(ORLANDO, Florida) — A popular holiday event in Central Florida is set to return this November with new food and entertainment offerings for its guests.
Dazzling Nights, one of the region’s many Christmas attractions, is preparing to return in 2021. The attraction’s new features will include full meal offerings, a 7,000-square-foot light maze and a display of 185 Moroccan lanterns hanging from a tree canopy. The event is produced by Creative City Project and will take place at Leu Gardens on North Forest Avenue.
“Every year, we want to bring a new experience and keep things fresh for the guests,” Cole NeSmith, Creative City’s project executive director, told The Click. “Our guiding principles are to create moments of awe and moments of meaning for people.”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is one of the city leaders looking forward to the return of the event.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Dazzling Nights back for an even longer run this year,” Dyer said in a press release. “This new holiday tradition offers Orlando residents and visitors alike a unique way to experience our beautiful botanical oasis at night.”
The opening attraction is a brand-new three-piece electronic Christmas song act — a change from last year’s five-part a cappella group.
“This year, it’ll be a different vibe for that whole thing,” NeSmith said. “The whole show will be programmed to color-changing lights and it’ll have a new light show that accompanies it.”
That’s not to say fans of last year’s Dazzling Nights shouldn’t look forward to this year’s, NeSmith said, adding that guests will still find the elements that create a meaningful holiday experience.
“The warmth of the holidays, the joy of getting out and doing things, and the awe of the scale of what we create… I think all of those things are certainly present if not even taken to the next level this year,” NeSmith said.
This year, Dazzling Nights runs from Nov. 19 to Jan. 9. Tickets are $22 a person and $25 on peak nights.
Its other attractions will be a forest of neon trees, a colorful rose garden and a 65-foot tunnel of giant stars.
“We want to make sure we’re not only giving people a new experience every year, but a more elevated one,” NeSmith said.