Posted:
11/4/2024 |
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(ST. LOUIS) Garden Glow returns for its 12th year, offering an immersive holiday experience at the iconic Missouri Botanical Garden. This beloved St. Louis tradition brings back familiar favorites to the holiday light show, as well as several new features for visitors to enjoy.
The walkthrough, outdoor display presented by Wells Fargo runs nightly November 16, 2024–January 4, 2025; the show will be closed on Nov. 25, Nov. 28 and Dec. 24–25. Garden Glow hours vary by date. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged to guarantee the date/time of your choosing. Tickets range from $5– $24.
NEW EXHIBITS THIS YEAR
The Garden has added several new exhibits for visitors to enjoy this year, including two new areas designed to connect visitors to the Garden’s mission and living collections.
The Lehmann Rose Garden has been transformed into the Grand Grove, featuring vibrantly glowing faux oak trees. These colorful trees highlight the Garden’s extensive living oak collection, which contains over 60 species of oak trees.
A new addition to the Victorian District will be a glowing, golden meadow that beautifully mimics the prairie restoration work the Garden is doing at Shaw Nature Reserve.
The Garden will also be debuting a massive glowing snowflake - a perfect place for a family photo or surprise engagement. Guests can also plan for a photo under the new glowing arches that have been added to the beginning of the lightshow.
SWEET TREATS AND ADULT BEVARAGES
Visitors can add to their memorable experience with a private fire pit rental, where they can enjoy hot cocoa and make their own s’mores. The Garden will also be offering a dining package to enhance the Garden Glow experience, featuring a variety of delicious meals from the Garden’s Sassafras Restaurant.
Several concession stands will be placed throughout the pathway, selling sweet treats and adult beverages.
New this year, the Garden will offer freshly roasted nuts and hot apple cider – both spiked and nonalcoholic options – at the Roasted and Toasted stand. The new Sweet Shoppe will be selling homemade fudge, giant sugar cookies on a stick and more sweet treats. Dippidy Donuts will also be selling their mini donuts throughout the Glow season for the first time in 2024.
FAMILY NIGHTS AND CHARACTER APPEARANCES
The Garden will be hosting Family Nights every Wednesday, November 20–December 11. During these nights admission for children ages 3–12 is just $5.
Throughout the holiday season, children can visit the Winter Sister and get a photo with the pair. The Snow Queen and Snow Princess will be at Garden Glow every Thursday, November 21–December 19 and will return for a final night in the new year on January 2.
Kids can also enjoy a visit with Santa Claus at Garden Glow and get a photo before he heads back to the North Pole. Santa will be at Garden Glow on Mondays and Tuesdays, November 18–December 10.
THE HOLIDAY FLOWER AND TRAIN SHOW
Open nightly 5–9 p.m. through January 1, the Holiday Flower and Train Show returns to the Emerson Conservatory during Garden Glow.
Charming G-Scale model trains travel through a colorful display of blooming poinsettias and miniature landscapes, including new mini replicas of the Garden’s iconic Victorian District. These sculptures were crafted by Applied Imagination Ltd. and are made entirely from botanical materials such as pinecones and bark.
HOLIDAY WREATH AUCTION
The Holiday Wreath Auction, which features creations from some of St. Louis' finest florists, returns this year. Designs range from traditional to whimsical and are sold by silent auction bidding, with proceeds benefiting the Missouri Botanical Garden.
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The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.” Today, 163 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.