You’ll find all manner of light displays around town this time of year — a sparkling and welcome remedy for the Big Dark. My favorites tend to be those in gardens and parks, where you can bundle up and experience nature, illuminated.
This year, the most high-tech (and heavily advertised) light walk is the new Astra Lumina, a “celestial pathway” co-staged by national experiential companies Fever and Moment Factory. It’s spread out over the Seattle Chinese Garden on the campus of South Seattle College.
“We’re always told to reach for the stars, but what if the stars could reach for us?” reads the stoner-101 tagline (whoaaah, dude!). And with that, a narrative about stars coming to earth carries you through the grounds.
You can easily disregard the storyline, but you can’t ignore the blasting “astral” music (think John Williams meets Enya). I’m betting the surrounding houses can’t ignore it either.
Granted, it does include some very cool lighting moments — one transports you deep inside a pink disco forest. The experience gets you out on a one-mile nature walk and affords some primo Instagram pics. Adult tickets are $41 (plus $12 parking), and it took me about 25 minutes to take in the nine installations.
Call me old-school, but I prefer light walks like the one at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way. The Winter Bonsai Solstice event (Dec. 16, 4 – 7 p.m.) features the museum’s world-renowned outdoor bonsai collection, subtly lit to accentuate the dramatically pruned trees.
Or head to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, where two Silent Solstice Walks (Dec. 19 & 21, 6 p.m.) feature quietly led group lantern tours of the gorgeous grounds.
At Lakewold Gardens, a historic 10-acre estate on Gravelly Lake, you can explore the Winter Solstice event (Dec. 14 – 31), including live music, twilight garden walks and Coming to Light, a show featuring sun-splashed textiles by the Contemporary QuiltArt Association.
The Washington Park Arboretum is holding a Winter Solstice Walk (Dec. 22, 3 – 8 p.m., advance registration required), combining a luminary-enhanced forest stroll with swag-making and festive holiday beverage swigging.
And if you long for a little more pizzazz with your plants, there’s always the annual Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden (through Dec. 31), featuring some 500,000 twinkling lights in the form of flora and fauna.
And finally … more! art! markets!
Note: I’ve returned from a few holiday art markets with important news. Whereas last year the mushroom was the most recurring artisanal image, embellishing all kinds of crafts, this year the pickle is making a strong showing.
So pucker up and head out to shop with art in mind. Here are seven more seasonal markets and art sales:
Black Artists Market at Seattle Opera’s Tagney Hall, Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
MiniMart City Park Mini Mar(ke)t, Georgetown, Dec. 17, noon – 5 p.m.
Tractor Tavern Makers Market, Ballard, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (21+ only)
United Indians Native Art Market, Daybreak Star Cultural Center, Dec. 15 – 17, times vary.
Modern Glaze Collage and Clay Art, cool ceramics, Shoreline, Dec. 16 – 17, noon – 5 p.m.
Seward Park Clay Studio’s Holiday Show and Sale, through Dec. 26, noon – 6 p.m.
Ghost Gallery’s Holiday Mini Art Exhibit (online), with prints, paintings and felted cuteness.
Davidson Galleries’ Holiday Guide (online), with loads of art prints $250 and under.