If you run a sprawling, much-loved apple orchard, what do you do once the Granny Smiths are picked, the pies are baked, and the cider kettles have cooled for the season?
If you’re the Covino family of Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in North Salem, you transform your orchard into a dazzling holiday wonderland filled with millions of twinkling lights and luminous creatures of every shape and size.
That spark of inspiration first struck co-owners Corinne and Kevin Covino five years ago, when they debuted their winter light show on the property. Today, that idea has grown into “Lumina” — a spectacular experience featuring nearly half a million lights that wrap the orchard’s apple trees and form towering, whimsical installations.
This year’s show, expected to welcome some 40,000 visitors, is the largest yet.
“Each year, Lumina gives us the chance to create something that feels truly magical,” said Corinne. “It’s become a tradition not just for our guests, but for our team too. We put our hearts into every detail — from the lights and music to the stories we tell — because we want families to feel that spark of joy and togetherness that defines the holiday season.”
This season includes a show-stopping Nutcracker scene synchronized to music and a vibrant Gingerbread City bursting with color and animation. Peek through the gingerbread windows and you’ll meet The Sugarplops — a mischievous crew of tiny bakers hustling to keep the sweets coming. Back by popular demand is the RGB Light Tunnel, an immersive kaleidoscope of shifting color and motion that has become a signature moment along the trail.
And the scale is breathtaking.
“We have a 12- to 15-foot whale in our underwater scene,” Covino said. “We also have a large stag that’s like 20 feet tall, and a large moose that’s also around 15 feet.”
Visitors can stroll past glowing polar bears, wander through a giant ice tunnel, or walk beneath a sweeping illuminated shooting star. Butterflies, dandelions, and fantastical creatures appear throughout the journey.
Lumina is not just a feast for the eyes and more steps on your fitness tracker. It’s an evening out. Harvest Moon offers food and drinks at multiple stops along the trail.
“We have one bar as you enter, another midway up on the patio, and two more down below at the end,” Covino said. Guests can enjoy bratwurst, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, Bavarian pretzels, or a truly decadent dessert: a vanilla sundae topped with apples and a donut. Drinks range from craft beer and the orchard’s own hard cider to hot chocolate and steaming apple cider, spiked or not. The trail ends at an illuminated glass greenhouse where visitors can warm up and savor a snack or drink.
“Designed for all ages, Corvino said, it’s a “festive thing — kids love it, adults love it.” Families, school groups, and even choirs often add to the atmosphere, performing holiday tunes along the path.
As for the name, Covino explained, “It’s a play on luminescence … luminous … just lights. It’s a magical thing for people to come and enjoy during the holidays.”
“Lumina — A Magical Light Experience” runs through December 30, welcoming guests from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on weekends and select weekday evenings. Tickets are available at luminahm.com and range from $20 to $37.
Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard is located at 130 Hardscrabble Road in North Salem. From Rye, take I-684 East to Exit 8, then drive 0.7 miles to the orchard.
