by Spencer Bollettieri, lead freelance writer for Theme Park Magazine
“Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange?” The residents of Halloween Town pose that question in the opening of Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas. This year, it feels less like a lyric and more like an invitation, as Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie descend on the New York Botanical Garden for Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Packed with tricks, treats, and a dash of Disney magic, this new spooktacular transforms the Bronx into a wild wonderland designed to raise more than a few holiday spirits.
Like the residents of Halloween Town, the teams at LETSGO, Adventurelive, and the New York Botanical Garden have been busy as bats preparing for Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail’s latest outing following its 2024 NYBG debut. Adventurelive’s Jeffrey Seller promises the event will be even better this year, later adding, “More sculptures, more lights, beer and wine, hot cider… this is one trail you’ll want to walk, hike, or even get lost on.” With Adventurelive known for its Broadway theatrics through productions like Hamilton, LETSGO celebrated for its immersive Tim Burton’s Labyrinth art exhibit, and the NYBG carrying a legacy of curious plants since 1891, the partnership feels like a dream team fit to bring Burton’s gothic holiday classic to life.
When guests arrive and night falls, the New York Botanical Garden transforms into Tim Burton’s delightfully twisted world. A glowing path of pumpkins leads guests into Halloween Town, where swirling patterns of light set the stage for something far more eccentric than the average holiday trail, where, in the words of the Pumpkin King’s subjects, “everyone’s waiting for the next surprise.”
Music, Scenes, and Surprises
The journey begins with a vortex of spiraling lights that pulls visitors into Disney’s cult classic. Danny Elfman’s score echoes through the gardens, with expanded selections from The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. With everything from “This Is Halloween” to “Oogie Boogie’s Song” and “What’s This?” the familiar music sets the tone for each scene and may even tempt guests to sing along on their self-guided tours.
Rather than unfolding as a straightforward retelling of the film, the trail scatters iconic moments across the gardens. Among other surprises, visitors encounter the ghouls of Halloween Town preparing for their big night, pass through Oogie Boogie’s casino with its spinning, glowing roulette wheel, and stumble upon a field of Easter eggs where a zombie puzzles over the bewildered Easter Bunny. Each exhibit offers both a stylized atmosphere true to Tim Burton’s movie and photo-ready set pieces that guests will not hesitate to gather around.
A Burton World, Under the Trees
The New York Botanical Garden’s natural beauty only complements the spectacle of the light trail. Towering trees cast long shadows as projected cartoon spiders crawl across their canopies. Vampires rise in front of a blood-red neon glow while live bats flutter in the distance. Meanwhile, Jack and Sally, bathed in autumn moonlight, share a quiet moment of love amid the chaos. The blend of natural landscape and theatrical design creates a sense of immersion that even the film’s 3-D re-releases never fully achieved, aiming to evoke a sense of a fairy tale brought to life.
Seasonal Sips and Souvenirs
Seasonal features extend beyond the lights and Jack Skellington’s Halloween celebration. Spiced apple cider warms chilly fall evenings, while Burton-themed cookies offer a sweet treat among all the tricks. The event also features themed merchandise, including Disney-branded shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, and bags, alongside the NYBG’s own seasonal souvenirs, such as eco-friendly bat boxes, books that explore the macabre side of botany, and shirts adorned with exotic Dracula chimaera blooms.
Despite the ghoulish setting, nothing here feels too frightening. Instead, the trail balances monstrous whimsy, romance, and playful pandemonium. Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail is as fitting for a family outing as it is for a date night, and although the path requires a bit of walking, the chance to wander among shadows and glowing scenes is part of the experience. Much like the film itself, the light trail is a celebration of wonder and oddity, inviting guests, like Jack, to unleash their curiosity and imagination, and to discover that life’s true spice is not pumpkin, apple, or gingerbread, but the delightful surprises waiting just around the corner.
Good to Know: Dates, Hours, Tickets
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail runs September 25 through November 30 at the New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. The experience is open Wednesday through Sunday evenings from dusk until 10:00 p.m., although the schedule can vary, so checking the calendar is recommended. Timed-entry tickets start at $45 for adults and $33 for children, with a Flex Entry option at $56 for adults. Passes can be reserved in advance, where guests will also find further information about the event.
Feature image by Spencer Bollettieri
Explore More: Videos
Full Walking Tour (Amateur Video)
30-Second Promo
Explore More: Resources
- Website: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail (Official)
- Web Page: Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail (New York Botanical Gardens)
- Web Page: Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail (Fever)
- Article: Disney’s Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail to Open in New York and Texas (TheaterMania)
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As a biologist, journalist, and writer, Spencer Bollettieri has written for sites such as Screen Rant. Although mostly based out of New York, he’s traveled the world in pursuit of new stories.
