Visitors might not recognize the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Esplanade with music from Alan Silvestri, from the film "The Polar Express," accompanying a light extravaganza. 

It's the return of "Lightscape," a 1-mile-long illuminated trail featuring more than 1 million LED lights, in light sculptures and installations created by an international array of light artists.

"This is a time we'd normally be shut, cold and empty, and instead thousands of people are coming through every night to enjoy beautiful lights and a gorgeous landscape, bringing sort of electric fireworks to what is normally natural fireworks," said Adrian Benepe, president and CEO of the garden.

The garden's illuminated collection of trees remains the star of the show, with co-stars the lights, of course, and the music. Visitors can have some fun trying to recognize the variety of songs from movies and artists like Coldplay, Beyoncé, Enya and Miley Cyrus. 

(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)

"We work on the soundtrack all year round. We put songs back and forth, there are some scores from movies, there are some pop songs, there are some classical songs, there are some jazz versions of classical songs, and we've got a brand new piece from Jon Batiste this year featuring a Brooklyn artist, Jon Batiste has three pieces in the show," Benepe said.

There are new culinary choices along the trail this year in the expanded Lightscape Lodge, where you can get a sit-down dinner, or the Lightscape Bar inside the Palm Dome for drinks, snacks and more. 

It's a night at the garden, giving visitors a totally different perspective of the beloved oasis in Brooklyn.

"I didn't really see how big our trees were until they were illuminated at night, so the trees become big stars in this outdoor theater of lights," Benepe said.   

"Lightscape" runs at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden through Jan. 5. Plan your visit on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's website.