Christine Hobart and Deborah Downs with Paul Landry and Roz Allen. [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

McKee Botanical Garden twinkled brightly during its members-only Holiday Nights of Lights, which is presenting a slightly “re-wired” version of its previous event. Holiday Nights of Lights runs through Dec. 29.

Both young and old waited with gleeful expectations, lining up well before the gates opened, before being welcomed into a beautiful tunnel of animated lights. Discussions of favored past displays peppered the line until Santa’s helpers hit the switch to light up the night.

After battling a faux snowstorm, children warmed up inside the Hall of Giants, making last-minute requests as they visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and taking in the spectacular miniature village display.

The McKee Express metaphorically chugged down the world’s largest mahogany table in the Hall of Giants – a teaser for the large-scale model trains that will be on display in the Richardson Education Building beginning Dec. 19.

Sealantro offered a special holiday menu in the Garden Cafe, where attendees could fortify themselves before strolling through the garden amid thousands of twinkling lights. Many paused in awe at the entrance of the Royal Palm Grove, taking in the pathway with its dramatic spiral-wrapped palm trees.

Christine Hobart, McKee executive director, said that in an effort to make it a more inclusive community event, Holiday Nights of Lights will run for 16 evenings this year.

“By expanding the timeframe, people with family and friends in town looking for something to do will be able to visit,” said Hobart.

Additionally, to take things to another level and better highlight the landscape, Hobart said they added professional LED lighting this year. “That’s what we’re all about.”

Pandas frolicked, goldfish jumped and flowers bloomed amid illuminated hanging meteors, starbursts, snowflakes, dripping icicle luminaries, holiday-themed lanterns and spiral-wrapped trees, and up-lighting could be seen throughout the pathways.

It was also an opportunity for many to get a first glimpse at the new ‘Ocean Sole Africa’ exhibition, which will run through May. Members of Ocean Sole Africa recycle more than 500,000 flip-flops each year, cleaning, compressing and carving them into colorful sculptures. The artists used 5,486 flip-flops to complete McKee’s entire exhibition, which includes turtles, dolphins, crabs, an 8-foot-long great white shark, seahorses, a 6 ½-foot-tall octopus, reef fish, starfish, stingrays, a manatee and two giant dragonflies.

In the New Year, look for Patrick Dougherty as he returns to create another Stickwork Sculpture Buildout from Jan. 8 to Jan. 26.

For more information, visit mckeegarden.org.