Returning for a second smash year to Croton-on-Hudson this May is LIGHTSCAPES, an immersive experience featuring sculpture, light, sound, and special effects. It launches on Friday, May 1, and will run for 15 weekend evenings at historic Van Cortlandt Manor.
Debuting in 2014, LIGHTSCAPES is the newest large-scale public event from Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization which owns and operates Van Cortlandt Manor and other historic sites, and all proceeds support the organization’s education programs. The same team creates the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which has gained national recognition and had a 2014 audience of more than 120,000 visitors.
Ideal for all ages, LIGHTSCAPES is a walk through, land-art experience. Visitors will enter through a rainbow and emerge from a bubbly haze into a dreamland of curiosities spread throughout an historic landscape. Recycled elements serve as eco-friendly building blocks for intergalactic flora and friendly woodland creatures. Otherworldly mushrooms, floating fairies, and beautiful butterflies are among the thousands of creations onsite. Path elements include two enormous walk-through experiences, the Caterpillar Cavern and the Colorwheel Castle. Brand new larger-than-life sculptural elements include a massive Mayfly and a super-sized skink (a slithering lizard!) These join thousands of smaller sculptures such as delightful dragonflies, an avalanche of pinwheels, and fields of tulips — more than 7,500 in all — to create the tableau.
State-of-the-art illumination will highlight these works of art and showcase Van Cortlandt Manor’s natural landscape and specimen trees.
In the clear-top, decorated LIGHTSCAPES hospitality tent, visitors can enjoy spring-themed sweets including organic sorbet from Blue Pig of Croton and homemade candy and baked goods (plus savories!) from Geordane’s of Irvington.
LIGHTSCAPES takes place rain or shine on weekends in May, Friday-Sunday: May 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31. The first entry is 8:15pm (8:30pm the final three weekends).
Admission is by timed ticket only. Time slots and dates sell out, so Historic Hudson Valley strongly recommends buying in advance online, where ticket prices are $16 for adults, $12 for children 3-17 and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members. Those prices are $2 more on-site and over the phone. Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, just off Route 9. Tickets and info: www.hudsonvalley.org, 914-366-6900.
You can find Historic Hudson Valley and #LIGHTSCAPES on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest (username: HHValley), Instagram and YouTube (username: InTheValley1).
