2024 Grand Holiday Illumination: December 7 through January 1
ALSO OPEN Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
Inaugurated in 2015, the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy's Grand Holiday Illumination has quickly become a Yonkers tradition, and thousands of visitors come to enjoy the spectacle. Come for FREE and see the Walled Garden lit with more than 100,000 lights and listen to holiday music from many traditions.
The 2024 Grand Holiday Illumination opens on Saturday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. and is then open every night through Wednesday, January 1, and also on the weekend of January 4 & 5, from 4:30 until 8:00 p.m., free to the public with NO RESERVATIONS required. Illumination is OPEN on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Thanks to our 2024 Sponsors
2024 Leadership Support provided by the Yonkers Economic Development Corporation:
|
2024 Additional Funding provided by:
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to our 2024 Volunteers
Thanks to the many community groups, families, and friends who volunteer at the Grand Holiday Illumination to greet visitors, give out free hot chocolate, and accept donations on behalf of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy!
Amackassin Club ✦ Ardsley Girl Scouts Troop 2300 ✦ Beczak Environmental Education Center ✦ Blue Door Art Center
Castle Green Finance/X-Caliber Capital ✦ Chamber of Mothers, Westchester Chapter
Conservative Synagogue Adath of Riverdale ✦ Edgemont High School Science Scholars
Friends of Crestwood Library ✦ Garden Club of Dobbs Ferry ✦ Greenburgh Hebrew Center ✦ Garden Club of Irvington
Hastings Historical Society ✦ Hudson River Patriots Chapter, DAR ✦ Lakers Athletic Club ✦ Ludlow Park Residents Association
National Council of Negro Women Hudson Valley Section ✦ Park Hill Racquet Club ✦ Park Hill Residents Association
Sacred Heart Church Yonkers ✦ Society of American Magicians Yonkers 194 ✦ Tarrytown Music Hall Volunteers
Untermyer Gardens Conservancy (UGC) Docents ✦ UGC Garden Class ✦ UGC Greeters ✦ UGC Volunteers
Volunteer New York! ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1787 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1790 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1796
Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1797 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1817 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 2191 ✦ Yonkers Historical Society
Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club ✦ Yonkers Partners in Education ✦ Yonkers Public Library
Castle Green Finance/X-Caliber Capital ✦ Chamber of Mothers, Westchester Chapter
Conservative Synagogue Adath of Riverdale ✦ Edgemont High School Science Scholars
Friends of Crestwood Library ✦ Garden Club of Dobbs Ferry ✦ Greenburgh Hebrew Center ✦ Garden Club of Irvington
Hastings Historical Society ✦ Hudson River Patriots Chapter, DAR ✦ Lakers Athletic Club ✦ Ludlow Park Residents Association
National Council of Negro Women Hudson Valley Section ✦ Park Hill Racquet Club ✦ Park Hill Residents Association
Sacred Heart Church Yonkers ✦ Society of American Magicians Yonkers 194 ✦ Tarrytown Music Hall Volunteers
Untermyer Gardens Conservancy (UGC) Docents ✦ UGC Garden Class ✦ UGC Greeters ✦ UGC Volunteers
Volunteer New York! ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1787 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1790 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1796
Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1797 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 1817 ✦ Yonkers Girl Scout Troop 2191 ✦ Yonkers Historical Society
Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club ✦ Yonkers Partners in Education ✦ Yonkers Public Library
Music of the Illumination
In addition to the classical music associated with Christmas, music from the traditions associated with Indo-Persian gardens and Samuel Untermyer has been selected for the Illumination at Untermyer Gardens. Ancient Persia (550 BCE) was Zoroastrian. Its music may sound strange to many Western ears, but it would have been heard in Persian gardens for over a thousand years. As Persia gradually became Muslim, new music evolved from that tradition. Jewish music reflects the heritage of Samuel Untermyer as well as the ancient story of the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis. Hindu music is included, as it would have been heard in the monumental gardens of Mughal India. Click here for the playlist.