[photo credit: Descanso Gardens]
The formula has worked. As the “Enchanted Forest of Light” returns for its “10th consecutive year,” the annual installation has become firmly established as “a year-end tradition in Southern California,” drawing sellout crowds to the historic 150-acre botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge.
The 2025 lineup features internationally recognized artists, including Tom Fruin’s stained-glass cottages and HYBYCOZO’s geometric light sculptures. Approximately 45% of the elements are custom-designed specifically for this year’s experience, underscoring the artistic intention behind the seasonal spectacle.
Visitors encounter the “Flower Power” installation and the “Ancient Forest,” where lighting effects and mist interplay with towering redwoods and ferns. Some installations are interactive, cycling through changes in color or sound to encourage engagement rather than passive observation.
This approach has influenced regional cultural programming and established new standards for seasonal light installations. The collaboration between Descanso Gardens and Creative Director Chris Medvitz demonstrates how botanical gardens can present world-class contemporary art while remaining accessible to families and maintaining their educational missions.
Timed-entry tickets must be purchased in advance. General admission ranges from $27 to $45 for adults, with children’s tickets from $17 to $30. Members receive discounted rates. The garden remains open rain or shine, though it is closed on Nov. 17, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Enchanted Forest of Light will run daily through Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. For more call (818) 949-4200 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org/events-and-activities/enchanted/. Tickets: $27 to $45 general admission, $17 to $30 children.
