We've attended this glowious event several times and each time it is a slightly different experience. We tend to stop for treats before walking around. The vendors are very friendly and ready to serve. I like the hot mulled apple cider and a simple hot dog. I don't like to eat too heavily since it involves walking around the venue. I carry the cider. It helps to keep me warm on the cooler nights it usually falls on. The last time we came it was the night that was designated for ages 21 and up. Although we did see some kids with their families there was significantly less littles and strollers under toe than our previous times here. We brought our adult kiddos and they ventured around among themselves. We went around twice...once with the steps and second time on the flat trails. The light displays are all synced with fun music and sounds. Each zone has a fun theme. Pleasantly stimulating experiences every time! Check it out if you haven't already. read more

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Let there be lights! This was a beautiful exhibit. Not specific to the holiday but a mix of color scapes. I took my husband for his birthday which falls on Thanksgiving week. Paid for parking and anytime tickets for flexibility. Along the lit path are benches to sit and sip. Booths with hot cocoa and other snacks and beverages. I ordered the spiked hot chocolate. We look forward to visiting other botanical gardens to experience the holiday lights in the future - as it has been a trend from LA to SF too. Fan of the California Poppies!' #LetThereBeLights #Encinitas #BotanicalGarden #Holiday read more

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"If you are looking to get your holiday cheer on it can be worth it"... From reading negative reviews it sounds like it used to be bigger and better. Since this was our first "sniff in" I can only speak of what I see and hear. They utilize some current music and tie it into various displays. I would like to see all Christmas music and current and older tunes. Some Trans-Siberian Orchestra would be cool as well. There are some light exhibits that stand out better than others and when you get up close you will be unimpressed at times. But the point is that these light displays look good from a distance and in the darkness. Thus, it is what it is. The A-frame light walk-through is an example. The fake FIREFLIES caught both our attention as they were nestled in with the bamboo. There was a large tree which resembled a morph of a mushroom/broccoli which was illuminated nicely and interesting to view. The large colorful circles on the ground were especially eye-catching and very photogenic. The food and beverage were underwhelming and overpriced as expected. There was an overly sweet RED VELVET COOKIE which we shared. There were seating areas near most food stops. It is pretty well organized and has plenty of staff on-site and in the lots. We were fortunate enough to be in the blue lot which was close to the exit. It definitely has a money making (some would say "grubbing") vibe as they hit you heavy on admission, parking, food and beverage but the visuals are above average, and it makes for a nice holiday walk for couples and families. read more

What a fun winter activity. A walkthrough of endless loop in lights at the botanical garden is such a cute family activity. Parking was a bit tough because there were multiple lots but they had many parking attendants working them which is great! The walkthrough is literally a loop and it takes about an hour to go through the whole thing. Super interactive and beautiful!! I wish it was a little longer. Also super packed!! Be sure to go early or late, that would be my recommendation. Layer up too, it gets quite cold. It's running through January 4 so get ur tix now :) read more

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WELCOME TO THE 'ANNUAL ENCINITAS CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF ART INSTALLATIONS CREATED BY COMBINING SPARKLY LIGHTS WITH MAGICAL MUSIC AMONG DIVERSE SPECIES OF PLANTS' GALA First of all, the name is longer than the event. By the time you finish saying it, they are closed. A totally normal name that just got longer every year because no one knew how to encapsulate it. Too many words for a town that is so... laid-back. (BREAKING: it's now just called "Lightscape".) All the artists decorated their 'art installation' like it was the Superbowl half-time show. There was one creator who went above and beyond. He must have brought his own power generator. And extension cords. Oh, I wonder if he thought this was a competition? Like all art shows, wannabe art critics wandered around nodding, "ah yes, this shows the emotional bond between mother nature and Winter". Or, "a depiction of grief, shame, and the subtle state of temporality". And a guy squinting, "feels like the ocean just waking up to Christmas morning." But are these really art exhibits? Made by real creators? Some would say this is shiny lights strung by people who climb ladders. Accompanied by music. You plug in some sparkly lights-- you've got 'art'. Unplug it with wet hands-- you've got 'performance art'. And calling it a 'gala' is a bit of a stretch. To me, a gala implies heels, bow-ties, and valet parking. A gala is supposed to have chandeliers and drinks not served in solo cups and people named Sebastian who just launched a wellness brand. By the end of the night, you couldn't help but ride the consensus wave all the way back to the parking lot: "Beautiful...magical...". Lights, nature, feelings, big december energy, and grown adults pretending they have more money than they do. Merry Christmas Encinitas. See you next year. Pro tip: Even though it's not your father's Christmas light show; this art-focused experience is always worthwhile for a festive night. And to check up on the neighbors' net worth. The artistic light path / museum-in-a-garden gala is open 5-9PM FR-SU and runs November through January 5th. read more

