Wild Lights | The Wild Center | Tupper Lake | November 28, 2025 through February 21, 2026

Friday, November 28, 2025 5:00 PM
Saturday, February 21, 2026 8:00 PM

The Wild Center 45 Museum Drive Tupper Lake, NY, 12986 United States (map)

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Wild Lights 2025–26: Experience Adirondack Winter in a Glow

Wild Lights installation in the winter at Tupper Lakers Wild Center — All photos courtesy The Wild Center.

Winter in the Adirondacks just got brighter. From late November 2025 into early March 2026, The Wild Center in Tupper Lake transforms into a glowing winter playground with Wild Lights — the region’s celebrated nighttime light experience that blends forest, art, and winter ambience.

Whether you’re visiting with family, planning a cozy date night, or simply craving a magical stroll among glowing trees and twinkling treetops, Wild Lights offers an unforgettable Adirondack winter outing.

A luminous walk through the woods.

Visitors follow a carefully lit trail that winds through forest paths and over the museum’s elevated treetop walkway — the Wild Walk — now shimmering with thousands of synchronized lights. As you wander, you’ll pass through illuminated pine groves, step onto glowing platforms, and find yourself immersed in a forest that feels simultaneously familiar and enchanted.

Inside, select exhibits remain open late, complemented by “Season of Light” installations and hands-on science demos that add warmth, wonder, and educational charm to the evening.

New for the 2025–26 season.

This season’s Wild Lights promises expanded magic: additional trail loops leading to secluded viewpoints, brand-new projection mapping along treetop bridges and platforms, and a brand-new “Cosmic Winter” zone — a nebula-like lightscape with mist and reflective effects ideal for night photography.

Illuminated forest at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

Warmth returns via the Cozy Canteen, offering hot chocolate, local coffee, maple treats, and baked goods from Adirondack purveyors — delicious fuel for wandering winter paths beneath the stars.

Who should go?

Families with children: Part stroll, part light show, part adventure — Wild Lights is accessible and kid-friendly, with lights on the forest floor and treetops, and indoor spaces for warming up.
Couples or friends: A peaceful winter date night under shimmering trees, with warm drinks and a gentle forest stroll.
Newcomers to the Adirondacks: No hiking gear or wilderness experience required — dress warm and enjoy the glow.
Photographers & creatives: Between light installations, color-rich trees, and misty winter air, this event offers gorgeous low-light photography opportunities.

Wild Center in Tupper Lake's illuminated outdoor winter trails. — Wild sights at Wild Nights.

Practical details.

Dates & schedule: Typically Friday and Saturday evenings from Thanksgiving weekend (around November 28) through February 2026; holiday-week schedules (for Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents’ Week) may offer extra nights.
Tickets: Timed at-entry tickets are required — advance purchase strongly recommended. Weekends and holidays tend to sell out.
What to bring: Dress in warm layers, wear insulated boots, gloves, and hats. If you tend to get chilly easily, bring hand warmers.
Accessibility: Trails and the Wild Walk offer ADA-accessible routes; strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.
Photography: Flash isn’t recommended — best to use night or long-exposure mode.

Why it stands out.

Wild Lights isn’t your average holiday light display. It’s a uniquely Adirondack experience: forested trails, treetop walks, educational elements, local food — all bathed in artful light.

Whether you’re a local looking for a festive winter night out, a visitor wanting a postcard-perfect Adirondack experience, or a family seeking a gentle winter adventure, Wild Lights offers something for everyone without the stress or expense of a full vacation.

For more details — including 2025–26 enhancements, insider tips, and a photographer’s perspective — check out our article: The Wild Center’s Wild Lights: A Winter Tradition That Keeps Getting Brighter.