Never mind the floral and fauna. Old Westbury Gardens is now the home of the Shimmering Solstice, a walkthrough winter lights show that is open to the public.

It’s the first time the gardens has hosted this holiday event, which has repurposed the gardens to attract a new audience at a time when visitors might otherwise stay home.

“We are excited to offer this brand-new experience for our visitors to enjoy,” Nancy Costopulos, president and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens, said in a statement. “This walkthrough lightshow has been designed specifically for Old Westbury Gardens and offers a one-of-a-kind experience that we intend to become a new annual holiday tradition.

The presenting sponsor for the show is Catholic Health, whose “commitment to the communities they serve mirrors our own, and we welcome their support as we bring this spectacular event to Long Island,” she added.

“This experience will bring families, friends, and communities together in a beautiful setting to reflect and make memories, Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Catholic Health, said in a statement.

“Catholic Health cherishes the value of families and communities, and we continue to be humbled in contributing to moments in life that matter,” he added

Designed specifically for Old Westbury Gardens, Shimmering Solstice required about 18 months of planning, adapting the land with new purpose.

“This is a celebration of our space,”  Maura McGoldrick-Brush, director of horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens, said in a statement. “Instead of flowers, the gardens will be blooming with light. This is truly an enchanting combination of the beauty of the gardens and the magic of the season.”

Old Westbury Gardens worked with Lightswitch, a collective of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers to create the show with the intent of celebrating the gardens’ history and environment during the fall and winter seasons.

“The design will truly embrace the Gardens,” Warren Kong, principal at Lightswitch, said in a statement. “The goal is to create something that is unique. We wanted to give people something they can’t see down the street from their homes and create a new family tradition for the region.”

The event runs through Jan. 9, 2022. The admission time starts at 5:30 p.m. and the last admission is at 9:30 p.m. The gates close at 11 p.m. For advance tickets, which are required, click here.

Source: https://libn.com/2021/12/15/old-westbury-gardens-repurposed-into-a-winter-lights-show/