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What a cool experience this was! If you like Christmas lights and all things Christmas you'll love this event. It was such a nice stroll through San Diego botanical gardens. All the plants and trees lit up with beautiful lights. Twinkling lights on the floor. It was beautifully decorated. Truly magical. It was very busy and you do have to stop a lot for people wanting to take pictures and videos. It got crowded very quickly. There's a few bathrooms and resting benches throughout your stroll. Also a couple of snack areas. Overall it was nice. Tickets prices are reasonable and make sure you also pay for parking. read more

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Love this place! Beautiful viber, I wish I can stay here all day My baby was very excited and we have beautiful memories with families together! read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Last night was our first and last time going to this insanely overpriced mediocre display. There were maybe 2 decent parts of the trail and the rest felt like a failed middle school art project. I feel bad for everybody who spent that much money + $25 for parking to be so underwhelmed. Even my kids were unimpressed and they aren't hard to please. Save your money for a nice dinner then go hop around some neighborhoods that do the candy cane lane thing. This experience is NOT worth what they're charging. read more

We've done Lightscape a couple of times - definitely family friendly, a GREAT way to kick off (or end) the holiday season, a definitely a few awesome light displays. Lightscape is well put together, and if you get confused at certain places on which to go, know that you weren't the first to get confused - there's always a staff member conveniently by in those locations. The kids will love the lights and displays, and the parents will love that parking is very well orchestrated. Note: wear good walking shoes, and be aware that strollers sometimes follow a very different path (accessible patrons will follow those same variations). Personally, I think it's a bit overpriced to do it more than once - but that's a nit. It's a great family venture, which makes it worth it. read more

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Came down to lightscape as a little surprise for my man and boy ! Everything was amazing. I will say I thought it'll be bigger BUT for what it was/is, it's still a really good and a well worth experience for this beautiful place. This will be a perfect experience for families and romantic dates!. Heck I'll say you can bring along first dates here too while the event is active. 10/10 in my opinion I would definitely come again with my boyfriend. You should make some beautiful memories! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes ! Place is open at 5pm and I think last entry is around 8:30pm read more

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This was my second year visiting Lightscape San Diego and it was brilliant and illuminating. Well worth the price and such a difference experience and perspective of the San Diego Botanic Garden. We got there at 5:00 p.m. and the parking was ample and they even had portable restrooms in the lot. read more

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Lightscape is a really enjoyable creation. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season. It is so well put together. There is lots of staff to direct you on the right path. Wear good walking shoes as some paths are not paved and there is some uneven walking terrain. The scenery was beautiful. I only wish it was a little less crowded. read more

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I would not recommend Lightscape San Diego for anyone using a wheelchair or accompanying someone with mobility challenges. We were told it was wheelchair accessible, but that was not our experience at all. There were steep hills and a lot of sand on the paths, which made it extremely difficult to push my mother, who is disabled, in her wheelchair. The terrain clearly was not well suited for wheelchair access, and we ended up having to ask a staff member to help us leave early because we could not continue or enjoy the event. What was especially frustrating is that I specifically asked in advance whether it was wheelchair accessible, and I was reassured that it was. Had we been given an honest description of the paths, sand, and hills, we would have been able to make an informed decision. On top of that, they gave me a difficult time about a refund, even though we had to leave early because the conditions were not truly accessible. This was disappointing and stressful, and I hope they improve both their accessibility standards and how they communicate them to guests. read more

