• Yes, all Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights tickets are online ONLY (no walk-ups). When you purchase a ticket, you choose the date and an arrival time. Children under age 3 do not need a ticket. Garden members must reserve their tickets, too.

• The time on your ticket is your arrival time. Arrive at the time on your ticket or up to 30 minutes after that time. Example: if your ticket says 4 p.m., arrival time is between 4-4:30 p.m. We cannot admit you earlier than the time on your ticket and if you arrive more than 30 minutes after the time on your ticket, you may not be able to enter due to capacities.

• The Garden continues to follow CDC recommendations and state guidelines for COVID-19 and is encouraging universal indoor masking while in public spaces for all, regardless of vaccination status. For those not fully vaccinated, masks are required indoors at all times and outdoors when 6-foot social distancing is not possible.

• Plan to meet family and friends outside in the Pedestrian Plaza in Parking Lot B. This is near where you will enter the Visitors Center; limited seating is available.

• Help us be quick! If you can, please print your ticket and bring it with you. This will make it easier for us to collect and scan. (If you prefer, have your ticket QR code showing on your smartphone ready for scanning.)

For questions about our new FLEX ticket or to transfer your FLEX ticket reservation please email flex@lewisginter.org

• Same day ticket transfers will only be completed up to 4 p.m.

• All other ticket transfers will be completed within 24 hours

• Guests will not be refunded the difference if they select a lower-priced ticket

• Guests switching from a VALUE/BONUS night to a PEAK night will be required to pay the difference for upgrading to a FLEX PEAK ticket. (ie: Guests cannot switch from a FLEX VALUE/BONUS NIGHT ADULT ticket to a PEAK GENERAL ADULT ticket.)

• Proceeds benefit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. There are no refunds. This is a rain-or-shine event. Garden member tickets are non-transferable to non-members.

• There is no will call this year. Meet your group in the Pedestrian Plaza before entry and be sure to forward tickets to anyone in your party who may be arriving separately.

• • Parking is free, but it is limited. Carpool if you can.

• GardenFest and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will be closed on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26), December 24 & 25.
• GardenFest is open 4 – 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

• GardenFest is rain or shine and is canceled only in cases of extreme inclement weather. Any closure notices will be posted to the Garden’s homepage and on social media. We do not close if it is simply raining.
• Only FLEX ticket can be transferred to another date. Restrictions apply.

We advise guests to 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!”

• We have loaner wheelchairs for members and guests. You may also want to read more about the Garden’s accessibility.
• Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we are currently not able to provide loaner strollers. Please bring your own stroller if you need one.

• Yes. See a digital copy of  the GardenFest Map (JPG).

GardenFest is a walk-through show. We encourage guests to dress accordingly in good footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.

GardenFest 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. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend strollers. Since the show is outdoors, it’s also a good idea to dress children according to the weather.

Come early! Arrive early and explore the Garden in twilight when it’s less busy, then watch as the sun goes down and the magic happens. Timed tickets start at 4 p.m. Hot drinks are available for purchase in the Children’s Garden.

• The maze is in the form of a spiderweb this year and is located below the Conservatory in the Anderson Meadow.

• This year, all your favorite Bling House items will be located in the Garden Shop!

• Leashed dogs are allowed on these select Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights nights: Thursday, December 2, 2021, and Thursday, January 6, 2022.  Please read our rules and guidelines for visiting Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with dogs.

• The busiest nights tend to be weekends and the week prior to Dec. 25. If you want to come when there are fewer people we would suggest purchasing tickets on a rainy evening or for a time slot at 8:30 p.m.

Yes. All buildings are now open. The Garden Shop is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. during GardenFest.  You can also visit the Garden Shop Online.

• NEW this year! Community-created Poems of Positivity light installation from Orlosky Studio.
• Look for a spiderweb maze, see the lifecycle of a butterfly in lights,  flowers made of lights, and of course, old favorites like the peacock. 
• Trains in the Kelly Education Center are back! This year’s theme is “Farm to Table.”
• Look for a live, cut 25-foot-tree in the Conservatory this year! You will be able to smell the fresh scent of pine in the North Wing. 
• The Kelleher Warming Fire is back this year! Take a break for some hot cocoa and s’mores (for purchase) around the fire in the Children’s Garden.
• Read more on our blog post all about this year’s Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights.

Look for fast-casual dining in the Garden Cafe well as drinks and snacks. The Robins Tea House has dinner nightly, by reservation.  In the Children’s Garden, Espresso-A-Go-Go sells hot drinks and cookies ranging in price from $3 to $6.

• Outside food may not be brought into the event.  Feel free to bring your water bottle. We have water bottle refilling stations.

• Hot cocoa and s’mores kits can be purchased from Espresso A-Go-Go in the Children’s Garden. We have sticks so you can roast s’mores in the Kelleher Warming fire in the Children’s Garden.

• The Kelleher Warming Fire is back this year! Take a break for some hot cocoa and s’mores (for purchase) around the fire in the Children’s Garden.