Holiday Lights in the Gardens Set To Open for Season

LARGO, FL – For the 16th straight year, the Florida Botanical Gardens will light up for the holiday season.

Holiday Lights in the Gardens opens Friday, Nov. 25 and will run every evening through Saturday, Dec. 31 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The park is located at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo. A $4 per person donation to the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation for those ages 13 and older is suggested for entry.

This year’s event will feature more than 1 million LED and laser lights, transforming the 35 acres of gardens into a holiday wonderland filled with seasonal and Florida-style displays. Nearly 70,000 people visited the display last year, according to the Florida Botanical Gardens.

Along with the light displays, a wide variety of volunteer entertainers will perform, including ballet troupes, local choral groups and musicians performing jazz, bluegrass and folk. Children can visit Santa Claus in the park every night through Friday, Dec. 23. Click here for the entertainment schedule.

The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation’s gift and plant sale also takes place during the festival on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Food is available for sale each night and the Foundation will have a holiday gift cart in addition to the specialty items for sale at the Botanical Bounty gift shop.

Since 2000, the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation and the Pinellas County Parks Department have presented the Holiday Lights event. Foundation volunteer board members work throughout the year to design and plan the Florida-style setting. Hundreds of community volunteers welcome guests at entrances, plan schedules and provide other support.

Holiday Lights in the Gardens is the foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year. Every dollar raised goes to maintenance and improvements to the gardens, as well as maintaining and brining new displays for next year’s event.

Parking for the event is free and visitors with limited mobility can find easier access by parking at the east entrance of the gardens. Weeknight viewing is encouraged for a more leisurely experience and ample parking. Large groups traveling together by bus or van are encouraged to call ahead to assure accommodation.

The gardens will remain open from 7 a.m. until dusk every day, with free admission during daylight hours.

For more information, visit www.flbg.org or call (727) 582-2100.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department

Video via the Pinellas County Florida Communications YouTube channel