GardenFest Wins “Best Lights” Competition for the Second Year in a Row
Photo by Tom Hennessy
The Richmond region is home to the country’s “Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights” for two years in a row! On December 6, 2024, it was announced that voters once again helped Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights secure the top spot in the USA Today 10Best contest.
GardenFest also won the competition in 2023. “I am so proud of our Garden’s staff and volunteers who poured their heart, passion and artistry into creating a display that continues to delight visitors year after year,” said Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s President & CEO, Brian Trader. “This recognition is a testament to their hard work and creativity, and I hope everyone will come out to experience the magic they’ve created at the Garden.”
photo by Tom Hennessy
Nominations were carefully curated by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors before being voted on by the public. The top 10 winners are:
- Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights
- Galaxy of Lights at Huntsville Botanical Garden
- Luminary Walk at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
- Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden
- Illuminations at Botanica
- Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
- Redding Garden of Lights at Turtle Bay Exploration Park
- Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens
- Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens
- Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
photo by Tom Hennessy
Photo by Tom Hennessy.
The 2024-25 theme is Homes & Habitats: A Celebration of Connection. As audiences take in millions of lights across the Garden they will explore and celebrate the beauty and importance of interconnected environments. Homes and Habitats; where nature and community intertwine. From vibrant wetlands, a lush forest, and a vibrant savannah, to a magical world of fantasy, every environment plays a vital role in sustenance for life.
Be sure to visit Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights before it closes on January 5, 2025. Get your tickets here!