Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

On 30December2016
By Heather

Blue, Green, Red, and Gold lights decorating trees at Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Greenhouse dome decorated in holiday lights at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

The Missouri Botanical Gardens presents Garden Glow every night from November 15th to January 3rd to enhance your holiday festivities. This display has over two million holiday lights strung throughout the gardens. There are paths to follow that help guide the flow of all the crowds and ensure you see all the displays. Remember to button up, as this walking tour will likely take you and your family a couple of hours to complete.

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Holiday Lights Everywhere

I highly recommend buying tickets in advance. This event usually sells out, so before you drive down here to compete for a parking space with other people, ensure you purchase advance tickets. Tickets vary in price based on whether you are a member or not, and they have timed entry. The Missouri Botanical Gardens does a great job with the displays, even in the parking lots. I love the twinkling lights set in the trees that resemble snow falling.

White Holiday lights as trees and bushes at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

Once you enter, you will have your choice of photo ops in the center square. I found it to be easier to wait until you are finished to get those pictures. There will be fewer people crowded around the displays. The paths are well-lit, directing the group quite well around the gardens. The displays are gorgeous, with tons of Christmas trees decorated and other neat holiday light displays everywhere you look.

Holiday lights as trees and bushes at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

Blue, Green, and Purple lights decorating trees at Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Musical Garden Glow Extravaganza

The center pond has a fabulous display of lights and music. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time here, listening to the Christmas music and taking in the coordinated light show. There were also several fun-filled kid activities located near the pond. Parents could stand and warm their hands by the bonfires, and the kids could throw rings at the reindeer.

Center pond with balls & trees decoarated with lights at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

Numerous kid-friendly activities were scattered throughout the garden to keep the children entertained. My niece and nephew enjoyed decorating the snowman.

Children decorating snowman at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

One of the highlights was the impressive tunnel of lights. We were at a standstill, waiting to go through the tunnel. For those who chose not to wait, there was another enormous display of lights to enjoy dotting the landscape next to us. I am amazed at how the Botanical Gardens blends these lights into the displays to make them look like they are a part of the display, rather than a bunch of lights strung around something.

Red lights decorating a tunnel at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

Happy Holidays!

Selfie taken at Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens

As the year is winding down, I wanted to say that I hope all of you are having a great holiday, however you celebrate it! See you next year, and Happy Travels!

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Author

Heather

Heather is a freelance travel writer and photographer who left a traditional 9-5 job to explore the world. She spent a year backpacking through Europe and Asia, even living in Thailand for 4 months. She loves SLOW travel, getting to know the local culture, and is always exploring with her camera. She has been published in several publications.

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