Another great experience at Lightscape! This was our 2nd year to view the garden lights and it was amazing. The parking is well organized, the timed entry helps with congestion and all the staff are very friendly. I prepaid for tickets and parking and good thing. It was sold out on our Saturday night visit last weekend. It's worth prepaying for tickets if you know you're going to go ahead of time. read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

Just got home from lightscape here and thoroughly dissapointed with the lack of effort put in this year. The big snowflakes that look like they were purchased at Walmart to the tubular lights that are so weak a rave wouldn't want them. So many empty spots throughout that were not like that last year. I was wowed last year. This year just blah and looks like not as much effort applied. There were 2 spots that were very pretty... the lit up waterfall and the beautiful pond area with bamboo but the fact that you guys took out some incredible things that were there last year and replaced with more food booths and big empty dirt areas has made this into a commercial venue I won't attend again. It's about the money making that is clear. Also what's with charging a ridiculous amount for parking and saying onsite parking is $$$. How much I wonder is the offsite parking as opposed to the onsite ? Way too expensive for what we paid for! Maybe look into some new artists to get on board with the design in the future. Below are the only Parts of this that were worth taking a photo of. read more

Lightscape San Diego - Bamboo - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I was very disappointed in what I paid for. It was not worth the cost. I would say it was not a Christmas light display event at all. Most of the lights were their normal lights and just replaced with a Christmas colored lightbulb. There were only three or four areas that had some unique lights. I also didn't realize that it was going to involve hills and uneven terrain in the dark. There is no way I could have dipped hit chocolate and walked the path. They don't regulate the entry times at all. We were let in an hour early. I'm also not sure why I paid for parking. There was plenty. The website makes it sound like if you don't buy parking you will have to park far away. Save your money and go drive around some neighborhoods instead. read more

Lightscape San Diego - This is their regular night light with a blue lightbulb. Most if what we saw was this. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

This was our fourth year coming and probably our last. The first two years were amazing. Last year was different but still very impressive. This year I'm not sure if they had a reduction in their budget or what but it looked like 1/3 of what they usually put out. A lot of the lights (like the huge snowflakes) and a few others, had lights that were malfunctioning. There was just a huge lack of lights then previous years. With the price being what it is I just don't think it was worth it at all. Parking was a bit of a mess. The crossing guards and assistants were rude to people in front of us. People at the front gate were nice and the people inside where also nice. read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

I had wanted to go to Lightscape for the past couple of years, but somehow time has always gotten away from me. This year, my friends and I had an out-of-town guest visiting and we bought tickets well in advance. Lightscape is the holiday light display that is located in the botanical gardens in Encinitas every year during the holiday season. You purchase tickets and parking online. When we arrived, it was pretty unclear where we were supposed to go, as it appeared we had purchased a particular parking pass. When we arrived, we were ushered through several parking lots and finally into a parking space. Parking online cost $10. They checked our ticket at the door. Had we not purchased parking, they would have charged us $20 at the door. I did not much care for that as it felt like a bit of a trick to me. Anyway, we then walked into the display area. It was organized in a huge circle with several different displays throughout. It was really quite beautiful. Each portion of the display had a different theme. For example, one was all dragonflies. Another was all stars. In some places we walked through hanging lights. There were displays where lights blinked in time to music. I really enjoyed it. They also had a couple of bars along the way. At the first bar, they had apple cider, hot chocoale, wine and beer. I wish they had holiday-themed cocktails, but since they did not, I bought a glass of Prosecco. It was nice to walk through the lights with a glass of bubbles. However, when we got to the second bar, they had holiday-themed cocktails. I would have liked one, but it wasn't far from the first and I still had my glass mostly full. I think my main complaint is that the first part of the walk was extra crowded. I felt that if we had stopped walking without stepping to the side, we would have gotten run over by strollers. It was impossible to enjoy a leisurely stroll, or take a picture without lots of strangers in it. However, later on, it was much less crowded, much more comfortable, and I was able to enjoy it so much more. I will mention that a friend of mine had gone just before us that same evening and they had a generator out and, unfortunately, he and his family missed a whole section. All in all, I really loved it. I wish it had been less crowded in the fist part, and I also wish that both of the bars had the holiday-themed cocktails. I would definitely go again, but don't know if it would necessarily become an annual tradition for me. However, if you have never been, I highly recommend it. read more

