The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)

These photos are too beautiful. ✨

Senior Writer

It's the most magical time of year at Montreal's Botanical Garden. The annual Gardens of Light, aka Jardins de lumière, event opened for the 2021 season on Friday and the photos are dazzling.

Photographer J-F Savaria attended a preview on September 2, giving Montrealers a first look at what he called "the return of a great fall tradition."

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

This year's theme is "An ode to the moon."

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

"Universal beacon that has guided human beings since the dawn of time, the Moon is the light that ushers you while you discover the Gardens of Light," the Espace pour la vie website reads.

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

If you go, you can begin your journey at the Japanese Garden, which has transformed into a "vast canvas on which autumn falls," as Espace pour la vie describes it.

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

Then, head to the First Nations Garden for "an immersive and poetic journey to the heart of the seasons of life, together with the spirits of the river, fire, forest and wind."

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

Finally, you can see the Chinese Garden illuminated by hundreds of lanterns. The theme is the legend of Pangu. According to Chinese mythology, Pangu is a giant who created the world, and the exhibit creates sensory experiences that Espace pour la vie says combine art, science, technology and emotion.

The Montreal Botanical Garden's Lantern Festival Just Opened & It's Dazzling (FIRST LOOK)@jfsavaria | Instagram

The event is scheduled to run until October 31. Tickets cost $16.50 per adult for residents of Quebec.

Gardens Of Light (Jardins de lumière) 2021

Price: $16.50 for adults; $12.75 for students and $8.25 for children

When: September 3 to October 31, 2021 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: Montreal Botanical Garden - 4101, rue Sherbrooke E., Montreal, QC

Website

  • Ilana Belfer
  • Editor

    Ilana Belfer (she/her) was an editor for MTL Blog. She's obsessed with great storytelling in all its forms having worked in print, radio, television, theatre, and digital media over the past decade. A graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program, her words have appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, The Kit, VICE, Salon, Foodism TO & more — covering everything from cam girls to COVID-19. Ilana can usually be found with her dog André, tracking down Montreal’s prettiest ruelles vertes and tastiest treats.

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