Gardens Aglow is an outdoor, walking event. Keep in mind that weather conditions vary greatly along the Maine coast in the winter and Gardens Aglow is primarily an outdoor event. Dress in layers and be aware of the risks of snowy and icy weather.

The Gardens Aglow route is approximately 1 mile of beautifully lighted pathways through our central garden areas, and we find that most guests spend between one and two hours at Gardens Aglow. Extend your visit to the region by exploring the Boothbay Region during Boothbay Lights, and seeing the entries in our  Community Lighting Contest, where participants have festively lit up their homes and businesses.

No; tickets must be purchased in advance, and you will be unable to buy tickets onsite. Non-ticketholders will be turned away.

Gardens Aglow is illuminated by more than 750,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs—that’s roughly 65 miles of lights!

Tickets should be purchased online or over the phone, 207-633-8000.

No, they will not be mailed. An email will be sent to the email address you provide when purchasing your ticket, and there will be printable tickets included in that email.

Yes! You should print your tickets this year and have them in-hand when you arrive. If you are unable to print your ticket, please ensure that you have the ticket PDF open on your mobile phone with the barcodes visible, and turn your screen brightness all the way up.

We’re open rain or (moon)shine! If it’s raining, our displays showcase an extra sparkle. As a general rule, we only close during major, unsafe weather events (see the next FAQ).

We’ll post on our website and our Facebook page by 1 p.m. on the day of the event if we need to close because of the weather, and it will be on local news closure lists. If you had purchased tickets for a night that we close, we will email you at the email address used during checkout with news of the closure and remind you to contact us for a full refund. Since we do not store your credit card information, you must contact us for your refund or for help rescheduling your visit for an open night of the event. You may also apply the cost of your tickets towards a Gardens membership, or use them as admission during our regular season, April-October.

Tickets are non-refundable and valid only for their specified time/date. If circumstances prevent you from using your tickets at the date and time planned, please give us a call at 207-633-8000 and we will be happy to help transfer your reservation to a different time/date for a $5 fee, or apply its cost towards a Gardens membership. You can also use your Gardens Aglow tickets as admission during our regular season, April-October of 2023.

We are closed on some major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Otherwise, we’re open Thursday-Sunday, plus the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Wed., November 23), the Wednesday before Christmas (Wed., December 21) and daily, December 26 through 31.

No. The Gardens is closed for safety reasons before and after the event. The gate opens at 3:30 p.m., and we close promptly at 9 p.m.

There will be some concessions in the Bosarge Family Education Center and in our Snack Shack, plus there will be kettle corn and blueberry crisp along the route. Our Café will be closed for renovation during this time. Visit BoothbayLights.com for more information on where to eat in the region.

There will be a shuttle on Saturday nights from downtown Boothbay Harbor to the Gardens, starting at 3:45 p.m. and running throughout the event. The last ride to the Gardens leaves downtown around 7:45 p.m., and the last ride back to the downtown area from the Gardens is by 9:15 p.m. The Saturday shuttle is located at the Boothbay Harbor Town Office/Fire Station at 11 Howard Street, Boothbay Harbor. Make the most of a visit to the region by exploring Boothbay Harbor’s beautiful downtown, shopping, or eating in a local restaurant, and then take the convenient shuttle to the Gardens for Gardens Aglow. All guests riding the shuttle must have tickets for Gardens Aglow.

Check out the Boothbay Lights website or Facebook page to see a full listing of what restaurants, hotels and shops are open, as well as what other events are happening around town during the Boothbay Lights celebration. We also have a map our Community Lighting Contest participants—begin or end your evening with Gardens Aglow, and take a festive tour of the peninsula!

Yes! Plus, you can shop online at shop.mainegardens.org. Our online shop has great gifts for loved ones from artisans, local makers, and environmentally-conscious merchants, and every purchase–even online–is powerful: every sale directly supports our mission to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through education, horticulture, and research.

With the exception of approved CMBG affiliates (typically local inns, hotels, or other businesses), resale of Gardens Aglow tickets is not permitted. Please call us (207-633-8000) if you’re interested in hearing more about our affiliate program.

Yes. The Gardens close for the season on October 17, and Gardens Aglow is a special ticketed event. Members receive special pricing for the event.

No, Gardens Aglow is a special event outside of the Garden’s regular operating hours. Guest passes may not be used for any special events outside of regular hours.

We want you to bring your family and friends to this event! Current members may bring additional guests with them during Gardens Aglow. Members may purchase up to 4 additional adult tickets and unlimited children at the member price. The guests must accompany the member.

No. Memberships are nontransferable and are valid only for the person whose name appears on the card.

Yes, you will still receive a 10% member discount in Gardenshop during the event.