Tips for Visiting Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights
Planning Your Visit: Helpful Tips, Parking, Food & More
HOW TO FIND
THE GARDEN
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.
DO YOU WALK OR DRIVE
THROUGH THE LIGHTS?
GardenFest is a walk-through show. We encourage guests to dress accordingly with good footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE
TO SEE THE LIGHTS?
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!”
WHAT ABOUT
PARKING?
Parking is free and available on-site.
ANY TIPS FOR
VISITING WITH CHILDREN?
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. Since the show is outdoors, it’s also a good idea to dress children according to the weather.
Come early! Check out the special events and nightly activities. There is a kid-friendly menu in the Garden Cafe and the Tea House. The Children’s Garden is a must with a bonfire and a wheelchair accessible Tree House 13 feet off the ground! Hot drinks, cookies, s’more and more are available for purchase in the Children’s Garden. Children will love the new larger then-ever-maze, relocated to the Anderson Meadow.
WHAT KIND OF FOOD
IS AVAILABLE AT GARDENFEST?
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.
WHAT HAPPENS IF
THE WEATHER IS BAD?
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.
DISCOUNTS
Details on our GardenFest Discounts page.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit organization. Our mission is education, and our passion is connecting plants and people to improve our community. Dominion GardenFest of Lights is an extremely popular holiday light show, and visitation during GardenFest allows us to reach a wider audience in pursuit of that mission. Revenues generated during the event help fund our mission-related activities year-round, including the display gardens, our Community Kitchen Garden growing fresh produce for FeedMore (the local food bank) and educational programs for young students, many of whom come free of charge.
GARDENFEST OF LIGHTS
FACTSHEET
Wonder what’s involved in putting one of the biggest Richmond holiday traditions? Here are GardenFest Facts that you won’t believe!