Last winter, the GardenFest route at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden stayed on ground visitors already knew. On May 23, 2026, the Garden opened a $31 million expansion that nearly doubled its Conservatory and added 7.5 acres of new gardens around Wick Lake, which is now four acres and part of the visitor route, WTVR reported. The 2026–27 Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights runs November 23 through January 3. The Garden says it "extends into our new gardens and expanded Conservatory."
Even if you've walked GardenFest every December since moving near Lakeside Avenue, this year's route covers acres that weren't lit last year. The calendar is also more divided than it looks. It includes Monday dog nights, adults-only evenings, free member dates and weeknight value pricing. Living a short drive away means you can pick one of the quieter nights to see the new ground.
What the lights reach this year that they never reached before
The Garden's own guide to its grounds lists the expansion's new spaces as Wick Lake, the Mary Morton Parsons Courtyard, Ann Lee's Meadow and the Anne Cummings White Garden. It also lists Martha's Way, a trail around the lake, along with the Jane Hartough Outdoor Classroom, the Kroger Courtyard and a larger Kroger Community Kitchen Garden. According to WTVR, the outdoor gardens include a butterfly-shaped meadow, and 70% of the plants are native to Virginia.
Inside, the Conservatory now has a West Entrance Atrium, a Tropical Rainforest House, and a Subtropical House that holds the permanent butterfly exhibit. The old West Wing became the Desert House, and there's also a Mediterranean House. Richmond BizSense ran a photo of the expanded Conservatory lit up at night a week before the May opening. That gives a sense of how the building looks after dark.
At the opening, Garden President and CEO Brian Trader explained the reason for the expansion to WTVR:
"We have continually seen an increase in visitation and engagement with our programs over the years. This expansion enables us to grow our mission by increasing opportunities to bring the community together for enjoyment, learning and connection to the natural world."
The theme has changed too. The 2025 show was built around "The Elements," according to NBC12. This season's theme is "Otherworldly," with displays drawn from ancient legends, familiar stories and imagined futures. Some old favorites are back. Garden volunteers built the Fairy Village in the Conservatory Exhibition Hall, and the model trains are in the Kelly Education Center.
The calendar is really five or six different events
Once you see the new acreage on the map, timing matters more than ever. Here is how the season breaks down, based on the official GardenFest page:
| Night type | 2026–27 dates | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Members-only preview | Nov. 20–22 | Before the public opening; free for members with an advance reservation |
| Free member nights | Nov. 23–24, Dec. 30, Jan. 1–3 | Members still have to reserve online |
| GardenFest for Fidos | Mondays: Nov. 23 and 30; Dec. 7, 14 and 28 | Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome |
| Performance nights | Nov. 24; Dec. 1, 8 and 15 | Local musicians and entertainers; lineup not yet announced |
| GardenFest for Grownups | Dec. 2, 3 and 30 | Adults only; Dec. 30 is also a free member night |
The dog nights are the clearest weeknight option. Each one falls on a Monday, and the Garden asks visitors to read its rules for visiting with dogs first. The GardenFest for Fidos page suggests a $2 pet admission donation that goes to the Richmond SPCA. For anyone who walks a dog in Bryan Park, the new Martha's Way loop around Wick Lake makes a December Monday at the Garden a different kind of walk.
Opening week also has an overlap worth knowing about. November 23 is both a free member night and the first dog night. November 24 is both a free member night and the first performance night. If you're a member who wants to see the new gardens early, those two evenings combine the most features on the calendar.
Weeknights are the value dates, and the FAQ explains why
The Garden's visitor FAQ splits the season into non-peak and peak nights. Non-peak nights are November 23–25 and 30, December 1–10 and 14–17, and January 2–3. Peak nights are November 28–29, December 11–13, and the stretch from December 18 through January 1.
The FAQ lists these adult ticket prices without tying them to a particular season:
- Non-peak nights: $26 for non-members, $16 for members
- Peak nights: $29 for non-members, $19 for members
- Children under 4: free, and no ticket needed
- Museums for All, for SNAP/EBT recipients: $1 for adults on non-peak nights and $5 on peak nights for non-members; youth free
Check the ticket page before you count on those numbers, because that's where the current rate for your date and arrival window will show. The FAQ also gives timing advice. Early arrival windows at 4, 4:30 and 5 p.m. and arrivals after 7:30 p.m. tend to be less busy, and weeknights tend to be quieter than weekends. Visitation goes up once area schools let out for winter break.
Put those together and the stretch from December 1 to 10 stands out. It's ten straight non-peak nights before the holiday rush. It includes a performance night on December 1, two adults-only nights on December 2 and 3, and a dog night on December 7.
Getting in without circling the lot
The Garden's parking advice affects nearby streets as much as visitors. The event page says parking on site is limited, encourages carpooling or rideshare, and says staff will help guests who miss their arrival window because of traffic at the Garden. The FAQ also lists an overflow lot at the rear of the Green Office Building, 5924 Lakeside Ave. It asks anyone who parks in nearby neighborhoods to be mindful of residents and not block driveways.
A few more practical points from the Garden's pages:
- Tickets are for a specific date, and the time printed on yours is the start of a 30-minute arrival window.
- Tickets are non-refundable. Optional ticket insurance, bought at checkout, lets you move your tickets once to another available date or time.
- A limited number of walk-up tickets may be available, but extra fees apply and same-day entry isn't guaranteed.
- The show goes on in rain, shine or snow.
- GardenFest is closed on Thanksgiving, November 26, and on December 24 and 25. It's open from 4 to 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Dinner, Santa and a look backstage
The Garden is offering a new sit-down Holiday Dining Experience this year, before or after the lights, on December 14 and 15, 21 and 22, and 31. If you'd rather eat on the go, the GardenFest Café offers casual and grab-and-go food. The Jingle Bar & Grill is in the Asian Valley, with a mini Jingle Bar on Mimi's Way, and Espresso-A-Go-Go serves coffee, hot chocolate and s'mores kits for the fire pit.
Reservations for the Santa meals opened November 1. Brunch with Santa runs December 5 and 6, 12 and 13, and 19 and 20. It includes brunch, Garden admission and a visit with Santa. Dinner with Santa is December 20 and 21. It's listed at $65 for adults, $40 for ages 3 to 12, and $10 for children under 3. Groups of 15 or more can book buffet dinners on select Monday evenings at $64 per adult, with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
For the most curious, the behind-the-scenes tour is Thursday, December 3, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. It's drop-in and first-come, it's limited to 15 people, and you'll need a GardenFest ticket too. It falls on an adults-only night in the middle of the non-peak stretch, during the first season the lights reach Wick Lake.
Here at Cowan Realty, we enjoy following what changes around the places our clients call home, and a garden that grew by 7.5 acres just down Lakeside Avenue counts. If you're near Scott Place and want to talk about the neighborhood, or about what's coming next along this corridor, we'd love to hear from you. Work with Us.
