Untermeyer Gardens Conservancy celebrates Grand Holiday Illumination opening night

The massive display is comprised of more than 100,000 holiday lights.

Veronica Jean Seltzer

Dec 8, 2023, 12:38 PM

Updated 360 days ago

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You won't be able to resist getting in the holiday spirit at Untermeyer Gardens' Grand Holiday Illumination.
There are more than 100,000 lights to greet you at the garden built by Samuel Untermeyer more than a century ago.
The Persian gardens have holiday music playing in the background, reflecting all of the faith traditions associated with Persian gardens: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Untermeyer welcomes 150,000 visitors a year and the lights help keep people coming even in the winter.
You can visit the illumination 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day and get free hot chocolate.
This is the ninth year the garden is all lit up and it's grander every year.
"Our big addition this year is the restored Persian pool, which is on a lower level, this incredible mosaic-encrusted pool, which is bracketed by beautiful orbs, which are lit spheres, which are made by local high school students from Saunders High School," Stephen Byrns, president of Untermeyer Gradens Conservancy said.
"I like all the decorations and at night it's like so bright and I love it," young visitor Jeniya Green said.
She visited opening night with her sisters thanks to a surprise from her mom.
The Persian Pool has been under restoration two years and was just dedicated a month ago by the Empress of Iran.
The Illumination will be open through Jan. 1.It is all free, though, of course, donations are greatly appreciated to keep it all going.