Garden Lights has concluded for the 2024 season. Dates for 2025 will be announced in late spring.

The magic of Garden Lights is returning to the MSV! From November 15–December 1, dramatic nighttime lighting will transform the formal gardens into an immersive art experience and walking tour. Trees will be awash in a kaleidoscope of color, thousands of LED flowers will glow, lasers will beam, and so much more! Additional garden spaces and experiences will be part of Garden Lights this year.

Garden Lights will take place Wednesdays–Sundays with timed entries every 30 minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m. (closed Monday & Tuesday and Thanksgiving Day).  Souvenirs, food, and drinks—including hot cocoa & mulled wine—will be available for purchase at Garden Lights.

Download the map here.

Ticket Prices:

  • $19 adult, $6.50 (ages 5–18), free to ages 4 & under.
  • MSV members: $15 adult, $5 (ages 5–18), free to ages 4 & under. Join the MSV here.

Tickets are pre-sale only and quantities are limited. Early purchases are strongly encouraged. Purchase tickets online or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 240 (Tuesday–Sunday, 10–5). No refunds.

Garden Lights is sponsored by

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Tickets are no longer available. Garden Lights has concluded for the 2024 season. Dates for 2025 will be announced in the spring.

Discount tickets are available to MSV members. Join the MSV here. Tickets are presale only and will not be available at the gate.

Ticket prices:

  • MSV members: $15 adult, $5 (ages 5–18), free to ages 4 & under
  • All others: $19 adult, $6.50 (ages 5–18), free to ages 4 & under.

If you would like to purchase tickets by phone/in person: call or stop by the Guest Services Desk at 540-662-1473, ext. 240, in the MSV galleries building lobby (open 10–5 Tuesday–Sunday; closed Monday).

Member prices are exclusively for MSV members. MSV members may purchase tickets for guests at standard prices.

Early purchases are strongly encouraged as a limited number of tickets are available for each time slot. Sales are final. No refunds. Garden Lights is rain/snow/shine. Tickets are not transferable between Garden Lights days or times.

Discounts for purchases of 25 or more tickets are available. Save 10% off 25–49 tickets, save 12% off a purchase of 50-99 tickets, save 15% on a purchase of 100–149 tickets, and save 20% on a purchase of 150+ tickets. Discounts are applied to the total purchase price.

Looking for a new idea for the holidays for your employees or clients? Treat them to the magic of Garden Lights! With trees awash in a kaleidoscope of color, thousands of glowing LED flowers, and more, this is the perfect opportunity to host your holiday party or give an extraordinary gift. For a truly special experience, book a private time slot for 150+ guests. Or, save 10–20% off standard ticket prices by purchasing bulk tickets, perfect for employee or client gifts. Packages can include a complimentary drink (hot cocoa/mulled wine), making it a perfect treat for any occasion.

For more information about group sales or to purchase group tickets, call 540-662-1473, ext. 208, or email events@theMSV.org. Purchase tickets for individuals/families here.

 

Garden Lights is a walking tour experience through the MSV’s formal gardens. The entrance to the tour is via the trails leading off the galleries building reception hall and the tour exit is at the garden gatehouse. From entrance to exit, the route is approximately 2/3 of a mile.

The Museum Store is open for shopping before/after your tour (lockers available for purchase; doors to store & lockers close at 9 p.m. and—new this  year—a beverage station offering hot cider, hot cocoa, mulled wine, and glow souvenirs available for purchase is located in the galleries building reception hall. Start your tour with a hot drink and get snacks and refills in the garden café!

Garden Lights also includes a gnome hunt! There are 8 gnomes hidden throughout the gardens; see if you can find them. The map includes a gnome coloring sheet, too!

See the Map

Drinks (hot cocoa, mulled wine & more), snacks, and glow souvenirs will be available for purchase at Garden Lights. Cafés will be located in the galleries building Reception Hall and in the Carriage House in the gardens.

Click here to see the full menu.

Questions?

