Lights & Displays

What’s New:

• Voted Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in the U.S.! (USA Today 10Best contest; 2024 & 2023)
• This year’s 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. Enjoy as you explore different ecosystems, and welcome HOME!
• Travel through our grounds as the Gardens are re-imagined resembling wetlands, rainforests, deserts, and more through light forms and brand-new interactive features in the Waterway splash pad (Children’s Garden) and Cochrane Rose Garden.
• Find the Pokémon light form in each habitat! Ponyta, Ivysaur, and many others are waiting for you.
• Herbs in the Home, a display in the Library Reading Room, will show us how we use nature in our kitchen, for crafts and decorations, and other practices, representing the HOME – traditions and festivities.
• Dried botanicals and a brand-new timeline exhibit outlining our Garden’s past, present, and future will grace the Robins Visitors Center and its hallway as you walk in. Celebrate 40 years with us!

FAMILIAR FAVORITES RETURN

• Millions of lights light up the gardens and twinkle in trees under the night sky. The walk-through experience is designed so you, your loved ones, and friends can relax, have fun, and make special memories in a magical setting. 
• Model trains return to the Kelly Education Center nightly 4-9:45 p.m. Our volunteers have worked hard at creating a themed display centered around Homes and Habitats that includes a lake scene, a wooded mountain, a farm, a town, and more!
  
• The Warming Fire in the Children’s Garden is a great spot to warm up, drink hot chocolate, and roast s’mores (available for purchase at the nearby Carriage House).
• Homemade natural wood trees built by our volunteers and decorated by Henrico County Public Schools students brighten the Lora Robins Library.
• The Fairy Village enchants viewers in the Lora M. Robins Library, with miniature houses made with seeds, petals, and other natural mediums.
• A Live Tree outside of the Conservatory and a light tunnel in the Central Garden –perfect for a holiday photo-op!

Special Nights

MEMBER PREVIEW WEEKEND: Nov. 15-17
Free admission for members only, learn more and become a member here.

GARDENFEST FOR FIDOS:
Please read our rules and guidelines for visiting Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with dogs.

• Monday, Nov. 18
• Monday, Nov. 25
• Monday, Dec. 2
• Monday, Dec. 9
• Monday, Dec. 16

FREE NIGHTS FOR MEMBERS: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Free admission for members only.

PERFORMANCES: 

• Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6-7 p.m., Pungmulnori Korean Festive Performance (The Main Garden Walk)
• Tuesday, Nov. 26, 6:30-8 p.m., The Nutcracker performed by The Concert Ballet of Virginia (The Rose Garden)
• Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., SPARC’s Touring Ensemble will be caroling around the Garden (The Rose Garden)
• Tuesday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m., Hanover High School (The Rose Garden)
• Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6-8 p.m., Henrico High School (The Rose Garden)

GardenFest Map

Food & Drink

GardenFest Cafe (location: Garden Cafe)
The Garden Cafe will transform into the GardenFest Cafe from Restaurant Associates! It’s our “go-to” for grab and go food and drink at GardenFest.

12 Days of Dining (location: Tea House)
Dec. 1-12
Make your GardenFest visit extra special with a festive holiday dinner! Guests can book restaurant-style reservations in the Tea House during 12 Days of Dining. The menu will include 3 delicious courses with add-on possibilities. Make your reservation here!

Jingle Bar (location: Tea House)
Nov. 18-30, Dec. 13- Jan. 5
You can find the Jingle Bar after you’ve ventured down the hills of the Asian Valley Garden. The menu will be a limited version of the GardenFest Cafe menu. Please note: The Jingle Bar will not be in service from Dec. 1-12 during 12 Days of Dining. 

Espresso-A-Go-Go (location: Children’s Garden): Hot drinks and s’mores kits

Santa Brunch: Delicious brunches on Saturdays and Sundays in December with an opportunity to meet Santa. These reservations fill quickly; make yours today! Dec. 7 & 8; Dec. 14; Dec. 21 & 22; Seatings for the first two weekends is at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m., December 21st & 22nd will have 3 seatings at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.

GardenFest Dinners with Santa: Make GardenFest an extra special experience with dinners on select evenings and a chance to meet Santa. Dec. 22 & 23; seatings at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.

GardenFest Dining for Groups: Book these buffet dinners in advance for groups of 15 or more on select Monday nights. Mondays: December 2, 9 & 16.

For More Dining Experiences including Holiday Rentals, please visit Holiday Events and Private Parties.

Shopping

The Garden Shop in the Visitors Center is known for its outstanding, high-quality merchandise. A great place for all your gift-giving needs!

Thank You to Our Title Sponsor

Thank you to our Holiday Tree Sponsor