No. 10: River of Lights at ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden - Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show, River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, features more than 700 hand-welded light displays, animated and 3D sculptures, and millions of lights.
No. 9: Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens - Theodore, Alabama
Just outside of Mobile, Alabama, Bellingrath Gardens celebrates the holidays with Magic Christmas in Lights. Over 3 million lights illuminate scenes arranged throughout the 65-acre historic garden. Choral performances and holiday finery inside the Bellingrath home add to the holiday cheer.
No. 8: Illuminations at Botanica - Wichita, Kansas
Illuminations at Botanica in Wichita features nights illuminated with some two million twinkling bulbs, paired with thousands of luminaries to light the way. Carolers and live music set the scene each evening, and Santa is on-site for visits with young visitors.
No. 7: Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden - St. Louis, Missouri
The Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden features nearly 2 million lights, in addition to concessions selling s’mores, hot chocolate and traditional holiday treats.
No. 6: Lights in Bloom at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - Sarasota, Florida
More than 2 million lights illuminate Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota during Lights in Bloom. Walkways become sensory light tunnels, and the garden comes alive with illuminated flowers, rainforest butterflies and dragonflies.
No. 5: Dominion Energy Garden of Lights - Norfolk, Virginia
Visitors immerse themselves in a magical holiday wonderland as they walk the garden of lights under the Norfolk Botanical Garden’s canopy of trees. A million dazzling LED lights create an experience like none other in coastal Virginia.
No. 4: Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
On select nights in December, Brookgreen Gardens celebrates the holiday season in the glow of more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless more sparkling lights. Visitors can walk through the display with a warm cup of cider, cocoa or wine in hand to the sounds of live holiday music.
No. 3: Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Boothbay, Maine
Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay ranks among the biggest and brightest lights displays in New England, with more than 750,000 bulbs.
No. 2: Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights - Richmond, Virginia
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond lights up with over a million LED bulbs during the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights. Check out model trains nightly at the Kelly Education Center.
No. 1: A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
During A Longwood Christmas, Longwood Gardens celebrates the nostalgic traditions of the season. The outdoor gardens are sheer magic with more than half a million lights by way of illuminated trees to glowing orbs to dancing fountains. Outdoor fire pits and music add a note of holiday cheer. Inside, the celebration continues with elegantly adorned spaces featuring thousands of colorful poinsettias, living wreaths and towering trees inspired by the horticultural grandeur of Longwood.
By Lola Augustine Brown
