PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN — ‘FIREFLIES’ DANCE AMIDST FOG AT THE MEMOIR AGENCY’S ‘DAZZLING NIGHTS’ EXHIBIT AT THE PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN IN OAKDALE.

A light fog rolls through a portion of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, as images of white fireflies awash in red dance to Danny Elfman’s “Edward Scissorhands” theme.

A row of illuminated rods — dubbed Brilliant Beams — glimmers across the Lotus Pond in the Japanese Garden. Tiny red and green laser lights bounce off of trees in a portion of the forest, bringing a Northern Lights experience to awed spectators as classic holiday hits are broadcast to round out the immersive exhibit.

The “Dazzling Nights” display opened at the Botanic Garden (799 Pinkerton Run Road, Oakdale) Sunday and runs nightly through Jan. 1 (closed Christmas Day), a unique holiday lights display brought to the ’Burgh by The Memoir Agency, based in Orlando, Florida. This is the first year the exhibit has made its way to the Northeast, having previously been held in Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida.

Please note: The site is not easy to navigate for folks with mobility issues or wheelchairs. There is a lot of walking uphill and on uneven ground. There are some benches along the route for walkers to rest. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots and dress for the elements. “Dazzling Nights” will be open rain, snow or shine, except in severe weather.

“We were interested in expanding our audience and bringing in a light show that highlighted our plants, as well as bringing people into the gardens and woodland areas at night,” says Keith Kaiser, executive director of Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. “This show doesn’t contain traditional images of Christmas, like Santa and the reindeer. There are a few Christmas trees, but this show features many, many lasers, thousands of moving firefly lights among the dogwood trees and of course, the music.

“Dazzling Nights” also features a 30-foot purple LED Christmas tree, neon green LED trees, an interactive portion with light pads that light up when you step on them and a stunning 65-foot light tunnel dubbed the Peaceful Passage, adorned with bright white and gold lights. Holiday-inspired drinks, cocktails and “nosh and nibbles” are also available for purchase at beverage tents and inside the historic barn with a fireplace.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN — ILLUMINATED TREES ARE SOME OF THE MANY FEATURES OF THE ‘DAZZLING NIGHTS’ DISPLAY AT THE PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN IN OAKDALE.

“Dazzling Nights” proceeds benefit operations of the nonprofit Botanic Garden. Tickets are sold only online and broken into time slots between 5:30 and 9 p.m. No guests will be admitted after 9:10 p.m., with the site closing each night at 10:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per adult; $22 per child, ages 3-13; and $22.50 each for groups of 10 or more. Discounts are also offered to Botanic Garden members.

On-site parking is $12, or guests can park for free at CCAC West Hills Center, 1000 McKee Road, Oakdale. Free shuttles are provided to guests who park off-site. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to your timed ticket to ensure a shuttle is available to your party.

The garden, which focuses on education and displays pertaining to the native Western Pennsylvania landscape, the Allegheny Plateau Region, opened in 2015. The Welcome Center opened in 2021. The gift shop is also open during “Dazzling Nights.”

Kaiser says the Botanic Garden encompasses 460 acres (65 of which are open to the public). The garden also serves as a filtration site to filter acid mine drainage (created from many years of coal and strip mining in the area) from stormwater before it enters our creeks and rivers. Kaiser notes 25 million gallons of acid mine drainage stormwater was passively treated at the site last year.

“We have a very strong connection to the land and the role of environmental stewardship,” adds Kaiser.

He continues that the Botanic Garden invites people to experience a holiday light show in a different way, and connect it to the natural world. 

“One of the goals we have is exposing the gardens to a new audience, and inspire them to come back and see it during the day,” says Kaiser. This weekend, the Botanic Garden is expecting 750 “Dazzling Nights” visitors on Friday and 850 on Saturday.

Families and friends enjoyed a cold Wednesday night outdoors this week, traversing the Botanic Garden grounds and marveling at the many lights throughout the display.

Donna and Maston Harnage III of Atlanta were in town for a family wedding, and decided to spend their annual holiday date night at “Dazzling Nights.”

“This was very nice. Our botanic garden is in the middle of the city, but this was a great spot off the beaten path,” says Maston. “We’re glad we came.”

“We really liked the dancing fireflies, the purple tree and all of the lights beaming off of the trees,” Donna said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASTON HARNAGE III — MASTON HARNAGE III AND HIS WIFE, DONNA HARNAGE OF ATLANTA POSE FOR A SELFIE WEDNESDAY AT THE BRILLIANT BEAMS PORTION OF THE ‘DAZZLING NIGHTS’ DISPLAY IN AT THE LOTUS POND OF THE PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN.

Erica and Pete Linko of Cross Creek, Washington County, were excited for their 1-year-old son, Liam, to experience the lights.

“He loves all of the colors and bright lights,” says Erica.

Both Pete and Erica agree the lights on the Lotus Pond, the fog amongst the dancing fireflies, the Peaceful Passage and the interactive light pads were the highlights of the experience.

“The foggy field reminded me a bit of Harry Potter,” adds Erica. “Everything was so pretty with the lights bouncing off the water and the trees. It was well worth coming out.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETE LINKO — ERICA, LIAM (AGE 1) AND PETE LINKO OF CROSS CREEK, WASHINGTON COUNTY, SMILE FOR THE CAMERA WEDNESDAY UNDER THE PEACEFUL PASSAGE AT THE ‘DAZZLING NIGHTS’ DISPLAY AT PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN IN OAKDALE.

“The lights always bring the hope of the season,” notes Pete. “It was nice to just stop and reflect on that. This was a great family outing.”

For more information and tickets to “Dazzling Nights, visit the website here, or for the Botanic Garden, here.