Admission is $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and college students, $23 for active military, $16 for youth (ages 5-18) and $2 fo those who hold SNAP, EBT or PA ACCESS cards. Munro uses these images as building blocks, transforming their colors and lines into hundreds of vinyl dots which he then reassembles in a new composition. Longwood began its Christmas tradition in 1957 with a display in the conservatory and added lights five years later, following a tradition modestly started by one Thomas Alva Edison. No holiday is complete without a visit to A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens, where 500,000 twinkling lights and spectacular fountain shows compose a brilliant holiday wonderland. When you add illuminated presents, thousands of ornaments, and gleaming icicles, the whole effect is mesmerizing. The theme for 2022s winter extravaganza is Botanical Splendor. Part of that splendor? Please try again later. TheVisit Philly Overnight Package booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks. When the sun sets, the grounds are transformed into a dazzling spectacle of lights with fountains dancing to holiday music, more than 150 lit trees, and a new light tunnel. As darkness falls and Lights eight installationssome with sound, some static, and all beautifulbegin to come on throughout our indoor spaces and outdoor vistas, experience, Light at your own pace and in any orderfrom the breathtaking Field of Light with 18,000 illuminated bulbs stretching across the Large and Small Lake landscape, to pulses and streams of light and sound with SOS in the Orchard, to the immersive sensory environment C-scales in the Exhibition Halland join us for that evenings Illuminated Fountain Performance. Spread out over 1,100 acres, Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, inspiring people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education, and the arts.. Munros white flamingos, inspired by Don Featherstone, are a nod to the creativity of the man who redefined the suburban landscape in 20th century America. Every season, designers create a multi-level miniature world for the dozens of engines and train cars to pass through. Follow along with her travels on Jeanine Consoli Travels. During the 1880 Christmas season, the inventor had strung lights outside his Menlo Park, N.J., lab, and two years later his friend and business partner, Edward Johnson, became the first to decorate an evergreen with lights, according to a Library of Congress history. Jeanine Consoli is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and foodie based in Washington Crossing, PA. A retired elementary school teacher, she used her summers to feed her passion for travel and kept journals of all the destinations she explored. Christmas light displays at Longwood Gardens can be seen throughout the garden. The rest of the year, fewer than 40% of visitors are nonmembers. It was du Ponts passion that eventually set the mission for what the gardens are today. It is really a fantastic way to end your day and bring home a remembrance of a special place. Bruce Munro is an internationally known artist best known for large-scale, light-based installations inspired by his passion for creating shared experiences. We dont.. She said so many people return year after year that Longwood tries to vary the themes, and Sellers said that is one of his biggest challenges. Visit the official site for dining information. Christmas trees, light orbs, and remarkable seasonal creations decorate the indoor and outdoor spaces in the grand spectacle that is A Longwood Christmas. The light shows run every five minutes from 4 to 11 p.m., and all are included with your entrance ticket. A large dome composed of stainless steel discs appears to float at the foot of the curved bench at Paulownia Allee. Well now you can! Every year, they also incorporate several water features and fountains that result in ethereal reflections and pools that make the plants seem to float. Plus, themed Light Nights go down on the second Friday of every month: July 8, August 12, September 9 and October 14, 2022. Add to that a tunnel of light, model train display and three fire pits and you have an idea of just how grandiose this event really is. For more information visit longwoodgardens.org or call 610-388-1000. The 4" lead, 4" bulb spacing, and 4" tail allow you to make an impressive display with a 17 foot strand. At $30 for an adult ticket less for seniors and children that would be several million dollars in nonmember admissions alone, not to mention being an enticement for memberships, along with food, beverage, and gift-shop sales. More than 500,000 lights will be used to illuminate more than 100 trees and other displays throughout the gardens, with the festivities taking place both inside and outside. Inside the 4-acre . Follow the red line on the Christmas Light Display Route to the Meadow Garden and walk through at your own pace. Field of Light surrounds you as you walk along the installation path to the lake where reflections flicker in the water. The birds are illuminated by the shifting colors of dawn. Im Switzerland.. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. What time. Christmastime is also the perfect time for a trip to the farm, isn't it? Christmas trees, light orbs, and remarkable seasonal creations decorate . Admission must be purchased in advance for a specific date and time. As soon as you enter the East Conservatory, you will admire the soothing silvery color pallet. People were saying because of COVID, everybody had more time to put out more lights, said Stokes, now in charge of NASAs remote light-sensing project. You must buy a timed ticket to the Gardens to make a reservation, and pre-payment via credit card is required to reserve a table. The two-acre conservatory at Longwood Gardens, with its ample light and climate-controlled environment, can support most anything. Besides A Longwood Christmas, here are the major seasonal exhibits you can find: Winter Wonderland (Jan 21-March 26, 2023) Pro tip: Be sure to wear winter gear, as the holiday display is both indoors and outdoors. Special tickets are required, Members require free timed reservations if attending in the afternoons and evenings. It was Samuel and Joshua Peirce whose interest in nature led them to plant 15 acres of trees collected from up and down the Eastern seaboard and abroad. From just before Thanksgiving to just after New Year's, the grounds are decked out in over 550,000 lights that glow, dance, shimmer, and even move in time to music. The show is on. Munro draws on experience, memory, dreams, and imagination to create works that spark wonder and joy. Listen to the audio description of the installation: Sweeping across the fields bordering the Large and Small Lakes, 18,000 flower stems illuminate the landscape. Im neutral. For AHS members, the exclusion is based on their home address. Tickets for adults $35; seniors (62+) $32; college students (ID required) $32; active military and veterans (ID) $27; youth (ages 5-18) $19; SNAP/EBT/PA access (ID) $8; free for children ages 4 or . Please try again later. And converting all 40 miles of that wire and those 500,000 LED bulbs into a starring role in one of the . Inspired by long days spent fishing in quiet streams and deep lakes, Munro invites us to pause for a moment and experience the unique joy of being still. Whether its multi-colored succulents that become wreaths or flowers and vines trained into arches or orbs, the horticultural artistry is a level of insane creativity. Stokes said NASA frequently is asked to be a Grinch regarding any environmental impacts of decorative outdoor lighting but that the agency has declined to do so. Gorgeous year-round, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square transforms into a truly magical place at Christmas. Where: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road . 