Awaken the Kid Within at Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden

by Patricia Frischer

Winter Cathedral with Blue Bonnets in the foreground both by Mandylights

Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden  will light up the kid within you with more than one million lights in a one-mile trail with 21 different installations by a variety of artists. This showing is produced by Culture Creative, a design firm from England and Scotland that produces these events in the UK, Australia and the United States. Besides the million-dollar installations there are a huge number of plants with lighting designed by John Stewart who is local to San Diego. These were so impressive and highlighted the SDBG collection. We were there at 5 pm and saw the sunset to the west and the higher hills to the east lit by the sun. We found this twilight almost more magical than the full dark as all of the planting participated in our enjoyment.

The music is a huge part of the experience and you can listen to it on site. This means that your party (and yes, it is fun to go with a group) can hear with no headphones to separate you. I think more than anything it is the music that sets the tone for each work. Without the music, it is lovely lights, but the music gives it context and story. Singing Trees by  ITHACA Studio is a good example of this, but I heard love songs, fairy music, Irish step dancing, jazz, Somewhere over the Rainbow and, of course, holiday tunes and that creates the winter mood even in southern California. 

Catch this year's showing until Jan 5 2025. Every year there are new sights to see and because of the dips and rises of the trail you get different views at every turn you take. Make sure and look over your shoulder to where you have been on occasion. This is a first class experience from a world class venue. 

Floraison by Pitaya a display of hanging California poppies.

Floraison by Pitaya a California display of poppies.

Floraison by Pitaya a California display of poppies.

Neon Network by Christopher Wren

The Painted Landscape by John Stewart

Submergence by Squidsoup, a curtain of lights on suspended ropes

Submergence by Squidsoup, a curtain of lights on suspended ropes

Submergence by Squidsoup, a curtain of lights  on suspended ropes

Illuminated Fountain by John Stewart

Illuminated Fountain by John Stewart

The waterfall lit by by John Stewart

Pulse by Jon Stewart

 Halo by John Stewart - illuminated and programmed balls on the lawn

Halo by John Stewart - illuminated and programmed balls on the lawn

Cascade Tree by Culture Creatives with 400 cascading multi colored light tubes suspended in an old Moreton Bay fig tree.

Cascade Tree by Culture Creatives with 400 cascading multi colored light tubes suspended in an old Moreton Bay fig tree.

Winter Cathedral with Blue Bonnets in the background both by Mandylights

Winter Cathedral with Blue Bonnets in the background both by Mandylights

Flame Skimmers Dragonfly  by Michael Young

Star Avenue by ArtAV

Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden 
Showing until Jan 5

300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 436-3036

Culture Creative for full info. Map
Reserve your tickets for dates through January 5.

Tickets are from $26 to $34 for adults, $13 - $17 for children ages 3-12, and are free for ages 2 and under.
Entrance times are every 15-minutes starting and 5pm with the last entry being 8:30pm
Flex Tickets are also available, allowing entrance anytime between 5pm-8:30pm for $60 per person including parking
Discounted tickets are also available for San Diego Botanic Garden Members and active and combat-disabled Military with I.D. (excluding flex tickets)

Advance parking is $10 or $15 per vehicle depending on the date of your visit.
Parking increases by $10 on the night of the event
Food and Drink is available for purchase.