Step into a mesmerizing world of nature illuminated in WildWoods: AGLOW , Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s magical outdoor, nighttime experience. This annual winter attraction immerses visitors in the natural beauty of the Piedmont region, showcasing its flora and fauna with captivating nocturnal displays and interactive, multi-sensory exhibits.
Now in its third year, WildWoods: AGLOW introduces a variety of new displays that promise to delight visitors.
Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Experience a mushroom choir, captivating illumination and nocturnal animals roaming the woods. Journey into the magnificent, sometimes hidden worlds of nature at Fernbank Museum’s newest exhibit, Wildwoods: AGLOW. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “Wildwoods: AGLOW (is) our new nighttime, multisensory experience that highlights native plants and animals, or iconic species that can be found here (in Georgia), maybe even some reclusive species that you may not get to see because they are nocturnal or they don’t like a lot of human activity,” Sarah Arnold told WSBTV.com’s Nelson Hicks. “So, (it features) all sorts of really fun things to explore and discover.” (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Now in its third year, WildWoods: AGLOW introduces a variety of new displays that promise to delight visitors. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “We have added some uplit, very artistically carved light tours over near the mushroom choir, we have added Luna moths and dragonflies that are also uplit down near the creek in Wildwoods,” shared Sarah Arnold of Fernbank Museum during an interview with WSB-TV’s Nelson Hicks. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “There’s a lot of new stuff to see.” (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Highlighting the complex, connected and sometimes-hidden stories that flourish in the surrounding forest, this innovative experience brings together the vast, natural environment with the latest innovations in immersive design and technology. Transformative illuminations, large-scale projections and original music compositions beckon guests into a nighttime wonderland of biodiversity. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Inspired by native flora and fauna – and unlike anything else in Atlanta – this multi-sensory experience reveals the wonder of nature through a range of glowing, interactive and panoramic scenes across five distinct zones. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “We are always exploring exciting ways to engage audiences with science and nature while tickling the imagination through innovative and fun programming,” said Fernbank president and CEO, Jennifer Grant Warner. “WildWoods: AGLOW is an exciting experience that will reveal nature’s magnificent wonders through beautiful, artistic and intentional uses of projection that enhance our understanding of the ecosystem that connects us all.” (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum As guests enter the experience, they first discover oversized seeds glowing with interactive light, signaling the origin of forest growth and inspiring a deeper connection with nature. Throughout the experience, guests will encounter nocturnal animals, forest projections and interactive lighting, integrated with the surrounding plants and woodland environment. Another zone features larger-than-life incandescent mushrooms that can respond to guest movement with a musical symphony of illuminated communication. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Developed in partnership with Thinkwell, a leading design and production agency creating immersive, content-driven experiences for brands and companies worldwide, “WildWoods: AGLOW” is the third endeavor between the two organizations, following the opening of the award-winning children’s exhibit NatureQuest in 2011 and the creation of a series of outdoor exhibits in WildWoods, which expanded Fernbank’s experiences into the outdoors in 2016. Thinkwell has also previously designed and opened outdoor, nighttime experiences, including Omega a la Nuit and Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “WildWoods: AGLOW” is a limited-run nighttime experience for visitors of all ages and abilities, offered on select evenings from now through late Feb. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum “This is an all ages experience,” Arnold said. “It’s wonderful for date night and wonderful for families.” (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum The final day to enjoy Wildwoods Aglow is Feb. 23, 2025. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks) “We have added some uplit, very artistically carved light tours over near the mushroom choir, we have added Luna moths and dragonflies that are also uplit down near the creek in Wildwoods,” shared Sarah Arnold of Fernbank Museum during an interview with WSB-TV’s Nelson Hicks. “There’s a lot of new stuff to see.”
The new exhibits complement returning favorites, including the popular Mushroom Choir, where interactive mushrooms “sing” as guests move through the space.
“A couple of the things you have to see when you come here are going to be the Tulip Poplar seeds,” Arnold noted. “This is a light and sound experience and the tulip poplar seeds are larger-than-life sculptures. And there are going to be some smaller Tulip Poplar seeds along the boardwalk as you move around the space and they are interactive.”
Guests can also enjoy projections of nocturnal wildlife, glowing representations of native plants, intricate tree root displays, animal footprints, and more. The woods truly come alive in this magical experience.
Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum Here are some more photos from Wildwoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum. (Nelson Hicks)
Expanded Admission Perks
For 2024, a ticket to WildWoods: AGLOW includes access to the Fernbank Museum’s galleries and exhibits, as well as admission to one of the museum’s acclaimed movies —making the outing even more engaging for all ages.
For adults, Fernbank offers two exclusive After Hours evenings on January 10 and Valentine’s Day. These special nights allow grown-ups to enjoy the attraction in a relaxed, child-free atmosphere—perfect for a memorable date night.
Plan Your Visit
WildWoods: AGLOW is open on select nights through late February, offering a magical outdoor experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an art lover, or simply looking for a unique way to enjoy winter evenings, this event promises unforgettable memories.
Visit Fernbank Museum’s website for tickets and additional information.
This story is sponsored by Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
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