A giant ‘musical garden’ arrives in downtown Raleigh. See it before it’s gone.

With a slap, the button lights up and a smattering of musical notes hit the air.

The brassy tones from tubas, trumpets and trombones boom from the tall flowers that resemble upright angel’s trumpets, an exotic plant, as well as vintage gramophones. .

Multicolored lights dance around the stems and petals to music prompted by people who hit round buttons throughout the public work.

Called “Trumpet Flowers,” the public artwork is the star of this year’s Illuminate Art Walk, a series of light-based art installations throughout downtown Raleigh. The flowers have toured internationally and stretch up to 19 feet tall.

“In approaching the towering Trumpet Flowers a sense of shrinking envelops you, as if stepping into a giant’s musical garden,” according to a statement from the artist, Amigo & Amigo. “As a vibrant jungle of light, colour, and sound bursts forth like a symphony of nature, meander and explore this floral forest and accept the invitation to activate your own spectacular light show accompanied by a curated musical score.”

Illuminate Art Walk began in 2020 as a way to celebrate the holiday season and bring people downtown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some pieces, like the giant Christmas ornament and light arch called SONARC, are the same every year but many of the pieces are new.

Most of the pieces can be found along Fayetteville Street, including Trumpet Flowers at One City Plaza. The artwork, best seen at night, will be on display from Dec. 5 to Jan. 6.

“The event footprint stretches from Fayetteville and Wilmington Streets to Moore Square and Glenwood South, creating a vibrant pathway across our downtown district,” said Ileana Rodriguez, vice president of communications and community relations for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “We hope the installations encourage visitors to explore, support local businesses and experience our downtown neighborhood in a new light.”

This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM.

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

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Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.