Lightscape is returning to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Nov. 17 through Jan. 1. With over a million lights spanning a 1.2- mile walking trail, the immersive holiday experience promises to thrill audiences for a second consecutive year.

“Our goal is to bring multiple generations together to have this amazing, one-of-a-kind experience,” said Patrick Newman, Fort Worth Botanic Garden president and CEO. “We want to create emotional souvenirs together during the holidays. There is no other experience like this in Fort Worth or even in the Metroplex. We are very excited to be bringing this to our community.”

Lightscape is a dazzling custom-designed installation that comes alive with color, imagination and sound. The show came to Fort Worth through a multiyear partnership with Sony Music and Culture Creative Ltd. shortly after the Botanical Research Institute of Texas took over management of the garden. Sony Music, the UK-based production company Culture Creative, and the Botanic Garden plan and execute the Lightscape experience.

Setup begins at the end of October, with representatives from Sony Music and Culture Creative present to ensure everything runs smoothly on the creative end. Botanic Garden staff work to ensure no harm comes to the garden’s vegetation.

This year’s rendition is new and improved. “About 80% of the show is different year to year. So, even if you came with your family last year, this will be a totally different show this year.” — Patrick Newman, Fort Worth Botanic Garden president and CEO

“We bring on a small army and it takes two and a half or three weeks to get everything set up,” Newman said. After a walk through with family and staff and a couple of days of tweaking and perfecting, Lightscape will open to the public.

“We start with the landscape and begin to create contemporary ways to interpret those stories and narrative,” said Zoe Bottrell, managing director of Culture Creative Ltd. “We are creating an experience not just to be shown to you as an audience member, but for you to absorb and interpret in your own way and feel a part of.”

Lightscape uses multiple lighting technologies that allow Culture Creative to create shows in different formats. For example, the fan-favorite bluebonnet installation requires a specific bespoke lighting technology to create the desired effect.

“A team of around 25 people are involved in creating the content that creates Lightscape,” Bottrell said. “From international artists to lighting designers and technical crews to work with those artists. A local team supports the artists and lighting designers during the installation maintenance of Lightscape.”

This year’s rendition is new and improved. “About 80% of the show is different year to year. So, even if you came with your family last year, this will be a totally different show this year,” Newman said. The trail for this year’s version was shortened slightly and there are now 19 installations, instead of 13.

In addition to the re-imagined trail, Lightscape 2023 will feature an updated Christmas Village complete with fire pits, s’more roasting, hot cocoa, holiday music and photo opportunities with Santa. Santa will only be present on the following peak nights, so plan accordingly: Nov. 24, Nov. 25, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 21, Dec. 22, Dec. 23 and Dec. 24.

Dec. 24. Tickets can be purchased at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden website, fwbg.org.