12 Reasons A Longwood Christmas Should Be #1 on Your Holiday To-Do List

Photo Credit: Longwood Gardens

From November 23rd through January 7th, Longwood Gardens is getting a magical Christmas makeover en Français, wrapping over 50 trees with sparkling crystals, giving their year-long fountain display a holiday hue, and adding a half-million lights to their already bold, bright outdoor garden display to generate the look and feel of a traditional Versailles holiday. Here’s what you need to know before getting your ticket to the Gardens’ most spirited annual exhibit, and 12 reasons you won’t want to miss it.

1. You won’t see a light show quite like this anywhere else. Here, you can experience 500,000 Christmas lights on 124 trees without fear of electrocuting yourself or your entire neighborhood.
2. You’ll get a glimpse of how the French do Christmas. Point your finger upwards as you sip hot chocolat (that’s French for chocolate) and eye up the couture crystal ornaments and faux holiday feast in the Music Room.
3. It’s the perfect spot for a date night. After strolling through the 4-acre heated Conservatory, you’re going to want a cold one. Grab two pints from the Beer Garden and cozy up next to a fire pit to drink it all in with the one you love.
4. Or, a day with the family. The “oohs” and “ahhs” you’ll hear from mom as you graze by the countless bundles of poinsettias, perfectly paired decorative birch twigs and rolls of rich ribbon might be a bit overwhelming.
5. There’s beer. A whole garden of it. And you won’t want to miss this year’s special Victory brew, the Cherry Oatmeal Stout that’s pouring especially at Longwood’s Beer Garden.
6. And BBQ. Who needs a Christmas ham when you can indulge in wood-fired pizzas with local veggies and smoked pulled chicken barbecue?
7. The Strolling Olde Towne Carolers. On select evenings — think weekends and regular nights as we inch closer to the holidays — you can hear this a cappella group sing classics, like “Jingle Bells” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
8. It’s heated (and super cozy). While your first thought when preparing to spend a cold December day in an outdoor garden might be “brr,” think again. Longwood’s 4 acres of heated conservatories were made with winter walkability in mind. (Of course, you’ll want to bring your coat and gloves to visit the outdoor displays.)
9. There’s a 10,010-pipe organ that’s working overtime through the holidays. And if you’re lucky, you’ll make it to the Ballroom in time to partake in one of the daily holiday sing-alongs.
10. And a mini train display you’re never too old to check out. One of the most family-friendly experiences of the season is watching the little locomotives barrel over the 400 feet of railroad tracks among a decorative landscape featuring the Gardens’ little iconic buildings.
11. The fountains are all dressed up, too. Every five minutes, the Open Air Theatre Fountains come alive with 750 jets sputtering illuminated water streams choreographed to music. This season, expect a holiday focus.
12. Tickets are going fast, so don’t wait. Tickets can be purchased in advance and it’s a good idea to pick up your pass now given the popularity of this exhibition come closer-to-Christmas-time. Also, get there around 2 p.m. to avoid traffic and save time to see all the sights.

For more information about A Longwood Christmas, click here.