Normally we do the drive-through lights down at Watkins Park every year around Christmas. This year, we decided to change things up… We have friends with a little one who live in Montgomery County, and I suggested that we all meet up at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton to try their Garden of Lights. It was a magical experience, and worth every penny! Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallen Avenue in Wheaton, MD. Tickets have to be purchased in advance, and by advance, buy as early as you can! We bought ours about two weeks ahead of when we planned to go, and all of the earlier time entry slots were taken. The earliest slot we could get was 7:30 on a Friday night. 7:30 is Pebble’s bedtime, so we knew it was a risky plan! Ticket are $10 per person, ages five and older, and they are non-refundable. FYI, the company that does the e-tickets, Eventbrite, also adds a small convenience fee onto the final price tag. You must arrive within 30 minutes of your ticketed time slot in order to redeem the ticket. This is an outdoor, rain or shine, event. The light show runs from November 18th to January 1, with closures November 21-24 and December 24-25th.
We hit heavy traffic on the Beltway drive to Wheaton, but still managed to arrive at around 7:15pm. There was one person in reflective clothing at the entrance who asked if we had tickets before we were allowed to enter the driveway, and once we said we had, we were able to continue down through the gates to a small gatehouse where our tickets were scanned. Just beyond that was the parking lot. The place was hopping, but we easily found a spot as did our friends. 1800 Glenallen Avenue is the main entrance to the Gardens, but one could also choose to park in the smaller lot by the Conservatory at 1500 Glenallen Avenue. If arriving by foot, there are several options for entrance for pedestrians. The event is stroller-friendly as the pathways are paved, and fairly wide.
Once we’d parked and met up with our friends, we proceeded into the Visitor Center. Between our two families, we had five kiddos as Rainbow had brought along a friend. Directly inside the building to our left was a gift shop. Just beyond that was the information desk, and, most importantly, the restrooms. All of the kids needed to use the facilities before we went out exploring. Poor Pebble was bundled up in snow pants, so she was doing a little dance while I tried to extract her. As I said before, this is an outdoor event, so dress appropriately. All of the kids had hats and mittens, winter coats, sturdy shoes, and I made sure they had on warm sweatpants, snowpants, or some combination of layers that kept their legs warm. As the night progressed, the temps dropped and it got quite chilly!
Once we passed through the doors to the Gardens, we saw twinkling lights everywhere! There was a small refreshment hut selling hot chocolate and light snacks. The children’s garden was directly in front of us, but the kids veered to the right toward a tunnel of lights that looked like a giant caterpillar. It was amazing! Just beyond the caterpillar was a giant lighted giraffe, and, next to the giraffe, was a machine that blew mist and smoke bubbles into the air! The kids went wild chasing the bubbles! When they smacked one, it dissolved in a small puff of smoke! It was the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while, and we needed a crowbar to convince the kids to keep exploring!
I have done lighted walks before, this one topped them all! It was a feast for the eyes! So many lights! I loved the giant flowers and insects… There was a tree whose lights changed based on the song that was playing. Near one of the ponds, more music was playing and three different lighted “trees” accompanied the music. The kids stared at it, enthralled, especially when the well-known, “Let it Go,” played. We looped our way through the gardens, enjoying the spectacle. At one point we came across the Loch Ness Monster and her baby in lights, with smoke billowing from her nose.
The website said the walk was a half-mile, but it wasn’t lights along a singular path through the woods. Instead, a multitude of paths curved and looped through a variety of different gardens. You can wander in whatever direction you want, stopping when you please, and take your time to see everything. If you wish to walk through a second time, you can. I’m sure our kids did more than that half-mile as they were running amuck! It was fun watching them play tag and chase each other around the lighted flower beds. It is not a flat walk, there are some hills, and there are small lighted shortcuts using stairs that one can take or avoid if using a stroller or wheelchair. The children’s garden is also lit up, and one can ride the tractor or the boat, explore the playhouse, and see the rocketship. The kids were all exhausted when we made our way back into the warm Visitor Center, but it was a magical experience. We are already planning to return here next year with our friends, and start a new holiday tradition. If you can get tickets next year, go! You won’t regret it! Happy trails!
https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/garden-of-lights/
