For seven nights in November, the magical lighting exhibition Moonlight in the Garden returns to illuminate and showcase JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University.
Sold out every evening in 2018, Moonlight in the Garden provides the only opportunity each year to access and experience JC Raulston Arboretum after dark.
Said Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum:
“Moonlight in the Garden is a chance for us to light up the garden and share what a magical place the Arboretum can be at night. The lighting displays and the artistic uses of light show how different a garden looks and what can be done to make it an enchanting space into the night.
“Together with the colorful and festive lighting exhibition, Moonlight in the Garden is a time to bundle up, welcome the fall season, dine at the best food trucks, enjoy the live music, have some hot cider, and roast marshmallows over the fire pits.”
New to the Moonlight exhibition this year is the Arboretum’s new Air Bee & Bee, a five-star urban habitat for pollinators completed in August. Added Weathington:
“Children love being in the garden, respond well to beauty, and appreciate and enjoy something that looks and feels magical. Anything you do that gets children out and looking at plants, gardens, and natural areas is an important thing. It’s a powerful way to instill an appreciation for the environment around them.”
JC Raulston Arboretum is located at 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC, between Meredith College and the NC State Fairgrounds.
Advance tickets are $10 for college students and members of the Arboretum, $20 for non-members, and $5 for children under 12. Availability is limited and tickets will sell out in advance. Tickets may be purchased for the following dates, with two times available each date:
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Thursday, November 7, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
- Friday, November 8, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Friday, November 8, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Saturday, November 9, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
- Thursday, November 14, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Thursday, November 14, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
- Friday, November 15, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Friday, November 15, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
- Saturday, November 16, 2019 @ 5:30-7:30pm
- Saturday, November 16, 2019 @ 7:30-9:30pm
Moonlight in the Garden tickets may be purchased on the NCSU website and are expected to sell out again this year.
Exhibition dates include a special Preview Night, including edibles and beverages, on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 7-9pm. Tickets must be purchased specifically for the Preview Night ($35-$50) via the link above.
There will also be one night exclusively for professional members of the community on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 7-9pm. This date will be open to landscape architects and designers, interior designers, engineers, and lighting design professionals, with the expectation that continuing education credits will be provided by the NC Board of Landscape Architects to participating landscape architects. Register here for Professional Night.
Moonlight in the Garden is sponsored by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation and custom designed and installed by Southern Lights of Raleigh. Said John Garner, Project Chair and President of Southern Lights of Raleigh:
“Nature brings joy to life and illumination at night reveals new dimensions of nature. Moonlight in the Garden is a huge lighting exhibition, using miles of cable powered by dozens of transformers to showcase the Arboretum with the latest and best lighting technologies.”
JC Raulston Arboretum is one of the most diverse botanical gardens in North America, featuring a constantly changing collection of over 7,000 different types of plants. Ranked in the top 95-percentile in plant diversity based on benchmarking by the American Public Gardens Association, the Arboretum’s mission includes plant collection, research, distribution, and education.
Proceeds from Moonlight in the Garden will benefit daily operations of JC Raulston Arboretum. Moonlight in the Garden is sponsored by and fund-raising efforts operate under the auspices of the NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Source: Robert B. Butler, NC Press Release
