A nighttime walk through South Coast Botanic Garden now winds past a glowing Big Ben, an eerie Skull Rock and Captain Hook's illuminated pirate ship, as Tinker Bell's Neverland: An Illuminated Adventure opens on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The nearly mile-long trail threads through the garden's dirt paths, lighting up scenes and figures pulled straight from the Peter Pan stories for its first holiday season in Southern California.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the experience opened at the garden on Friday and runs select nights through January 3, 2027. The route includes the Darling home, Big Ben, Skull Rock, the Lost Boys' refuge and Captain Hook's pirate ship, all rendered as illuminated installations along the walk. The Daily Breeze adds that the trail also features illuminated models of London landmarks, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, alongside a glowing Darling House.
A Living Cast Along the Path
The light display is not just static scenery. Live performers portraying Tinker Bell and Captain Hook appear at three designated points along the trail, the Daily Breeze reports, joined by a puppeteer operating a glowing Nana. The event's official site describes the walk as taking visitors through London's twinkling skyline before venturing deep into Neverland, past the Lost Boys' secret hideout and Crocodile Creek, per Tinker Bell's Neverland.
Zoe Bottrell said the experience is a magical tale of adventure suited to the outdoors, according to NBC Los Angeles, and added that the creative team considered the project a dream and aimed to bring the timeless story to life. The event site notes the experience is held outdoors and that guests usually spend 60 to 90 minutes there.
Snacks, Hours and Getting In
About halfway through the walk, visitors can buy hot chocolate, s'mores, popcorn and other snacks for an additional charge, the Daily Breeze reports. The event site similarly notes food and beverages are available for purchase, including vegan and gluten-free options, and NBC Los Angeles describes the offerings as tummy-warming beverages and other treats.
The official site lists hours of 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, though the Daily Breeze describes the run as select dates between Friday and January 3. Guests parking offsite will need a roundtrip shuttle pass for each person and should allow 15 minutes for the ride to the venue, per the event site.
Pricing and Admission Details Vary
Ticket pricing is reported differently across sources. The Orange County Register reports tickets start at $33 for adults and $18 for children, with kids 2 and under admitted free, matching NBC Los Angeles's figures of $33 and up for adults and $18 and up for children. The Daily Breeze and We Like L.A. both list admission starting at $34.33. The event's own site confirms children under 2 get in free and allows ticket date changes up to 48 hours in advance, though it states no refunds are permitted under any circumstances.
From London to the 87-Acre Garden
The Orange County Register reports that producer Culture Creative launched the theatrical attraction in London the previous year before bringing it to the U.S. for the first time this holiday season. The company has produced its Lightscape illuminated walking trails at botanical gardens across the United States and Australia since 2020, according to the same Daily Breeze report, and already has interest from New York and Houston in hosting the Neverland show down the line.
South Coast Botanic Garden spans 87 acres at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard in Palos Verdes Estates, per the Orange County Register. For now, the Peter Pan-themed trail gives the Peninsula a rare after-dark reason to wander its paths, with Big Ben, Skull Rock and a pirate ship all aglow against the garden's winter nights.
