Halloween and Christmas may live on opposite ends of the calendar, but for fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas, the two holidays are forever intertwined. With glowing pumpkins, eerie whimsy, and heartfelt nostalgia, Tim Burton’s beloved world captures the magic of celebrating both seasons at once. This year, that cinematic dream stepped out of the screen and into real life—offering a chance to walk through Christmas Town and Halloween Town in a way few fans ever imagined.
By Lindsey Kelleher
Contributor, Halloween Living Magazine
Christmas Meets Halloween
I’ve always loved Halloween and Christmas. This year, I wanted to celebrate both holidays at the same time. What better way to do that than to take a trip to Christmas Town and Halloween Town?
Yes, that’s right—I got to visit Christmas Town and Halloween Town from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas in real life. I saw the magical place where Jack Skellington made toy monsters, teddy bears, dolls with sharp, fang-like teeth, and skeletons-in-a-box for the boys and girls of Christmas Town. Not far away was a cemetery and pumpkin patch straight out of Halloween Town.
A Magical Night at the New York Botanical Garden
I didn’t want to indulge in the holiday fun by myself, so my boyfriend, Matt, and my friend Katie came along for the trip. We drove to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx for Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail and enjoyed a magical, fun-filled evening.
The light trail also takes place in Austin, Texas, and São Paulo, Brazil. I told Matt and Katie we might be saving up for a trip in the future. We’ll see.
Walking Through the Film
Based on the 1993 Tim Burton movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, the trail was illuminated with Halloween and Christmas lights and decorated with statues depicting different scenes from the film. In the background, you could see the flowers and plants that are part of the botanical garden property.
The holiday light trail truly brought Halloween and Christmas together.
Childhood Memories Along the Path
As I walked past pumpkins glowing along the dark—but well-lit—path, I thought of all the cold Halloween nights I spent trick-or-treating with my friends and brothers as a kid.
The sculpture of Santa made me think of the times my brothers, cousins, and I had our pictures taken with him. But unlike the trick-or-treaters in the movie, we anxiously awaited Santa’s arrival in the wee hours of Christmas morning and would have never locked him in a dungeon with the boogeyman.
Presents, Surprises, and a Scary Memory
One of my favorite light sculptures was the Christmas tree surrounded by presents. As a kid, I shook every gift and felt its edges before opening it. Oftentimes, I was wrong about what I thought was inside. Sometimes I got what I wanted from my wish list. Other times, the presents were a total surprise.
I never received any scary surprises for Christmas—but Halloween was a different story. One year in college, when my parents decorated our house for Halloween, my dad put a toy—but very lifelike—rat under the couch in the living room. (We lived in a raised-ranch-style house where the living room was on the second floor.) When I saw it, I screamed and ran downstairs.
The Pumpkin King’s True Calling
As for Jack Skellington, he was glad he got to try something new by making presents for the boys and girls in Christmas Town. But he eventually realized that Sally and the others from Halloween Town were right—he’s better at creating Halloween magic and will always be their Pumpkin King.
As for what else Jack Skellington has planned until next Halloween, you’ll have to watch the movie to find out. And if you’re in the New York City, Austin, or São Paulo areas next fall, be sure to check out the light trails.
