Starting this weekend, St. Louisans won’t have to trek far north to see something as exquisite as aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights.
The Missouri Botanical Garden kicks off its newly curated Flora Borealis, a nighttime multimedia exhibit using custom light, sounds, and moving images.
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The month-long event begins Thursday, June 28 for members but opens to the public Friday, June 29. The one-mile narrated walk winds through some of the most beloved areas in the park, like the bottlebrush area and the Tower Grove house. Like the park itself, the path is handicap accessible and on average an hour long, allowing visitors plenty of time for strolling and gawking. As they weave through the path, patrons will notice different techniques used to bring the park alive.
“There’s no one in St. Louis that has offered a light show that mixes in projection, laser lights, and a storyline that is all custom content created from top to bottom,” said Jay Blair, senior manager for events, exhibits, and visitor services at the garden. “Even the scores of music have been individually written and composed for the show.”
Those who visit will witness a work created by 15 artists—such as animators, composers, musicians, and lighting artists—who have spent more than two years working on the garden experience. Although some gallerists and artists have used projection mapping to their advantage, the Missouri Botanical Garden takes it to a whole new level, adding a storyline about biodiversity and the relationship between plants, animals, and humans.
“The idea was to try to emphasize the beauty of the garden and make something great by night,” says show’s creative director Sebastien Tessier. “The idea was to try to give a second view of the garden.”
Doors open at 7 p.m. for ticketholders to walk through the gardens before dusk and experience the gardens in its natural state before the show begins. Drinks will be available at the biergarten, which will serve cocktails and snacks from 7–11 p.m. nightly. Expect live music on the weekends, with bands like Dizzy Atmosphere, Dust Covers, and The Bottlesnakes. The event recommends ticketholders show up a minimum of 15 minutes before their exhibit time.
For members, tickets are $8 for children, $15 for adults Monday through Wednesday and $10 for children, $20 for adults Thursday through Sunday. Festival Level members and above receive free tickets. For nonmembers, tickets are $10 for children, $20 for adults Monday through Wednesday and $12 for children, $25 for adults Thursday through Sunday.
The event ends August 26 and is closed Wednesday nights in July for the Whitaker Musical Festival.
