The gardens and grounds of the New York Botanical Garden are alight with the holiday spirit! Starting this weekend, New York City’s largest outdoor holiday light display, NYBG GLOW, will illuminate the gardens and historic buildings of the site for a dazzling show. This new-ish nighttime experience – the installation is returning for its third year – accompanies the return of the NYBG’s beloved Holiday Train Show, which also returns this weekend, for its 31st run.
The twinkling topiaries, glittering gazebo walk, and spherical white pollen puffs of the NYBG GLOW experience cast the garden and its historic buildings in a totally different light than visitors are used to seeing during the rest of the year. The iconic pieces of garden architecture like the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building become colorful canvases for dazzling light paintings and the gardens’ blossoms are outshone by thousands of energy-efficient, choreographed light fixtures.
A brand new installation will debut at this year’s NYBG GLOW on the water feature at the Native Plant Garden. This year, 60 glowing orbs will dance atop the water as visitors walk by. Inside the Haupt Observatory at the Holiday Train Show, visitors will see another upgrade. The George Washington Bridge replica made out of plant material has undergone a 1,000-hour overhaul. This year, the bridge will feature more intricate detailing and lighting.
Back outside at NYBG GlOW visitors can enjoy beverages and light fare from the NYBG and the Bronx Night Market Holiday Pop-Up. Professional sculptors will be on hand to create intricate ice carvings inspired by the Garden’s winter landscape. Their ephemeral works will last only until the end of the evening!
NYBG GLOW will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. on 23 nights starting Friday, November 18, 2022, and running through Saturday, January 14, 2023. The Holiday Train Show opens to the public on Saturday, November 19, 2022, and will be on view through Monday, January 16, 2023. Check the NYBG website for exact NYBG GLOW dates and tickets, and do so with haste – the past two years of NYBG GLOW have sold out!
Next, check out The Top 10 Secrets of the New York Botanical Garden