Garden Lights takes place in all weather conditions. Tickets are non-refundable. The MSV will only cancel a night of Garden Lights if a major weather event presents a risk to safety (for example, during severe storms with high winds). Visitors should check www.themsv.org for updated information about any closures. Updates will also be posted to the MSV’s Facebook page, and a message will be recorded on our voicemail, which can be heard by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 240.

If the MSV must cancel a night of Garden Lights, ticket holders will be notified of the cancellation via email. All ticket holders will be automatically refunded. Refunds will only be issued if the MSV cancels the event due to severe weather. If tickets are available for other dates and times, available options will be offered, via email, to affected ticket holders for rescheduling their visit. Please note that rescheduling is not guaranteed, and is only offered as an option for timeslots where tickets are not sold out. Ticket holders affected by a cancellation will receive an email with all available options and information.

No. Garden Lights ticket sales are final. Tickets are not transferable between Garden Lights days/times.

Tickets may be purchased at the Guest Services & Visitor Information Desk in the MSV galleries building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday). Advance purchases are strongly encouraged as supply is limited.

No. As capacity is limited and tickets are sold for timed entry, your ticket is valid only for the day and time you purchased it for. It may not be used on another evening.

No. Outside food or drink is not permitted onsite. Snacks and drinks, including hot pretzels, water, hot cocoa, mulled wine, and more will be available for purchase.

There is no hard exit time associated with your entry, other than the site closing times; however, the average visitor stay for the Garden Lights experience will be about 60-90 minutes. Once you enter Garden Lights, the tour is self-guided, you can explore at your own pace.

The entrance closest to James Wood Middle School is for vehicular traffic; the other entrance is for pedestrians only.

Yes, the handicap parking spots in the MSV parking lot will be used for Garden Lights. The entry point for the walking tour will be the sidewalk beside the Reception Hall patio. To enter Garden Lights, attendees will travel down that sidewalk, connect to the Trails, and then follow the trail path to a garden gate entrance.

Please note that this is a walking tour and is not an entirely accessible experience. The suggested route through the garden is approximately 2/3 of a mile and there are a few locations in the gardens where visitors will encounter a step or two. Wheelchairs and strollers will need to be able to traverse grass in some areas.

Garden Lights takes place in the seven-acre gardens that surround the MSV’s Glen Burnie House. From entrance to exit, the route is approximately 2/3 of a mile. Visitors will enter Garden Lights via the trails leading off the galleries building reception hall and exit at the garden gatehouse.

The path leading to the garden entry is accessible and while most of the garden spaces are accessible, there are a few locations in the gardens where visitors will encounter a step or two and uneven terrain. Wheelchairs and strollers will need to be able to navigate through grass surfaces and some uneven terrain.

While the event will take place in acres of gardens, guests may choose what to see. The experience is self-guided.

Garden Lights is self-guided experience.

While the designated entry times are firm, you may experience Garden Lights on your own and at your own pace.

Garden Lights is an outdoor experience. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your timeslot. All tickets are date and time specific. Tickets for other time slots and other dates will not be accepted.

Yes. Bring your ticket to the event. We recommend adding them to your mobile wallet, taking a screenshot and saving it to your device, or printing your tickets ahead of time.

Allow up to 60–90 minutes to enjoy Garden Lights.

Only service animals are permitted at Garden Lights and in galleries building. No pets.

Yes. Restrooms for Garden Lights attendees are located in the galleries building—just next to the entrance to event entrance—and in the Carriage House in the gardens, centrally located within the Garden Lights experience.

Yes! Garden Lights is perfect for families, date nights, and outings with friends. The experience includes a gnome seek-and-find activity, and snacks like hot cocoa and popcorn will be available for purchase. Admission is free for children 4 and under (no ticket required for ages 4 & under).

For strollers: Be prepared to navigate grass and uneven terrain. Most garden paths, including the entry, are accessible, but there are a few steps and uneven areas in some locations.

Yes! Please click here to download the event map.