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Behind-the-scenes at Lightscape
For the past week, the big forklifts and trucks with their whimsical cargo have been rolling in to set up for the U.S. debut of Lightscape on November 22. Popular time slots are selling fast for the new holiday event at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Lightscape is a festive, immersive trail of color, imagination, and sound, a night out for families, couples, and friends who want to get in on something new. This is a holiday lights event for a new generation, jolly with the sound of singing trees and toasty in the glow of a fire garden.
Crew members and creative staff have been working every day past dark since November 8 to set up more than a million points of light. Just a few things on the to-do list: unravel about 12 miles of cable, build a 110-foot tunnel of golden light, hang 256 ribbons of light.
The illuminated trail was designed by artists in Australia, France, and the U.K.
Insider tips:
Be a human zoom lens.
Get close to the lights and step back from them to take in the grand scene unfolding before your eyes. One big picture moment: the showstopper musical finale, the Field of Lights. This 6-minute show features thousands of dancing points of light and color. Keep an eye on how the trees around you come to life—think fireworks.
Maybe dig out those dancing penguin socks that your aunt gave you.
Heads up that you’ll be walking on a projection floor with moving images. A quick kick will change the image—get ready for feet selfies with snowflakes that turn into...a spring surprise.
Dress code: Merry. Or whatever.
Speaking of selfies...For that bright lights, big city look, try the towering Cathedral of Light. Feeling Love, Actually? The mistletoe moment is for you and yours. Show us what you got—looking at you, lovebirds and person in the latkes sweatshirt: #Lightscape.
It’s the holidays—eat treats.
Toast s’mores over an open fire, or let us do the cooking. We’ll have light bites and drinks for purchase, including spiked hot apple cider and candy cane hot chocolate, a spinach-mushroom-gruyére crepe, and nine-vegetable chili.