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. When the sun goes down, the lights around the gardens begin to twinkle. The new exhibition one of the biggest of the year in Greater Philadelphia is on view at Kennett Squares renowned horticultural attraction Thursday through Sunday nights through October 30, 2022. Visit Philadelphia: Black Greek Edition Golf Outing, Love + Grit On the Road: Survivor Season 44 Watch Party in Toronto. Will we answer? There are videos of the history of the gardens which make for a beautiful souvenir. Translation: Plan ahead to have the absolute best holiday experience. One addition to the property was the Conservatory that became known as Longwoods first winter garden. As you will meander through the halls, you will marvel at the array of flowers and trees decorated with over 67,000 ornaments from Longwoods expansive collection. Audio files with audio descriptions of each location are available for Light: Installations by Bruce Munro. Longwood Gardens has the best garden holiday lights in the country, says USA Today. There are three fire pits located around the grounds and lit from 12 to 11 p.m. I felt both relaxed and like a kid again! This guide contains photographs and descriptions of what to expect during your visit, helpful tips for finding quiet spaces, and more. The land that was once an arboretum in 1758 was always blessed. Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). The performances are included with your entrance ticket and occur from 5 to 8 p.m. (weather permitting). The Tunnel is a 140-foot open-air tunnel of light whose twinkling glow warms the stark night sky. A multi-sensory experience, SOS is comprised of 162 illuminated cubes that pulse along with synchronized music, voices, sounds and static, occasionally interrupted by the dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot known as the international call for help. Through the years the light shows have become more elaborate and ambitious, and Sellers says thats due in part to advances in technology We can make Christmas lights do amazing things and improvements by LED bulb manufacturers. Orient yourself to the Gardens and prepare for your visit with our mobile map. Throughout the . For more informal meals, the Caf is a cafeteria-style option with soups, salads, sandwiches, and hot entrees. Enjoy live music, fountain performances, family activities, and moreall inspired by Lightduring these special evenings. Whether youre looking for lunch, dinner, a snack, or a hot drink to warm up, theres an option here that will fit the bill. If youre visiting at night, look for places that have a little bit more ambient light so that peoples faces will be visible in the photos. Not only is it an ideal place to warm up for a few minutes, but the house features information about the history of the du Pont family, the property, and the gardens along with artifacts and a film. What could be more enchanting than enjoying the sounds of live music while marveling at the twinkling lights? Finally, an entrepreneur interested in gardening, Pierre du Pont, rescued the farm, preserving the trees from the sawmill in 1906. She loves uncovering the history and understanding the culture of each location, including the local flavors of each unique place. The Beer Garden right beside the Garden Railway offers barbecue, pizza, and beers from local favorite Victory Brewing Company. Descanso Gardens in 1418 Descanso Drive, La Caada Flintridge, CA 91011, USA. Across the vast space, you will see a towering 24-foot tree lit with blue and white lights surrounded by a mountain of presents. At his home, as in ours, the conditions are less ideal.. We are thrilled to feature this ever-changing exhibit again in our Gardens. Wilmington's Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Its what makes seeing the Longwood Gardens Christmas lights one of the best things to do near Philadelphia at Christmas. The restaurant is named after the year Pierre du Pont purchased the Peirce farm. There are always several trees inside and out. Almost everywhere in the Conservatory is also a good bet for a photo day or nightwhether by the gorgeous trees in the main area or with the classical decorations in the Music Room, there are lots of options here. Indoors, the exhibition hall is home to C-Scales: Water Gardens, a looping projection series that explores light, water and time. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The interior tree shimmers with hundreds of lights, and its sheer size makes it the focal point of the house. I love decorating for Christmas. The Cafe features ready-to-eat soups, sandwiches, and salads and a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces for self-seating. Longwood also provides three fire pits throughout the gardens, allowing guests to warm up by the fire on cool evenings. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Strollers are not available for rent. Weekend days and the days between Christmas and New Years are the busiest periods, and Evans says if youre open to showing up earlier in the day, youll have a better shot at a reservation. She has traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and is excited to keep adding to the list, finding special places that are off the beaten path both at home and abroad. All Rights Reserved. You can learn more and purchase tickets at longwoodgardens.org. There will be thousands of poinsettias and other flowers as well, living wreaths made of orchids and succulents and even a rotating Fraser fir tree. There is no shortage of garlands, poinsettias, and greenery here. The breathtaking show runs every 15 minutes on the quarter-hour. The entire sequence of pulsing lights and audio lasts 18 minutes. This heated greenhouse is not only beautiful on the inside, but is a nice respite from the cold temperatures outside. Please note, those with sensory sensitivities should be aware that this installation contains loud music. The internationally acclaimed Lightscape returns with stunning new installations along an expanded new trail. Longwoods fine dining restaurant 1906 features a pre-fixe menu with dishes that change seasonally ranging from mushroom risotto to filet mignon (reservations are recommended). The lights are sorted by color and by year, said Sellers, because after six years, they tend to fade. 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