Photos & Video: Grand Opening of Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at The New York Botanical Garden

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Photo by Avery Brunkus

Experience The Trail Through November 30

Tickets Available via TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com

Making its worldwide debut, DISNEY TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAIL at The New York Botanical Garden opens to the public today. Inspired by the timeless 1993 classic film Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, the light trail runs through November 30.

At a preview event on September 25, the creators of the attraction, Adventurelive founder Jeffrey Seller and LETSGO founder Iñaki Fernández celebrated the opening and welcomed the Light Trail’s first guests with remarks.

Join Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero on a walk of wonders, as your favorite characters, scenes, and songs from the immortal film come to life amongst the leaves of New York’s most treasured garden. You’ll marvel at this first-ever spectacle that illuminates the art of the classic film against a backdrop of botanical beauty—a must-see New York event for anyone who loves all things seasonal, festive and fun. The 9-week limited engagement begins today and runs through November 30 only!

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail was created by Adventurelive, the producing team behind Broadway’s Hamilton, and LETSGO, the Madrid-based creative team behind Tim Burton’s Labyrinth and Lights in Nature, and presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical. Bringing the film’s distinctive characters to life, the outdoor adventure features over 8,300 square feet of dazzling light installations forged by cutting-edge technology including interactive video projection, intelligent LED lighting, and 3D-printed sculptures of the film’s iconic characters. The experience ignites the senses and invites audiences deep into the imagination of the story’s visionary creator, Tim Burton.

Tickets can be purchased at TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com. Tickets start at $39 (timed entry) or $55 (flex entry).

“We are so excited for visitors to now be able to experience this stunning display for themselves and truly proud to be able to bring this spectacular adventure to one of the greatest gardens on Earth,” said Jeffrey Seller, Adventurelive Founder. 

“Following our launches of Tim Burton´s Labyrinth and Lights in Nature in several cities, we are thrilled to now be live in New York with this magical and unforgettable journey. Visitors can take the best photos they have ever imagined and have an experience that they will remember for years,” said Iñaki Fernández, LETSGO Founder.

Operating hours for Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail are from dusk to 10 PM every Thursday through Sunday beginning today through November 30. A full schedule can be found at TheNightmareBeforeChristmasLightTrail.com and you can follow Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail on Facebook and Instagram.  

About Adventurelive

Adventurelive is an experimental entertainment company that specializes in interactive works and storytelling within sensory theatrical worlds. Born from the success of Broadway production company, Adventureland, Adventurelive is owned and operated by Jeffrey Seller, 4-time Tony Award-winning producer of Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Hamilton, Pete Milano, Founder and CEO of the live entertainment merchandise company Creative Goods, and RPM Agency, and Maggie Brohn, Chief Operative Officer of Adventureland and Executive Producer of Hamilton on Broadway and on tour. 

About LETSGO

LETSGO is a Spanish company specializing in entertainment and content creation, with shows and experiences that travel around the world. Responsible together with Andrew Lloyd Webber for a new version of the musical The Phantom of the Opera, which begins its successful second season in Madrid and will soon tour South America, and together with Tim Burton with the creation of the immersive experience Tim Burton’s Labyrinth, opened in Madrid to great success in 2022 and continues to tour Europe (Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Milan)….we also highlight the creation of the lighting experience Lights in Nature, with more than a million visitors during last season including historical outdoor spaces of Spain (Real Alcázar in Seville, Gardens of Royal Palace of Pedralbes in Barcelona, Alcázar in Córdoba…) and now with Disney, Adventurelive and Tim Burton with Tim Burton´s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden.

About The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden has been a connective hub among people, plants, and the planet since 1891. We’re rooted in the cultural fabric of New York City, here in the heart of the Bronx—its greenest borough. For more than 130 years, we’ve invited millions of visitors to make the Garden a part of their lives, exploring the joy, beauty, and respite of nature. NYBG’s 250 acres are home to renowned exhibitions, immersive botanical experiences, art and music, and events with some of the most influential figures in plant and fungal science, horticulture, and the humanities. We’re also stewards of globally significant research collections, from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library collection to the plant and fungal specimens in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, the largest such collection in the Western Hemisphere. 

At NYBG, we’re plant people—dedicated horticulturists, enthusiastic educators, and scientific adventurers—committed to helping nature thrive so that humanity can thrive. We believe in our ability to make things better, teaching tens of thousands of kids and families each year about the importance of safeguarding our environment and healthy eating. Our expert scientists work across the city, the nation, and the globe to document the plants and fungi of our world—and find actionable, nature-based solutions to our planet’s dual climate and biodiversity crises. And our eyes are always looking forward as we train the next generation of botanists, gardeners, landscape designers, and environmental stewards, ensuring a green future for all. At NYBG, we know that it’s nature—or nowhere.