The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation is proud to announce the dates and times for the 19th Annual “Holiday Lights in the Garden” event. This year’s celebration will begin on Friday, November 28, 2019 and end Saturday, January 4, 2019. It will be open every evening between 5:30 and 9:30. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.00 per person over the age of 13.
The Gardens will sparkle with 1 million, twinkling, LED lights in a multitude of colors. Vibrant laser lights and lighted figures will wow guests of all ages. Our friends, The Train Guys, will be back again for the opening weekend of the event. Their model trains will surround our 18 foot evergreen tree, bedecked in nature-inspired splendor, in the heart of the Wedding Garden.
Each evening includes food, drinks, and ice cream from our partner, St Pete Concessions. Light-up items for the kid in all of us will be available for purchase on our Botanical Bounty Gift Cart, located on the main plaza. All types of seasonal gifts and decor will be available in our Botanical Bounty Gift Shop, located in the main building. Both will be open nightly.
To add to the sights and sounds, we have arranged a variety of local volunteer talent to perform nightly. Check our website for a weekly Playbill listing nightly performers. Interested in performing? Fill out our Holiday Lights Entertainment Sign-Up Sheet. Santa visits regularly throughout the event through December 23, but be sure to call in advance in case he had to go back to the North Pole to handle an issue with the toy making. During the event, updates are available at the “Holiday Lights in the Gardens” Hotline: 727-582-5800.
Please be advised, this is a high-volume event. In order to avoid crowds, we encourage you to arrive early, and take advantage of viewing on weeknights. The Gardens are handicapped accessible. Most walkways are ADA Compliant: allowing access for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers. However, we DO NOT have wheelchairs or scooters available. Well-behaved dogs that don’t mind crowds are welcome at any time, but we encourage you to attend on weeknights.
Parking, including handicapped parking, is available at our primary event entrance, at 12211 Walsingham Road. Additional parking will be available at our Ulmerton entrance, but parking is limited so come early or choose to visit us on our non-peak days— primarily weeknights. Groups are encouraged to contact our office in advance, so we can help make your experience a memorable one.
The Foundation invites local businesses and individuals to show their support for this great family event by becoming Holiday Lights in the Gardens Event Sponsor. You can sponsor a Garden Entrance, a Holiday Lights Display, or be included on our Sponsor Board. Visit our website for our Sponsor Level Chart, showing all of the amenities included in each package.
Our Annual Holiday Lights in the Gardens event depends upon the support of hundreds of volunteers. Those wishing to volunteer for this year’s event should sign up at www.flbgfoundation.org/volunteer.
Proceeds from this event provide financial support to the Florida Botanical Gardens to fund events, plant purchases, improvements, maintenance, renovations and staffing for the Gardens. The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation and your Pinellas County Government look forward to sharing the beautiful lights with you.
After the lights are put away for the year, we hope you will return to the Gardens during the day to see their natural beauty. For general information about the Florida Botanical Gardens, follow us on social media:www.facebook.com/FlBotanicalGardens.