The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail opens at the NYBG

Oct 16, 2024

Life's no fun without a good scare. And now, there's a new kind of nightmare opening in New York City just in time for Halloween.

On a magical light trail that winds through the forest of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, you'll find just that. At its new exhibit, "The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail," opening Friday, you'll walk past an unnerving graveyard where eerie monsters are buried under cockeyed tombstones. A decrepit snowman with bones for arms and a skull for a head. A villainous boogeyman whose burlap-sack body is filled with bugs.

These spooky, but loveable, iconic figures — plus others you might recognize, like Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, and his ghost dog Zero — are inspired by the 1993 Disney film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The immersive after-dark experience boasts life-like 3D printed sculptures of these signature characters from the film, as well as others from Tim Burton like Sally, Mayor and Dr. Finkelstein.

The 45-minute excursion consists of 19 different ghostly replications of scenes from the animated film, all set to the story’s beloved soundtrack. Expect to be met with 8,300 square feet of bright light installations, including interactive video projects and dynamic LED lighting.

The project was co-created by Adventureline, the producing company behind Broadway's "Hamilton," and LETSGO, a Madrid-based entertainment company behind other ventures like Tim Burton's Labyrinth and Lights in Nature.

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Jeffrey Seller, founder of Adventurelive, said he was able to watch some of the clay making and stop motion work first-hand when "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was initially being created in 1992. Now seeing The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail come to life in New York City all these years later, he said it feels like a full circle moment.

"The goal is to honor the ingenuity, the creativity, the genius of Tim Burton. Tim Burton is our contemporary Walt Disney. He makes indelible characters, and he makes indelible sculptures and projects," Seller said. "Our goal was to create this kind of funhouse slash haunted house that gives the goer a change to be in the midst — in a 360-degree way — of Tim's world."

The experience is now open from dusk to 10 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday until Nov. 30, and visitors of all ages are welcome. Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased online at TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com

"People need to come enjoy the New York Botanical Garden with The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail," said Iñaki Fernández, founder of LETSGO. "This is only happening for nine weeks, and it's ready to enjoy."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].