Lewis Ginter's GardenFest of Lights runs Nov. 23 to Jan. 3, 4 to 10 p.m. Adult tickets are $26 on value nights, $29 on peak nights; parking is free but tight.
Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s GardenFest page and its tips and FAQs for visiting.
Yes, GardenFest of Lights is on for 2026. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s holiday light show runs Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, to Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, from 4 to 10 p.m., at 1800 Lakeside Ave. in Henrico’s Lakeside area, about nine miles east of Short Pump. Tickets are timed and sold online; the garden says popular nights sell out.
Quick answer
- Dates: Nov. 23 to Jan. 3; members’ preview Nov. 20-22
- Closed: Thanksgiving, Nov. 26; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25
- Hours: timed entry from 4 p.m.; lights close at 10 p.m., including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
- Tickets: non-members $26 adults and $16 youth on value nights, $29 and $21 on peak nights; under 4 free
- Parking: free and limited; overflow at 5924 Lakeside Ave.
What it is
The garden bills the 2026 show as Otherworldly: fantastical creatures, fairy tales and faraway worlds in millions of lights, the garden says, and it extends into the garden’s new gardens and expanded Conservatory this year. Inside, volunteers build a Fairy Village in the Conservatory Exhibition Hall, and the Kelly Education Center has model train displays. There is hot chocolate, a fire pit for s’mores and the Garden Shop, which stays open until 10 p.m.
Tickets
| Night type | Dates | Non-member adult | Non-member youth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value (non-peak) | Nov. 23-25 and 30; Dec. 1-10 and 14-17; Jan. 2-3 | $26 | $16 (ages 4 to 12) |
| Peak | Nov. 28-29; Dec. 11-13; Dec. 18 to Jan. 1 | $29 | $21 (ages 4 to 17) |
- Members pay $16 for adults and $12 for youth on value nights and $19 and $15 on peak nights, and get in free on Nov. 23 and 24, Dec. 30 and Jan. 1-3. Members must still reserve tickets online.
- Museums for All: SNAP and EBT recipients pay $1 per adult on value nights and $5 on peak nights; youth are free.
- Children under 4 are free and need no ticket.
- Walk-up tickets are not guaranteed and cost $5 more per ticket.
- Tickets are non-refundable. Optional ticket insurance, bought at checkout, lets you move your tickets once to another date or time.
- The show runs rain, shine or snow.
Each ticket has an arrival time; you can arrive up to 30 minutes after it. If garden traffic or parking makes you late, the garden says its staff will work with you.
Special nights
| Night | Dates |
|---|---|
| GardenFest for Grownups, ages 18 and up | Wednesday, Dec. 2; Thursday, Dec. 3; Wednesday, Dec. 30 |
| GardenFest for Fidos, leashed dogs welcome | Mondays, Nov. 23 and 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 28 |
| Performance nights, local musicians and entertainers | Tuesday, Nov. 24; Tuesdays, Dec. 1, 8 and 15 |
The garden says performers and times for the performance nights will be announced later. Dogs are allowed only on the Fidos nights.
Parking and getting there
- Parking is free but limited. The garden asks visitors to carpool or use a rideshare, and says traffic can back up on busy nights.
- Overflow parking: the rear lot of the Green Office Building, 5924 Lakeside Ave., next to the garden.
- If you park on nearby streets, the garden asks you not to block driveways.
- Quieter times: the 4, 4:30 and 5 p.m. arrivals and anything after 7:30 p.m., and weeknights over weekends. The garden expects the biggest crowds once schools let out for winter break.
- Loaner wheelchairs and strollers are free, first come, first served.
Road work on the way out of Short Pump is on our road construction and closures page, and bus routes are in getting around.
Food
The GardenFest Café serves casual meals and grab-and-go food, and the Jingle Bar and Grill in the Asian Valley has food, hot chocolate and drinks for adults. S’mores kits are sold in the Children’s Garden.
What this means for you
Buy timed tickets online before you go, pick a value weeknight early in the season if you want the lowest price and the shortest lines, and plan for parking to take a while. More lights, Santa visits and tree lightings near Short Pump are on holiday lights and Christmas events and Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Frequently asked questions
When is GardenFest of Lights 2026?
Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, to Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. in Henrico. Members get a preview weekend Nov. 20-22. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
How much are GardenFest of Lights tickets?
For non-members, $26 for adults and $16 for youth on value nights, and $29 for adults and $21 for youth on peak nights. Children under 4 are free. Walk-up tickets, when there are any, cost $5 more each.
What time is GardenFest of Lights?
Timed entry starts at 4 p.m. and the lights close at 10 p.m. Your ticket gives a 30-minute arrival window. The garden suggests allowing at least an hour, so arrive by 9 p.m.
Is parking free at GardenFest?
Yes, but the garden’s lots are limited and fill on busy nights. Overflow parking is in the rear lot of the Green Office Building, 5924 Lakeside Ave. The garden asks visitors to carpool or use a rideshare.
Can I bring my dog to GardenFest of Lights?
Only on GardenFest for Fidos nights, the Mondays of Nov. 23 and 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 28. Dogs must be leashed and well behaved.
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