Imagine strolling through a glowing winter wonderland with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights and colorful displays. If a visit to Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, Maryland is high on your bucket list this holiday season, here are a few things to know before you arrive.
How to Get There
Situated within Wheaton Regional Park, Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902.
Parking is available at both the Visitor Center entrance at 1800 Glenallan Avenue and the Conservatory entrance at 1500 Glenallan Avenue. Visitors arriving by taxi or ride share must use the main entrance at 1800 Glenallan Ave.
Visitors arriving by foot or bike can use the pedestrian gate at 1800 Glenallan Ave. Note that bikes and scooters must be left at the gate as they are not permitted inside the Garden of Lights.
Buses, vans, and limousines require advanced registration. Learn more here.
What to Expect:
Expect to step into a magical winter wonderland illuminated with more than a million dazzling LED lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals, and other natural elements. Garden of Lights is a walk-through outdoor exhibit, so make sure to dress for the weather. The entire experience will take up to an hour when walked at a leisurely pace.
Outdoor food vendor: Hot chocolate and light refreshments will be available for purchase.
Admission Fees and Information:
Tickets are $13.99 Sundays through Thursdays (off-peak), and $16.99 on Fridays and Saturdays (peak) for visitors ages five and older. Children 4 and younger are free, while everyone age 5 and older must have a ticket.
All tickets must be purchased online in advance of your visit. No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Garden of Lights tickets are scheduled for timed entry slots starting at 5 p.m.. Be sure to arrive at your scheduled time with your QR code ready to be scanned upon arrival. Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred if requested by 4 p.m. on the date of the ticket. Garden of Lights is an outdoor, rain-or-shine event, so dress accordingly.
Best Time to Visit:
Garden of Lights is open with ticket times starting at 5 p.m daily from November 20 to January 3 (closed November 23-26, December 24-25, and January 1). Visits before Christmas are highly encouraged as the crowds are thinner, allowing you even more opportunities to discover and fully appreciate every detail.
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Gift Shop:
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for your special someone, visit the Brookside Gardens Gift Shop stocked with gifts for all ages, and open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. In the evenings during Garden of Lights, the shop will be open from 5 p.m. until 30 minutes after the last ticket entry time. It’s the perfect place to find inspired gifts or pick up that scarf you forgot to bring.
Photography Tips:
Personal photography is welcome. If you are looking to take portraits or plan to sell the images, a photo permit is required. Questions about photo permits can be answered here.
For budding photographers looking for the ultimate shot, the best time to visit is at dusk. The deep blues of the winter sky in the background add a lot of depth and detail, and the light displays tend to show up better in photos.
Make sure to share your favorite photos of the Garden of Lights, from glowing pathways to joyful faces, for a chance to win four tickets to next year’s Garden of Lights! Submit your photos starting December 1.
Don’t Forget to Visit:
After your trip through the Garden of Lights, come back during the day to see the stunning Conservatory and the magical Garden Railway exhibit. Note the Garden Railway is not open in the evenings, so plan to visit during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday, November 28 through January 3, 2027 (closed December 24-25 and January 1). Watch G-Scale model trains wind through a seasonal landscape of living plants in the Garden Railway exhibit and intricate custom-made original models of numerous Montgomery County landmarks from the past and present.
