Autunm Lights Festival 2025
By George Haas and Randi Keppeler
The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) proudly participates each year in Oakland’s Gardens at Lake Merritt Autunm Lights Festival.
The Autumn Lights Festival is the annual fundraiser held each year for the Gardens at Lake Merritt. The Gardens at Lake Merritt were established more than a half century ago. They are a number of themed gardens with varying levels of upkeep. Volunteers provide much needed maintenance assistance to the City of Oakland’s gardening staff. The Gardens at Lake Merritt are a “tranquil oasis in the heart of Oakland and provide enriching public programs.”
Autumn Lights Festival occurred over three magical nights: October 16, 17, and 18, 2025! This year was the 14th year of the annual event.
The Autumn Lights Festival is hosted by the Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt organization comprised of all volunteers, formed in 2004. It serves to partner with the City of Oakland to enhance the seven-acre collection of themed gardens in the very heart of Oakland.
By supporting the diverse plant collection, habitats, demonstration gardens and landscapes of the gardens, Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt work as a learning resource and a serene location for the public to connect with and enjoy the beauties of nature.
A lot of credit belongs to BGLM volunteers Randi Keppeler and Rick Medress for planning and creating BGLM’s role in Autunm Lights Festival. Randi is the creator and artist for the yearly event. Rick is in charge of the low voltage lighting. Preparations for the event have increased exponentially over the last 14 years. Randi’s contributions to design and works of art never seems to end, and Rick constantly comes up with ways to place low voltage lighting so that every bonsai and garden feature receives the visitors’ attention.
BGLM closed down six days before the event in order to set-up the garden’s array of art forms and lighting. Volunteers worked during those set-up days in staging the bonsai trees and many garden features. Volunteers are also active as docents for the three nights of Autunm Lights Festival.
Each night of the event, four to six docents provide information about bonsai and suiseki viewing stones and ensure the physical security of the garden. The hours of operation are 6:00 to 11:00 PM. The event goes on rain or shine. Luckily, this year’s weather was dry and clear with the sense of autumn in the air.
BGLM volunteers register to work various shifts involving set-up, docents and cleaning up upon closure. Sign-Up Genius online app is used weeks prior to the event. Announcements for signing up encourage individuals to volunteer for the event.
Randi Keppeler is deeply grateful to everyone who volunteered their time to help with docent duties, setup and takedown. Your dedication and generosity made this event possible — we truly couldn’t have done it without them. Every single person came through, and together, we made it happen.
Docents count the number of guests entering the bonsai garden. The number of individuals entering the gate is incredible, numbering 1,800 to more than 2,800. If you missed out of the fun, there is always next year!
Visitors purchase tickets in advance of the event which are limited to 3,500 per night. Funds raised by Autunm Lights Festival are distributed in the form of grants to the themed gardens which includes BGLM.
Afterwards, volunteers spend one day packing up everything and storing the numerous art forms and lights for next year.
For information about Autunm Lights Festival 2026, you can contact Randi Keppeler at calshohin@yahoo.com.
