By Liz Nye, New England Botanic Garden
December 2025 

The Garden’s annual winter light display, Night Lights, earned the top spot in this year’s USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. It’s a distinct honor for an event—and a garden—that’s grown bigger and brighter each year. As Night Lights enters its final weeks, many who have experienced the magic are wondering: How does the Garden deliver so much dazzle?  

Glittering squirrels perched in the Garden’s iconic ash tree add whimsy to Night Lights. Photo by Troy B. Thompson Photography

The answer involves hundreds of staff and volunteer hours, many miles of string lights, and nearly year-round planning. But that’s not all. This year, students from Worcester Technical High School also lent a hand through a collaboration that produced sparkling results. Two words: Glitter Critters. 

“When it comes to Night Lights, we often have design ideas—or design challenges—that require specialized solutions,” says Steve Conaway, the Garden’s Director of Horticulture. His team leads Night Lights planning and installation. As a long-time admirer of the mission of vocational high schools, Steve thought working with Worcester Tech would provide a valuable opportunity for students to learn through real-world experience and for the Garden to gain the professional support needed to pull off some of its new ideas.  

“It was a joy to collaborate with Worcester Tech,” says Steve. “The students and teachers brainstormed creative solutions with us and followed through, fabricating elements that made our ideas come to life.” 

Electrical students at work running conduit to illuminate a large oak tree. Photo by Megan Stouffer/New England Botanic Garden.

One of those ideas was to illuminate a large oak tree located between formal and naturalistic garden spaces, an area that had never been lit before as it wasn’t near enough to any electrical outlets. Students in Worcester Tech’s electrical shop ran conduit, solving that problem and expanding the visual experience of Night Lights.  

Meanwhile, the welding shop crafted a large, custom tree stand for a 15-ft fir that has taken up residence in an emptied water feature in one of the garden spaces. Carpentry, advanced manufacturing, and robotics and automation shops were also involved with developing customized parts for tree-form displays and laser-cutting sculptural elements. They crafted the silhouettes of woodland creatures, fondly known as “glitter critters,” and helped shape enormous petals for a show-stopping illuminated flower. 

“This collaboration showcases exactly what vocational education is all about: authentic, hands-on experiences that prepare students for their future careers,” said Director of Career and Technical Education Dr. Patricia Suomala. “Working with New England Botanic Garden has allowed our students to solve real challenges, meet professional expectations, and see the impact of their work on a large-scale public event.” 

Oak tree between more formal and naturalistic spaces at the Garden illuminated thanks to new conduit set up by Worcester Tech. Photo by Steve Conaway/New England Botanic Garden.

When students visited the Garden to work on Night Lights projects, Steve led them on tours, pointing out the fine craft and trade work that makes the Garden what it is.  

“It can be a challenge to find the speciality, detailed work that makes a high-caliber botanic garden excel,” says Steve, in a reflection that extends beyond Night Lights. “Our field needs these students and the skills they’re learning,” he adds.  

Students pose with the Garden’s Director of Horticulture Steve Conaway (far left) and their instructor Michael Capuano (far right). Photo by Megan Stouffer/New England Botanic Garden.

The Garden already has exciting plans for continued collaboration with Worcester Tech. For starters, the robotics and automation shops will be taking on a redesign of the Night Lights train display as a senior capstone project.  

There is still time to experience Night Lights this year and to see for yourself some of the tremendous work local students did to make the event really shine. Tickets can be purchased online through January 4, 2026. Don’t miss out—get yours today!