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Cool figures and thematic lighting paint a spooky—but not scary—sight. Photo by author

Exploring the Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail

I visited the Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail with my son and some friends on opening night, and we all had a blast. We already loved the New York Botanical Garden, but had never experienced it at night.

Even though the kids in our group weren't big fans of the Tim Burton movie, they got a kick out of wandering the garden paths in the dark. And the adults enjoyed the beauty of the colorful lights illuminating the treetops on a mild fall evening.

Each guest enters the trail by stepping through a huge, illuminated jack-o-lantern, followed by a tunnel of lights that leads into the woods. The next 30-45 minutes are spent following the winding path, which is full of 3D sculptures, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero, and the rest of the film's characters.

Creepy sounds and music from the movie (This is Halloween!) complement the sights, which include smoky witches’ cauldrons, spooky graveyards, and images of scuttling spiders projected onto the treetops and the ground.

Our group included kids from ages 5 to 9. They all found the trail to be fun and not too scary. I left my toddler at home, as she is not a fan of dark spaces or creepy sights.

Before flipping on the light switch and opening the trail for the first time this year, Jeffrey Seller, one of the creators of the event—and also a Hamilton producer—shared a few words.

“We are here because we want to have fun experiences in our lives,” Seller said. ”Because we want to have fun stuff to do with our kids on the weekends...and we love being outside in the most beautiful botanical garden in the country.”

Seller described looking up from the trail last year and seeing bats—not projections but the real, nocturnal creatures.

“And what that means is that by doing it in this natural environment with the trees, with the leaves, with the clouds, with maybe the rain...you never know how you’re going to interact with [the trail]," Seller said. "Because it’s going to change every single night, a little bit. And that’s part of the surprise.”

Take note if you have toddlers: The path does get very dark, though it's stroller-friendly. Photo by Avery Brunkus/courtesy of the event

Tickets, Strollers, Snacks & More

It takes about 45 minutes to walk the length of the trail, plus another few minutes to get from the garden entrance to the start/end of the path (it’s a loop that begins and ends at the same place). There are no seating areas once you get started, so wear comfortable shoes.

The trail is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Just be mindful of some hills and a few bumpy spots.

Bathrooms are located at the visitor's center at the main entrance. I’d recommend stopping by the restroom before you walk down to start your adventure.

There are concession stands at the beginning and the middle of the trail with light snacks and drinks, including adult beverages. There's also a merch store.

The event runs select evenings through Sunday, November 30, rain or shine. Timed-entry tickets cost $33 for children (ages 2-12) and $45 for adults (13+). A limited number of parking spots are available at the garden’s main entrance and at the NYBG parking garage ($22 per car). NYBG strongly recommends using a ride share or public transit.

Our favorite way to get to NYBG is via Metro-North Railroad, which we take from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The 20-minute ride from Grand Central drops you right across the street from the garden’s entrance.

You can also take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard Station and ride the Bx25 or Bx26 bus to the garden entrance (or walk nine blocks).

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