Lightscapes a Garden Fantasy at Historic Van Cortlandt Manor
With the incredible success of the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze over the last 10 years during the Halloween season at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, Historic Hudson Valley officials have been looking for a large springtime event.
More than two years in the making, the masterminds behind the Blaze have created Lightscapes, a garden fantasyland featuring all original, handmade colorful creatures, thousands of flowers and special effects with soundscapes over 11 evenings in May.
“This has a lot of different elements. There’s more variety. It has a different walking path than the Blaze,” explained Historic Hudson Valley Media Relations Manager Rob Schweitzer. “We know from the Blaze that people like things they can do at night that’s kind of off the beaten path.”
Schweitzer said everything at Lightscapes was created by Historic Hudson Valley staff, including more than 6,500 tulips. Floating fairies, butterflies, an enormous caterpillar and a supersize birdhouse are among the thousands of treasures that visitors will see.
Meanwhile, in the hospitality tent, organic and sorbet ice cream sandwiches will be sold by Blue Pig of Croton, along with homemade candy and baked goods from Geordane’s of Irvington.
Schweitzer said Lightscapes appears to be drawing a lot of interest as more than 12,000 tickets have already been sold online.
Lightscapes will take place every 30 minutes from 8 to 10 p.m. on May 9-10, 16-17, 23-25 and 30-31. For ticket information, visit www.hudsonvalley.org.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/