The Holiday Train Show Opens This Weekend!

Posted in Around the Garden, Holiday Train Show on November 18 2011, by Matt Newman

We know you’ve been anxious for the Holiday Train Show to open its doors–we’re right there with you! And truth be told, ever since preparation began in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory two weeks ago, it’s been a struggle for those of us at Plant Talk to keep our excitement in check (and why would we even want to, at that?) Watching the bridges and tracks being put in place, seeing this year’s layout take shape under the careful attentions of Paul Busse and his Applied Imagination team–it’s left us daydreaming over how spectacular everything will look under the lights this weekend.

But there’s more to the Train Show than locomotives and landmarks. This weekend also marks the start of our holiday celebrations at large, with grand opening ceremonies, music, and all sorts of entertainment outside the glassy walls of the Conservatory.

We’ll be kicking off Saturday, November 19 with our Bird Walk, a gathering that’s become something of a weekend tradition here at The New York Botanical Garden. Grab your binoculars (we also have a limited number you can borrow at the Visitor Center) as you head out the door and join Debbie Becker, our resident bird expert, as she guides a group through the Garden in search of hawks, woodpeckers, and the occasional daylight owl. And for the photographers out there, it’s a fantastic opportunity to practice shooting in nature while learning a thing or two about the subjects in your viewfinder.

Once you’ve made the rounds with Debbie, you’ll be back just in time to catch a show at our Holiday Film Festival! It’s a chance to relax and enjoy a few holiday classics with the family, or learn about the history of the Holiday Train Show with David Hartman’s PBS documentary. In partnership with The Poetry Society of America, we’ll also be hosting a seasonal poetry reading at the Reflecting Pool on Saturday afternoon, featuring readings of classic and original pieces by renowned poets Judith Balmuel, Michael Dickman, and Jennifer Grotz.

But if the kids aren’t keen on the beauty of verse, they can always jump into Gingerbread Adventures at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. There they’ll learn about the natural ingredients that go into every gingerbread creation, from cinnamon to cloves, and have a chance at decorating their own gingerbread cookies! Sometimes an edible canvas is the best kind.

Everything then leads up to the annual tree-lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Saturday, the perfect occasion to create memories as we move into the holidays. Thanks to a few special guests, our conifer display will come to life with the twinkle of the season as the Westchester Chordsmen sing in accompaniment. And, really, how can you ring in such a special moment without a few classic carols?

It’s a momentous day of seasonal events as the doors to the Holiday Train Show open at last, continuing through Sunday and well into December. And we’ll only be stepping up our celebration as the weeks roll on! Feel free to check our schedule of events to plan your visit, and stop by Plant Talk over the next month as we dive into this joyful time of year.

While you’re in the Bronx, why not make the day complete with a visit to one of our local restaurants? Bring your Train Show ticket to Ann & Tony’s or Antonio’s Trattoria, and you’ll get 10% off your bill–just check our Deals page for more information on this and other promotions.

We’d also love it if you’d jump on Twitter and share the day’s photos with us! You can use the hashtag “#HTS” in your tweets to join in.