Winter light festivals in New York and New Jersey will open one after another, starting with Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Nov. 20. Here are the dates and prices for five shows, from walk-through light trails at a botanical garden and a zoo to a drive-through show in New Jersey that you can tour without leaving your car.
As the sun sets earlier, lights are brightening up places across New York and New Jersey. Starting with Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Friday, Nov. 20, the Bronx Zoo and New Jersey drive-through light shows will open in succession. We have sorted five shows into those you walk through and those you watch from your car.
Light Trails to Walk Through
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden runs from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3 of next year. Now in its sixth year, it takes visitors along a trail where the garden's trees, buildings and ponds are decorated with lights and music. The entrance is at the Visitor Center (990 Washington Ave), and entry times are issued in 15-minute slots. Tickets cost $29 to $44 for adults and $15 to $28 for children ages 3 to 11, depending on the date, and children 2 and under are free. An "Anytime" ticket, which allows entry without a time restriction, costs $59.
Popular dates can sell out, so it is best to book in advance. Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 17 are nights for visitors 21 and older only, and on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m., there is early entry for visitors who are sensitive to sensory stimulation. During the event, daytime garden visits end at 3:30 p.m.
Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo runs on select dates from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3. Animal-shaped lanterns decorate the wooded paths, and this year the Children's Zoo farm, the reptile house and the nocturnal animal house will also be open at night.
Drive-Through Shows in New Jersey You Can See From Your Car
Magic of Lights at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel runs every night from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. Drivers pass through a light trail of more than a mile, and those who park at the Holiday Village along the way can take photos with Santa and go ice skating.
Winter WonderLights at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick will feature 2 million lights moving to music from around Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. It includes scenes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali, as well as sections honoring firefighters and service members. The opening date differs by a day depending on the listing, so it is best to check the organizer's website.
The Light Show & Christmas Village at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, Sussex County, runs on select dates from Nov. 21 through Dec. 30. More than 2 million lights are lit along a one-mile drive-through, and the Christmas Village offers family photos and a hot chocolate bar.
Prices and operating days vary by date and vehicle type and are subject to change, so check each website before you visit.