Lockerly Arboretum is decorated in a festive glow for the holiday season and invites everyone to view Lockerly in Lights before they leave Dec. 21.
Lockerly in Lights runs every Thursday through Saturday night. Thursdays are drive-thru only from 6-9 p.m. and tickets are $15 per car, cash only upon entry. Fridays and Saturdays are for walkers and require advance tickets purchased online at lockerly.org for designated entry times at 6, 7, or 8 p.m. Walking tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 12, 2 years old and younger get in for free.
This year’s lights include the first-ever art exhibit spread throughout the trail. Forest Forms, by Huelani Mei, comprises 18 sculptures ranging from 5 feet to 20 feet tall depicting flora and fauna that are spotlighted alongside the usual lights. Chrissssssssssssss, a coiling snake sculpture, has lights intertwined with its body for visitors to walk under.
“I’ve been excited to see the sculptures debut with Lockerly in Lights,” Mei said in an interview last month. “The venue (Lockerly Arboretum) was the perfect canvas, and our goal was to give a ‘living in the garden’ experience… Each of my sculptures will be lit up with the glowing environment, adding another element to their inclusion in the natural landscape.”
Lockerly Arboretum Executive Director Jennifer Pollard had connections with Elemental Exhibitions co-owner Emily Succenti, who recommended the installation of Forest Forms. She has been “looking forward” to its inclusion in Lockerly in Lights since the exhibit debuted last month. According to Lockerly Arboretum Marketing Consultant Sarah Melito, having a traveling exhibit like Forest Forms in the arboretum is a “rare experience” for a smaller community.
“Jennifer wanted Forest Forms to stand on its own so we could spotlight them,” Melito explained. “We don’t want to take away or change the artist’s vision of incorporating the sculptures into a living environment.'
Visitors this year will be greeted at the start of the trail by a giant dragonfly and will walk by it into a forest of candy canes. The candy canes stand tall and off to either side of the paved trail surrounding visitors as they descend toward the pond. Then, eyes will catch the glimmering reflections of lights in the water that point toward the center island where the mother and father fox of three little foxes alongside the path sit overlooking Lockerly Arboretum. These foxes, like the dragonfly, are a part of the Forest Forms sculptures.
As visitors travel around the pond, they will enter an enchanted forest with lights dancing around the trees like fireflies, which leads to a cornfield where a volunteer is assisting at the free popcorn station.
Throughout the path, there are stations for making s’mores at a fire pit, buying cookies from The Cookie Company, grabbing souvenirs and more. The Baldwin County Life Enrichment Center’s coffee truck is also present offering a selection of coffee and hot chocolate for purchase. Lockerly also sells beer, wine, and water at various stations.
Alongside the normal viewing nights, Lockerly is hosting two events, the Jingle Jog Dec. 15 and Date Night at the Arboretum Dec.
18. The Jingle Jog is a one-mile fun run/walk around the grounds, costs $15 per person, and donations of non-perishable food items for the Chard Wray Food Pantry are being accepted that night. Date night at the Arboretum is $80 per couple for food, wine, and a blanket to create a romantic date.
For more information on Lockerly in Lights, visit Lockerly Arboretum’s Facebook page or website, lockerly.org.