The Garden of Lights
Winter Garden Walk
Friday, November 25, 2011– Sunday, January 8, 2012
Open every night except CLOSED on January 2, 3, 4 & 5
Open New Year’s Eve until 10pm with last car admitted at 9:30pm
Hours:
Weekdays: 5:30 to 9:00pm, with last car admitted at 8:30pm
Weekends (Friday – Sunday) 5:30 to 10:00pm, with last car admitted at 9:30pm
Admission
NOTE: Pedestrians cannot be admitted due to safety regulations. Visitors must drive to the entrance gate. After paying at the gate, visitors drive into the parking lot, park their vehicle, and walk through the light show display.
- Cars/Vans (Monday - Thursday): $20 (cash only)
- Car/Vans (Friday - Sunday): $25 (cash only)
(1 - 14 passenger vehicles) - Advance Sale Tickets: $20 (available starting November 1). Tickets are good for any night and may be purchased in advance at the Conservatory or Visitors Center Gift Shops during posted gift shop hours, using cash, check or credit. Advanced ticket holders must enter the gardens after 5:30 p.m. with normal flow of traffic (no early admission.)
- Buses & Limousines please register in advance at 301-962-1457. Limousines with 14 or fewer passengers will be charged regular admission.
- Bus, Van and Limo Fees:
- 15-24 passenger buses/vans/ limos: $50
- 25-35 passenger buses: $75
- 36-57 passenger buses: $120
Visualize
close to one million twinkling colorful lights shaped
in imaginative displays throughout
the gardens. Enjoy the four seasons
illuminated as giant summer sunflowers,
autumn leaves, winter snowflakes, spring
flowers, rain showers, and more. Walk
along the easily accessible paths and you’ll
see what sets this light show apart from
others; it’s the hundreds of wrapped trees
and shrubs, beautifully lighted gazebos,
cascading fountains, and the individually
formed displays in the shapes of blooming
flowers and wild animals. Look for moving displays such as a flock of geese,
or an 11 foot
giraffe covered with 9,000 lights. This
festive, secular light show, now in its 15th
season, is a popular family tradition in the
Washington, DC area drawing close to
40,000 visitors each winter.
GazeboInside of the Conservatory, a winter
display of holiday poinsettias, flowering
plants and evergreens are combined in
bright and bold combinations, providing
a colorful landscape through which
the garden railway trains travel.
The
South Conservatory & Train Exhibit (free of charge 10:00am - 5:00pm daily.)
Schedule of musical performances Listen to local musicians perform in the
Visitors Center Auditorium each night
of the show from 6:30pm to 8:00pm through January 8. Light refreshments may
be purchased and enjoyed during the
entertainment. While you’re here, do a
bit of holiday shopping at our gift shop,
Marylandica.
Party On! at the New Year’s Eve Celebration – What better way to say goodbye to the old year and an early hello to 2012 than by bringing your family and friends to the Garden of Lights for an evening filled with lights, music, and memories. We'll offer New Year’s Eve
crafts for kids
5:30-8:30pm. Face painting in the children’s classroom,
Crafts in the Atrium:*:
Decorate a New Year’s Crown and make one of the following-
Decorate a snowflake ornament- (for younger kids)
Assemble mini photo frames in the shape of snowman, polar bear or penguin (for older kids)
*While supplies last
All for the same weekend rate of $25.00 per car or van.
Garden of Lights Information Line: 301-962-1453
Food Drive
Please bring non-perishable foods to support our local charity drives. Donation boxes are located in the Visitors Center lobby.
Volunteer at the Garden of Lights
Volunteers are needed for our Garden of Lights Holiday Light Display. Volunteers , ages 16 and older, work evening shifts as Light Show Monitors, Parking Lot Attendants and Conservatory Docents. New this year, volunteers 11-15 can volunteer in Parent/Student teams as Show Monitors and Conservatory Docents. We ask that Light Show volunteers work a minimum of 4 shifts during the season, but you are encouraged to sign up for one or more weekly shifts. To apply, please follow the link to the volunteer job description and application instructions.
Thank you to our 2011/ 2012 Sponsors & Business Partners:
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Business Partners:
Eastport Concessions; The Sign Shop of Wheaton; The Washington, Virginia, Maryland Garden Railway Society; The Silver Spring Garden Club
Montgomery County Department of Parks