# Brookside Gardens: Garden of Lights

> Event for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Nov 20 – Jan 3 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Where: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
- Ages: All ages (children 4 and under free; fully paved, one-mile walking trail is stroller friendly)
- Price: $13.99 per person Sun–Thu (off-peak); $16.99 Fri–Sat (peak); children ages 4 and under free. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased online in advance.
- Organizer: Montgomery Parks (M-NCPPC)
- Official page: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/garden-of-lights/
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/brookside-gardens-garden-of-lights--listing-269a1ef54327017c3d279baa

## About

For over a quarter century, Brookside Gardens' Garden of Lights has illuminated the winter nights of Montgomery County, transforming 50 acres of botanical wonder into an ethereal walk-through light fantasy. More than 1.5 million twinkling LED lights are sculpted into vibrant nature-inspired forms: giant glowing caterpillars, fluttering illuminated dragonflies, blooming lotus flowers on the lakes, majestic swans, and towering illuminated weeping willows that shift through brilliant color sequences.

Inside the Visitors Center and Conservatory, kids can watch model G-scale trains chug through miniature seasonal garden landscapes and pick up hot chocolate, cider, and cookies from local snack vendors. The entire one-mile walking loop follows paved, gently sloping botanical pathways that are easily navigated with double strollers and wheelchairs. Timed-entry reservations are strictly required online, ensuring a relaxed, unhurried experience for families with young children without overwhelming crowds.

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