With the lights being the Audubon’s biggest event each year, Jessica Piskor, Marketing and Design Director, said that there is a lot of work that goes into it behind the scenes.

The Audubon has held the Audubon Lights event for six years, beginning in 2021. With the three weekend event being their biggest event, Piskor said it is not only important for the Audubon but for the community as well.

“It’s a great way to gather the community together,” Piskor said. “People come from all over; not just the Jamestown or Chautauqua County area but we get people from Buffalo, Erie and Erie County, from all over people will travel here just to see Audubon Lights.”

Audubon Lights is a family friendly event, however Piskor said people do not have to have kids to come and often teenagers and young adults will come, along with older adults, and the event is meant for all ages. There is something for everyone with the event, she said, adding that it also falls at a time of the year where there is not much to do in the area.

The Audubon’s annual Audubon Lights is going on now, with a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

“It gets people outside and connecting with nature in a way that is different and unique than what you can normally experience and it gives the community something to do, but in the best way possible,” Piskor said.

From behind the scenes, Piskor said it takes the Audubon staff and volunteers about three and a half weeks to fully set up for Audubon Lights. A variety of lights that are turned on are mostly close to the building, and most of the displays are the same as years past, though this year Piskor said a new rainbow tunnel display is included.

“We like to switch what items go out each year, just to make it different and we like to change the color schemes and things like that,” Piskor said. “And then of course our entertainment is similar but still different from year to year.”

Volunteers come in advance for the weeks before to help set up, but also on the night of, dozens of volunteers come to help set up. Piskor praised the work of the volunteers, saying that this event would not happen without them, and new volunteers come in to help all the time.

Volunteers help do many things for the event such as making popcorn in the kitchen, setting luminaries out on the trail — with some volunteers coming to put them out, going home, then returning to pick them up — and more. Piskor gave an example of a volunteer family who came to help for the Audubon Lights’ first weekend, whose son goes to camp at the Audubon. It was the family’s first time volunteering and the son who will be turning seven, Piskor said, helped draw more attention to the popcorn by doing things such as hanging out the pop-out window where the food is given out.

“He’s like halfway leaning outside of this window and I feel like it drew so much more attention because he’s just so darn cute, and I’m like you have to be here every night because you are helping us sell more popcorn,” Piskor said. “They were just so precious and we love getting to see the variety of volunteers that come here. We have everywhere from seven year olds to 70 year olds that come and help us set up and tear down and clean up and there’s a lot really that happens behind the scenes.”

‘SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES’

Some light displays and features will change for Audubon Lights from year to year to help keep things fresh, and the volunteers and entertainment will change as well. Piskor added that the weather will also change from year to year, though she said it can be gorgeous when it snows. This upcoming weekend is expected to have good weather, so Piskor said as long as people wear a coat and bring a flashlight they will be all set.

“It is really fun, and like I said it is something for all ages,” Piskor said. “You don’t even have to be a nature person. When you come you can feel the energy and the atmosphere right when you come in and the trail only takes about 20 minutes, because you kind of wander and go slower to see everything there is throughout the trail.”

People come to see the light displays and the different animal features that are set out such as otters and foxes, and the event includes a scavenger hunt so people can keep their eyes out for certain things as they go, such as a Big Foot that is also put out on the trail. In the backyard there is live entertainment such as live music and a fire dancer, either live or a LED and blacklight dancer. There is also popcorn, hot cocoa, and a bonfire going. Attendees are given the option for how long they want to stay, and the Audubon’s whole building is also open.

Piskor said there are “so many reasons” why this event is popular for both people in the area and those who travel to come and see it. The biggest reason, she said, is that it is a unique event, that reminds her of an event up in Buffalo around Christmas where people can drive around and see lights, except the Audubon Lights is in the spring.

“It’s warmer out and you get to walk around the trail, and for this area too I think it’s very unique and I think it’s popular because it’s so family friendly,” Piskor said. “And it’s at night so you get a different crowd other than just young families, the younger adults and teenagers are willing to come because it’s later. There’s something for everyone to do, no matter what age you are.”

Most of the trail is accessible as well, for those who need a wheelchair or other accessibility. The trail itself is half a mile of luminary lit trail and about a quarter of a mile is paved for people bringing strollers or who need a wheelchair to be able to go on that part of the trail.

Piskor said people should be interested in coming out to have “the night of their lives”.

“They will go away with great family memories,” Piskor said. “Even if it’s just someone coming single, they will have great memories. They’ll see something that is so unique and will gain a different perspective on nature. For me, I love hiking and walking in the woods, but this experience is nothing like that.”

WHAT TO KNOW

The event is very sensory-oriented with the smell of popcorn, seeing the lights, hearing the music and the fire dancer and the spring peepers. Piskor added that it is a fun event that only happens once a year and only happens at the Audubon.

Light trinkets such as headbands, bracelets and other gear for kids are available, which Piskor said is helpful for parents with young kids so if they wander off ahead they can still see where they are at. It is also helpful for people to bring a flashlight when they come, as the trail is luminary lit but some areas are darker than others. Registration in advance is also helpful, she said, to help save people time rather than standing in line to shorten the wait period. Registration can be done even on someone’s phone in the parking lot, Piskor said.

Registration is available at auduboncnc.org/events. The website gives full access to tickets for the remaining two weekends of the event, March 27 and 28 and April 3 and 4. Audubon Lights runs from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. this weekend and 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. next weekend. The times are pushed back by 15 minutes because of it being lighter outside for longer.