Garvan Gardens to sell Holiday Lights tickets online only

Because of expected “high-volume visitation” Friday through Dec. 26, Garvan Woodland Gardens announced Wednesday that Holiday Lights tickets will only be available in advance through its website.

Tickets may be purchased at https://www.garvangardens.org/purchase_tickets/default.aspx.

Holiday Lights is open every evening from 4-9 p.m. through Dec. 31, except for Christmas Day.

The change is an attempt to eliminate the traffic and parking hassle for visitors, Bob Bledsoe, the garden’s executive director, said Wednesday.

Ticket prices and discounts will remain the same online as they were on-site.

Once around 3,600 tickets have been purchased for a night, a “sold-out” notification will be posted on the garden’s website, social media and on signs leading

to the garden.

There will be no time slots to purchase tickets on a specific night, but Bledsoe said tickets purchased for the night will be honored. However, he said visitors should check the garden’s updated social media for parking availability predictions.

According to a news release from the garden, road construction signs, the Garvan texting system (text Garvan to 48 48 48) and social media will communicate “pertinent information,” including that online tickets are sold out; parking is full; and approximate wait times.

Bledsoe noted the purpose of this is to not have visitors waiting in line to get in to see the display.

He said the idea of managing the garden’s visitor intake is to limit parking and make the light display better.

“We don’t want the garden’s pristine setting overly impacted by parking,” he said.

Bledsoe said when they know exactly how many visitors will be coming to the garden every night they can “better accommodate” them and ensure the safety of visitors and employees.

Although there have been no safety concerns this year, Bledsoe said, there has been congested traffic.

He said the garden’s neighbors on Carpenter Dam and Arkridge roads will also benefit.

Bledsoe said after “marketing well” people have come from all over the state and since Nov. 23, they have had approximately 40,000 visitors. Since Sunday attendance has been up 32% from last year, he said.

Bledsoe said with public schools getting out for holiday break soon, he expects the number of visitors to continue to increase.

According to Becca Ohman, garden director, members, corporate members, complimentary pass holders and their guests will be allowed access to the garden. Tickets for their guests can be purchased at the ticket booth at the Welcome Center.

As far as traffic staging, Ohman said in a news release that the number of tickets for sale will create “wait times,” as the parking is saturated by the first wave of customers around 5:30 p.m.

Traffic will be staged on Red Oak Drive, Twin Oaks and Arkridge Road from Twin Oaks to the garden entrance once the parking lot is full.

“Because of well-placed signs, guests will have the opportunity to join the waiting traffic on the approved traffic route or to come back later in the evening,” Ohman said.

“Anyone who has purchased an online ticket will be assured entry, though parking may be delayed based on availability,” she said.