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These are not your ordinary Christmas lights, but it sure is beautiful! Beautiful art exhibits from artists all around the world. They have wine and beer to sip on as you walk around the gardens, as well as some sweet treats. The full path is about a mile long. It does get crowded, and it can be a bit pricey, however this is now a local treasure. I look forward to this event every year! read more

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This year was my first year going and it was amazing! To be honest, I wasn't sure if it was going to be worth it but I needed the picture for the gram. They are flexible with your entrance time but obviously be respectful. The only downside is that after you purchase your ticket there is absolute no way to change the date you can go. My flight was 4 hours delayed, and although I was late to it, I barely made it before closing. The art installations were all super magical. The kids loved it. You run into a bunch of ppl here. Couples on dates, families, adults having fun. I hope they continue to innovate. Looking forward to next year's! read more

2025-2026 is trash. 2024-2025 was legit. Seems super cheap this year and nothing dope whatsoever. All mid af at best.

This was a nice attraction. Some of the areas were amazing and some were ok, but it was all fun, fun, fun. Lots of opportunities for cool pictures and social media engagement. It's a perfect place to bring your kids who will be amazed by all the pretty lights and sounds. I think the event is a little bit overpriced. If we had not stopped to take all the pictures that we did, we could've completed this in about a half hour. Take your time on the stroll through this attraction. The lights are definitely the highlights rather than the plants during this event. read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We had previously gone to Lightscape the past two years. It was magical, with each visit very unique. We made our reservations this year with great anticipation. We were so disappointed with this year's presentation. There were many fewer unique displays and a lot of space with only colored lights pointing to the plants. It appears that the budget was drastically cut and now the expensive experience is definitely not worth the money. read more

What a fantastic event the Botanical Garden puts on every year! This is our third year going to lightscape and I think my favorite year yet. Parking and exiting are well organized and it's always a great experience from start to finish. We walked 2 laps this year and loved it. If you're not going with young kids, go later in the evening to avoid some of the crowds and strollers. We'll definitely return next year! read more

Lightscape San Diego - light display - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

It was very beautiful but not as big as I had hoped... for the price of entrance plus parking it seemed overpriced. read more

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So so disappointed. I was so excited to take my family amd felt a huge let down for cost. Waste of money! So sad compared to the years before. Also, why do the crossing guards and parking attendants so rude and disrespectful. Isnt this supposed to be a pleasant holiday season. I paid over $200 and then had to.pay for parking... a joke. I am so sad still driving home. No holiday spirit and empty trees that were once full. I wish I could get my money back or at least part of it. read more

Compared to previous years, this year's event was disappointing. The installations lacked creativity and excitement, falling far short of the engaging displays we've come to expect. It felt as though either a new vendor was responsible for the installations, or the budget had been cut, because the difference in quality was obvious and disappointing. Large sections that once featured unique and memorable exhibits were removed and replaced with snack bar tables, which unfortunately turned the area into more of a children's playground than an immersive light experience. Many kids were left unsupervised, running through the walkways and weaving between guests, while parents seemed absent. On top of that, oversized strollers and wagons clogged the paths during what is only about a one-hour walk-through, making the experience frustrating for other visitors. An option for more adult-only nights would go a long way toward improving the atmosphere. Attendance was clearly down compared to last year, which only added to the sense that the event had lost its spark. To make matters worse, the parking staff were shockingly rude. Instead of welcoming guests and helping manage the flow, they barked orders, showed little patience, and created an uninviting atmosphere before we even entered the show. After paying for tickets and making the effort to attend, being treated so poorly at the very start of the evening was frustrating and set a negative tone for the entire experience. What was once a cherished family tradition has lost its magic. After attending every year since the event began, we've decided this will be our last visit--we'll be creating a new tradition elsewhere. read more

