs, private events, weddings, exhibitions, and more. In 2023, New England Botanic Garden was voted “Top Botanic Garden in the U.S.” by TravelAwaits. New England Botanic Garden is an AAM-accredited museum that includes an irreplaceable collection of plants and creates opportunities for visitors to experience the wonder of plants, learn about the natural world, and make joyful connections. Learn all about New England Botanic Garden, including its history, mission, and its staff, at nebg.org.
