Art and light event LIGHTSCAPES returns to Croton for second year
Expanded by popular demand to 15 evenings; ideal for all ages
Expanded by popular demand to 15 evenings; ideal for all ages
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY (April 20, 2015) — LIGHTSCAPES, an immersive, family friendly walk-through experience featuring sculpture, light, music, and special effects, returns for its second year to historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
Expanded by popular demand to 15 May weekend evenings, LIGHTSCAPES, created by the Historic Hudson Valley team that produces The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, begins on Friday, May 1, and is open for all Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in May.
Ideal for all ages, LIGHTSCAPES is a walk-through, land-art experience. Visitors enter through a rainbow and emerge from a bubbly haze into a dreamland of curiosities spread throughout a historic landscape. Recycled elements serve as eco-friendly building blocks for intergalactic flora and friendly woodland creatures. Otherworldly mushrooms, immense insects, and brilliant butterflies are among the thousands of treasures you’ll find.
Path elements to explore include the new Colorwheel Castle and enormous Caterpillar Cavern. Larger-than-life elements like a massive mayfly and giant praying mantis join more than 7,500 smaller sculptures including dragonflies, ladybugs, and an avalanche of pinwheels.
This year, thanks to the LIGHTSCAPES 2015 Artist Project, made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, Historic Hudson Valley and Collaborative Concepts commissioned six local artists to create new event sculptures, including a delft bunny, frog prince, and 5-lined skink. Info: www.hudsonvalley.org/lightscapes-artist-project
New this year, Phish collaborator and songwriter Steve Pollak AKA “The Dude of Life” and Charles de Saint Phalle join together to create all-original music and sound effects for LIGHTSCAPES. Info: www.hudsonvalley.org/lightscapes-music.
In the clear-top, decorated LIGHTSCAPES hospitality tent, visitors can enjoy spring-themed sweets including organic sorbet from Blue Pig of Croton and homemade candy and baked goods (plus savories!) from Geordane’s of Irvington.
LIGHTSCAPES takes place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in May: May 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31. The first entry is 8:15pm (8:30pm the final three weekends).
LIGHTSCAPES takes place rain or shine and admission is by timed ticket only. Time slots and dates will sell out, so Historic Hudson Valley strongly recommends buying in advance online, where ticket prices are $16 for adults, $12 for children 3-17 and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members. Those prices are $2 more on site and over the phone. Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Ave. in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, just off Route 9. Tickets and info: 914-366-6900, www.hudsonvalley.org.
LIGHTSCAPES is the newest large-scale public event from Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based private, non-profit educational organization which owns and operates Van Cortlandt Manor and other historic sites, and all proceeds support the organization’s education programs. The same team creates the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, a Halloween themed event which has gained national recognition and drew more than 120,000 visitors last year.
You can find Historic Hudson Valley and #LIGHTSCAPES on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest (username: HHValley), Instagram and YouTube (username: InTheValley1)