This time they didn't seem to have invited professional light artists. Instead they bought a few Christmas lights from K-Mart read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Our family has been going to Lightscape every year since 2022. It was spectacular in 2022 and 2023, with multiple truly artistic light+soundscapes from innovative artists. In 2024 it was slightly less so (but still beautiful) and we hoped they would re-up the artistry for 2025. Unfortunately the artistic component of the show, which had seamlessly integrated the beautiful plants and unique light installations with matching soundtracks that flowed well from one art piece to the next, has been mostly replaced with a run of the mill holiday light display with cacophonous sound which does not incorporate the beautiful botanical garden setting in an innovative way nor show off any new light artistic pieces. While we felt it was worth the ticket price in years past, we did not feel the ticket price was worth it this year at all. Please bring the old lightscape artistry back! read more

I would give this event a zero star if the option was available. The staff was not helpful or accommodating for my daughter's ADA needs so we didn't even participate in the event. I purchased tickets online a few days ago and when we arrived at this event I had to pay $25 for parking. But the website didn't mention anything about ADA parking or fees. Also the website didn't describe the terrain was mainly dirt without access for wheelchairs. When I asked for help and assistance to participate in the event with their go cart we were denied assistance to ride the go cart since the event is non-accessible. The staff was terrible even when they realized the paths were not accessible. I've visited at least 20 different Botanic Gardens across the country and all of the special events are wheelchair accessible. I can't believe in 2025 the staff for Lightscape wouldn't consider wheelchair accessibility for a paid public event. The staff last night showed no consideration or remorse. The organizer for the event was like "oh well" that's too bad for you and we don't have anyone here that you can talk to. read more

2025 What happened!! Every year I look forward to walking through the gardens, up and down the pathways filled with a wonderland of lights and music...what happened this year??? There were 1/4 the lights of previous years! It almost felt like they lost their lighting director or their budget was cut in half. My favorite part of the walk is always the first big hill you walk down. In years past there have been floating flowers over your head, amazing lights and music; it really sets the tone for the night. . This year there were maybe 6 large snowflakes turning off and on to music on the hill to the right... I think my neighbor has the same ones in his yard. I feel bad for them because something really went amiss this year and if it is the same next year I doubt I will make the trek out again. read more

Displays were good but very spread out. Should have more displays for such a large area. There was a combination concrete and dirt pathways. Some of the dirt ones were irregular and bumpy. The music could be better coordinated with the displays. Some of the loud music seemed out of place. read more

Date of visit: December 26, 2023 Honestly, I don't get why Lightscape San Diego has (so far) gotten mixed reviews. It was our first time visiting this light and music display at the San Diego Botanical Gardens, and our anniversary as well (in fact, the tickets were my gift to my fiancée). Highlights included "Flow" (what looked like a blooming flower pulsating to the beat of the trance music), "Pealight Tree" (where one of the largest trees in the garden was festooned with lights), the Fiber Optic Garden, the Super Lily, and the Winter Cathedral (easily the best display and the most photogenic). Most of the pieces are quite worthy to be featured on social media, and the mile-long hike is mostly easy to traverse. A couple of quibbles, though - not only are the tickets and parking only available to purchase online on the San Diego Botanical Gardens website, parking is a separate (but necessary) purchase. Also, the concessions were a bit pricy (which is why we didn't purchase them). Still, Lightscape San Diego was a great experience for us, and I'd like to see it again the next time it's back in San Diego (as of this writing, it's only here until January 7th). read more

