Every year from November through January, the Encinitas Botanical Gardens transforms into a winter lightscape. This activity includes thousands of lights, sculptures, seasonal drinks and treats in an enchanting soundscape, immersing visitors into a glowing winter wonderland.
For four years now, the Botanical Gardens have covered every trail and tree in vibrant lights, along with light sculptures and winter-themed activities for all ages. Botanical Gardens manager Venice Henson discusses the process of transforming the gardens, fan-favorite exhibits and what to expect when visiting the gardens.
“Planning begins more than six months before opening night,” Henson said. “Together we determine which piece best suits our garden’s space and how they will work collectively to shape the visitor’s experience.”
Henson explains how creating an immersive experience as such was not something easy to create. She talks about the careful and long planning process to bring this idea to life and make sure the experience is safe, along with flowing smoothly for all visitors.
“The event is a massive undertaking, from planning the spacing and lighting details for each installation to designing wayfinding signage that ensures the best visitor experience,” Henson said. “ It takes months of careful planning and close coordination with our partners to bring everything together seamlessly.”
To ensure guest safety so the event runs smoothly, the lights are placed strategically to both highlight the artistic installations and illuminate the walking paths. This placement not only enhances the visual impact of each display but also improves visibility when walking, reducing potential safety hazards and helping guests navigate the trail.
“The one-mile trail is designed for one-way walking traffic, with three designated entry points to help maintain steady flow,” Henson said. “We use extensive wayfinding signage, barricades, and have numerous trail stewards on site to guide visitors… All pathways are lit, and many lighting elements double as both artistic features and practical illumination.”
When visiting the garden’s light show, visitors can expect to emerge into a magical dreamy experience. They can expect many different dazzling exhibits, but some that have stood out to guests this year is a tunnel of gold sparkling lights (also known as the Winter Cathedral), and an exhibit that is inspired by California’s state flower, the Poppy, also known as the Floraison.
“The Winter Cathedral and Floraison continue to be our most Instagram-worthy moments,” Henson said. “Other installations like Tree Halos and Trail to the Falls feature high-energy music and colorful lights that are playful and fun.”
This year’s lightscape is curated towards all ages, but this year, adult-only nights have been introduced that sets it apart from previous years. By adding these 21+ nights, it brings a relaxed atmosphere to the gardens- tailored to many guest requests. This year, the layout of the lightshow has expanded, adding more lounging areas to drink and eat, and including almost all new installations for a fresh experience this year.
“We’ve introduced several new elements this year, including two 21+ nights to create a more adult-focused atmosphere—a frequent request in previous seasons,” Henson said. “We’ve also expanded our lawn area to give visitors more space to relax, eat, and enjoy beverages. Most of the installations are brand new, which brings a strong sense of discovery even for returning guests.”
This year, while the winter lightscape features the new exhibits and activities, the goal of this event is still the same. Everything new was designed to not just wow visitors, but to create a memorable experience, in hopes that it is something they enjoy enough to return to year after year.
“I love hearing that Lightscape has become an annual tradition for individuals and families. Bringing this event to life and seeing the joy it brings to our guests is truly what it’s all about,” Henson said.
