Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue in Richmond, Virginia (23228). If you are using GPS, you may want to use “Henrico” instead of “Richmond.” We’re on the corner of Lakeside Avenue and Hilliard Road in Henrico County. The Garden entrance is off of Lakeside Avenue. Map.

GardenFest is a walk-through show. We encourage guests to dress accordingly with good footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. We do have wheelchairs and strollers but they are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Depends on how much you want to see! We advise guests allow AT LEAST an hour for their GardenFest visit (this would mean arriving by 9 p.m. since GardenFest ends at 10 p.m.). For those who don’t want a lot of walking, there is much to see in the Central Garden (between the Visitors Center and Conservatory); however, there are many lights along the Garden’s pathways and in the Children’s Garden for those who want to “experience it all!”  Want to plan your visit? Here’s this year’s GardenFest Map.

Carpool! Check the traffic. Consider an Alternate Route. Come early.

As you’d expect, attendance to Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights increases throughout the month of December. The Garden is closed Dec. 24 & 25, so the nights immediately preceding and after those dates can be very busy. Overall visitation tends to be higher on weekends, when the weather is nice, and when schools are out.  Although we plan for larger crowds, the weather is a huge factor and warm temps can really bring people out. During this busy time, we thank you in advance for your patience. Guest safety is our number one priority.

Again, it depends on your preferences. The number of visitors increases as we get closer to Dec. 25, especially once local schools get out. As you’d imagine, visitation is usually greater on the weekends and is also highly weather dependent. Visitation tends to peak between 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., so you may want to arrive early (4:30 p.m.) or later (after 8:30 p.m.) Please remember we are closed on Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 & 25. GardenFest of Lights runs through early January.

We will have a Pre-Purchased Ticket entry on select nights for people who have tickets on their phone or in hand for all in their party. This entry will be on nights with anticipated high visitation (Fridays, Saturdays and the week prior to Dec. 25). Our goal is to get you into the Garden as efficiently as possible so you can enjoy the show. Purchase tickets online.

Parking is free and available on-site. However, as mentioned above, the number of visitors increases as the season progresses. Sometimes there may be a wait for a parking space. If you see a long line at the intersection of Lakeside and Hilliard, you may want to allow 30 minutes or so and come back. We post signs saying “30 Minute Wait for Parking” to let people know the lots are full.
If you are meeting people at the Garden, please be aware that on busy nights there can be a lot of people in the Visitors Center; you may want to carpool or have a plan ahead of time about meeting up.

GardenFest of Lights is a family-friendly event! If you are bringing small children, please note there is walking involved, so you may want to bring a stroller. We do have a limited number of strollers available, but they are on a first-come, first-served basis. Since much of the show is outdoors, it’s also a good idea to dress children according to the weather. Want more tips? Read our blog post: 8 Tips for Visiting with Kids.

The Garden Cafe offers casual dining (including a children’s menu) as well as drinks and snacks. The Robins Tea House has holiday dinners and a children’s menu (5 – 8 p.m.) and , light fare (8 – 9 p.m.) during GardenFest.  In the Children’s Garden, Espresso-A-Go-Go sells hot drinks, cookies and s’mores, ranging in price from $3 for s’mores kits to $6 for specialty coffees.

Our guests’ safety is our number one priority. We close GardenFest in cases of extreme inclement weather and notices will be posted on our website and phone message system. We do not close if it is simply raining. If guests would like a break from the elements, we do have indoor displays in the Kelly Education Center.

Look for a Richmond Times-Dispatch Press Pass Coupon: Buy One, Get One Free admission. Details on our GardenFest Discounts page.

Remember Garden Members visit GardenFest for free on Member nights. Learn more about Garden Membership. 

Wonder what’s involved in putting one of the biggest Richmond holiday traditions? Here are GardenFest Facts that you won’t believe!