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Updated to add this .. why did the business manager only comment on a good review? Is it possible you address what happened this year and why it changed so drastically? Something happened and it's not good. Less lights, less music. Less inspiration. It definitely was shorter than last year. My review .. I'm sad to say I agree with the other low rated posts. Last year was my first year, and while I heard it wasn't as good as the prior years I thought it was magical in 2024. I was in awe the entire time and felt like I was in a fairytale land with the beautiful music and lights. The experience really swept me off my feet. This year I had such high hopes. But it really changed! I basically just walked through and felt zero emotion. It was just lights .. no more. I try to be positive but this was truly a let down and I can't recommend this to my friends. It felt much shorter too as we were in and out in less than an hour where last year it felt like it went on and on and I didn't want it to end. I hope next year will be better but I'll have to read reviews first before I spend the money. I wanted to love it but it really missed the mark. read more

I see the rating is low for this. I can only compare to 2024's visit. I went to Lightscape 2014 with a friend. We got in free because my friend had a San Diego Botanical Gardens membership. The event was really nice. The lights were amazing and lots to see. There were places to stop and view, and even areas where they sold light snacks, food and drink. From the reviews, the latest installations seem to be lacking in something. I hope they get back up to their level of artistry like in 2024. read more

Wow some of the reviews on here are so negative. I have fantastic news, this place is AWESOME! My family and I went tonight. It was just the three of us; my husband, myself and our one year old. The lights were so cool. They had so many different fixtures and music to go along with it. One of our favorite parts was each area having its own music. It really set the vibe. The employees were so friendly. There were also people guiding guests to park. It's not horrible at all. Yes, you can expect it to be packed (because it's a popular attraction, hello). Plan ahead and expect it to be packed like sardines. If that's not your jam, I dont recommend this place for you. It is stroller friendly. There are trails and paths to walk . Expect to walk hills, some of them are steep. Wear your best walking shoes. There's also food and drinks (non alcoholic and alcohol) served in some areas. Lots of benches to take breaks as well. We had an amazing experience here. We were told that they try to change it up every year. Don't expect a holiday attraction either. It's not like that at all. It's more jungle vibes with pretty lights. I've never experienced anything like it. I think that's why I liked it so much. It's a one of a kind experience read more

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This was our very first time coming to the Lighscape at the San Diego Botanical Garden and it was such a nice date option for the Holiday season. We came at the 7:30PM time slot and the place was crowded such that we had to be routed to an alternative parking lot. It was easy enough to get in and to find a parking spot close enough to the entrance point. The decorations and lighting were amazing and it was great that they had different food stands with snacks, sandwiches, pot pie, beer & wine, and hot cider & cocoa. I'm glad that we finally got to have this experience and look forward to coming back next year. Happy Holidays. read more

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I went there last night, although I like the place, I thought $25 for parking it was king of expensive. one of the person directing the parking lot, was yelling at people, I thought she was rude to others. The lights were cute. read more

Splendid! We were astounded at what was created for our neighborhood botanical garden grounds. Beautiful evening. Lightscape. Well worth the admission fee. I purchased three admission tics on their Fever vendor platform which generated some "points" in my Fever account. A month later I purchased advanced parking using the earned points toward the parking purchase, so the parking charge was reduced to $7.00. read more

Lightscape San Diego - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Encinitas, California

DO NOT PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE! We bought tickets weeks ahead for the November 20th, 7:00 PM entry because it looked like the event was selling out quickly. When the day arrived, it was pouring rain at the time we were supposed to enter. There was no realistic way anyone could enjoy an outdoor walking light show under those conditions, which I'm sure is not the experience Lightscape intends to deliver. We tried to simply change our date (not cancel, just reschedule), and were told by Fever, the ticketing platform, that it was completely impossible to make any changes whatsoever. Lightscape's website noted they were aware of the weather and would notify attendees if the event was canceled but, apparently, a full-on downpour is not considered sufficient reason to cancel an outdoor walking experience. The lack of flexibility and customer care was incredibly disappointing. read more