East Otto, NY:
For the 11th consecutive autumn, Griffis Sculpture Park will be illuminated in colorful theatrical lighting when NIGHT LIGHTS at Griffis Sculpture Park returns on Friday, September 8, 2023. A portion of the legendary park’s landscape and sculptures are seen in a whole different light. NIGHT LIGHTS is a successful fundraiser for the United States’ largest sculpture park – and a Western New York gem.
the United States largest sculpture park. The park is owned and operated
by the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which also owns the Essex Arts Center
in Buffalo, NY. The mission of the Ashford Hollow Foundation is to promote
the visual and performing arts as well as construct a dynamic relationship
between the arts and education in Western New York to better its young
people and the greater community.
“NIGHT LIGHTS continues to be an annual autumn tradition in Western New York,” said Nila Griffis, executive director of Griffis Sculpture Park. “The event attracts so many first-time visitors and guests that have been visiting our sculpture park for decades.”
NIGHT LIGHTS blends creative lighting, sculpture, sound, and nature to deliver an unforgettable outdoor experience. At NIGHT LIGHTS, guests are able to venture on an unguided walk through a portion of the Mill Valley Rd site of the sculpture park, where the trails and sculptures will interact with creative lighting – creating a truly unique experience. The walk is about .7 miles and is on an up-and-back nature trail that goes through forests and fields. Some of the Griffis Sculpture Park’s favorite sculptures, such as the Praying Mantis, The Bathers, The Mushrooms and more are bathed in light.
The 2023 version of NIGHT LIGHTS will be adding a snack bar area for hot chocolate, coffee, pastries and water. There are also new lighting designs being constructed along the trails.
Guests are encouraged to dress for outdoor conditions and bring flashlights for a few darker sections of the trail.
NIGHT LIGHTS occurs on 18 evenings, spread out over six weeks. The final evening is Saturday, October 14, 2023. The event dates are:
Week 1: Fri. September 8 to Sat. September 9, 2023
Week 2: Thurs. September 14 to Sat. September 16, 2023
Week 3: Thurs. September 21 to Sat. September 23, 2023
Week 4: Thurs. September 28 to Sat. September 30, 2023
Week 5: Thurs, October 5 to Sun. October 8, 2023
Week 6: Thurs. October 14 to Sat. October 14, 2023
Admission will be $14 adults, $9 children 12 to 7, and free for six and under. Night Lights can be canceled due to heavy rain. Ticket info can be found at EventBrite.com
NIGHT LIGHTS at Griffis Sculpture Park is produced by SitlerHQ. The lighting and event company also produced the award-winning NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens (Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens), NIGHT LIGHTS at The Heron (Sherman, NY), and NIGHT LIGHTS at Nannen Arboretum (Ellicottville, NY). They created their first NIGHT LIGHTS show in 2009.
Over 250 sculptures reside at the 300-acre Griffis Sculpture Park, making it the United States largest sculpture park. The park is owned and operated by the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which also owns the Essex Arts Center in Buffalo, NY. The mission of the Ashford Hollow Foundation is to promote the visual and performing arts as well as construct a dynamic relationship between the arts and education in Western New York to better its young people and the greater community.