New features planned for 2017 Garvan’s Holiday Lights event

Garvan Woodland Gardens will present its 15th annual Holiday Lights event beginning Nov. 18 and running through New Year’s Eve. The botanical garden is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Several new features will debut at the 2017 Holiday Lights event. A new Ice Dandelion, part of the Winter Garden display, is an animated light display using cutting-edge technology called “color blossoms.” Dandelion seeds will be blown into the wind and cascade in a wave of light through the garden.

In addition to this newly constructed feature, some old friends will be welcomed back to the garden this year: three topiaries from the Mystic Creatures events of 2014 and 2015, two of which were designed by students from the Fay Jones School of Architecture+Design Landscape Architecture Program, will don their winter coats of light. Rodrick the Sea Serpent, a Family of Mushrooms and the Sasquatch, otherwise known as Bigfoot, will be lighted.

As visitors begin their tour of Holiday Lights, a stroll through the natural 4-acre Garden of the Pine Wind featuring ethereal blue and white lighting, giant koi fish, and a multitude of light-wrapped trees characterizes the uniqueness of Garvan’s Holiday Lights. Next on the tour, the Rose Tree display features a 12-minute musical holiday celebration with an animated light show. Then, visitors can explore the garden acres featuring the new ice dandelion, ice tunnels, ice palace, flowers and a pond blooming with light. For kids at heart, the fully animated James the Train offers hands-on fun, surrounded by traditional elves, reindeer and a lighted sleigh. The fanciful lighted Parterre garden and Jazz Piano trio are featured on the Great Lawn, near the lighted miniature Train Garden and free hot chocolate tent.

New operating hours are in effect this year. The garden’s gates will open at 3 p.m. daily. Friday and Saturday nights are typically very crowded and visitors choosing to attend those nights in December should expect to wait a minimum of one to two hours to park and enter the garden. Garvan Gardens encourages visitors to plan to visit Holiday Lights on Sunday through Thursday nights, if possible. To speed entry time once parked, tickets may be purchased in advance online at http://www.garvangardens.org/purchase_tickets/ default.aspx.

Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12, and free for members and children up to 5 years old. No dogs are allowed. Golf cart tours are an additional $15 per person and cannot be reserved. Parking is free.