TUPPER LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – In the Adirondack Park, the Wild Center stands tall as a conduit between people and nature. Its 115-acre campus offers an elevated walk and exhibits about the natural world of the Adirondacks – and over the holidays, it adds something else.

This winter, the Wild Center is bringing back its Wild Lights holiday program. Every winter, the center installs thousands of holiday lights across the trees, walkways and structures of the center, turning an educational hub into a winter wonderland.

This is the third year of the Wild Center’s Wild Lights program, originally conceived in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every year it gets a bit bigger, with almost twice as many lights this year as in 2021. Other new features include:

  • A rainbow bridge light tunnel
  • Lighted looped trail with “Taiga,” a new musical composition by Whatever Penny, creating a walkable winter sound tail
  • More lights and photo installations than ever on the center’s elevated walk
  • A lighted walk through Patrick Dougherty’s “Hopscotch”

The Wild Lights season also features hot drinks, food, and interactive pieces. The center’s Wild Supply Co. shop will also be open. The center is welcoming local breweries for Friday Nights Lights and Flights on Dec. 30, Jan. 20, and Feb. 24.

The festivities began on Friday, Nov. 25, and will continue every Friday and Saturday evening through the winter, and weeklong across certain dates. The lights are on from 5-8 p.m. every night that the event is held. This year’s full schedule includes:

  • Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 25 – Feb. 25
  • Open nightly during Holiday Week celebrations
    • Friday, Dec. 16 – Saturday, Dec. 24
    • Monday, Dec. 26 – Saturday, Dec. 31
  • Open nightly during World University Games Week
    • Friday, Jan. 13 – Saturday, Jan. 21
  • Open nightly for President’s Week
    • Friday, Feb. 17 – Saturday, Feb. 25

Wild Lights is also part of how the Wild Center connects with Tupper Lake at large. The event is part of the town’s Tupper Lights celebration, which includes holiday lights across town.