Choose a Friday or Saturday night from March 24 to April 8 to experience Audubon Community Nature Center’s Audubon Lights, when forest and ponds glow with lasers, spotlights, and more to create a stunning display. Submitted photo

Audubon Community Nature Center is lighting up 2023’s early spring weekend nights with a half-mile trail of lights through the woods and around the ponds.

This year the Audubon Lights happens Friday and Saturday nights from March 24 through April 8. Hours on March 24 and 25 are 8 to 10 p.m. With increasing daylight, March 31 and April 1 hours are 8:15 to 10 p.m., and April 7 and 8 are 8:30 to 10 p.m.

The walk along a luminary-lit trail passes ponds reflecting the illuminated trees and the stars above. The trails look stunningly beautiful when lit up in the dark, and spring peepers can provide the perfect soundtrack to an nighttime nature walk.

Those attending can purchase small LED lights at the entrance for additional fun and to help locate children in the dark as well as glasses that refract the light to make the trail even more amazing. Bringing cash makes purchasing easier.

The self-guided walk starts near the parking lot and travels just under half a mile. The path goes over flat terrain that includes a gravel road and grassy and paved trail. Since some sections are darker than others, a flashlight may be helpful.

Trailside forests and ponds glow with lasers, spotlights, rain lights, and more, creating a delightfully lit trail around the Nature Center.

Creative light displays and laser light shows highlight natural features in new ways. Additions to the 2023 Audubon Lights include computer controlled curtain lights with patterns, animal silhouettes in front of some lights, and more music and dance.

The trail ends at the Nature Center with a warm fire, hot drinks, popcorn, and other food for sale. Different performers entertain each night.

Entertainers include musicians Deep Fried and Dipped in Honey, Miranda Wilcox, Thee Ukuladz, and Jackie Bielata. Brandy Welch and the Vivacious Hoopster will do LED hula hooping, and Carrie Snow will do fire-breathing. Ellicottville Distillery will distribute samples one evening. To learn which evening these are featured, go to AudubonCNC.org and click through Events and Programs.

The Nature Center building is open during the event so those attending can play in the indoor nature play area, visit the live animals or shop in the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors who buy a Nature Center membership at Audubon Lights receive four free items from the outdoor glow store. Be sure to dress for the weather. Audubon Lights happens rain or shine but will be canceled in extreme weather.

Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for Nature Center members and children 3 – 15, and free for ages 2 and under.

Paid reservations are appreciated by the night before. They can be made by calling 716-569-2345 during business hours or going to AudubonCNC.org and clicking through Programs and Events. Walk-ins are welcome.

Business sponsors for Audubon Lights 2023 include Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation; Buffamante Whipple Buttafarro, PC; Courier Capital, LLC; Kwik Fill and Shawbucks.

Additional support for Audubon Community Nature Center is provided by 2023 Community Partners that include Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Curt and Susie Westrom, Holmberg Foundation, Hultquist Foundation, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, Lenna Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Bob Frucella’s Tax Service, Bush Furniture/A Brand of eSolutions Furniture, Hal and Mary Conarro, Weinberg Financial Group, and Whirley Drinkworks!