In 2025, the Garden Glow returns with brand new nature-inspired exhibits, interactive features, and special evenings.

Garden Glow, presented by Edward Jones, welcomes guests to an immersive and enchanting holiday lightshow, featuring over 2 million lights in the transformed Missouri Botanical Garden.

What’s new at Garden Glow?

The Garden has added several new exhibits for visitors to enjoy this year, including two new additions designed to connect visitors to the Garden’s conservation work, horticulture, and the Butterfly House in Chesterfield.

More nature-inspired displays

The new Linnean Lilies are a festive homage to aquatic plants like lotus and waterlilies. The twinkling tinsel blooms can be found in the Swift Family Gardens near the Linnean House. 

Flying high in the tree canopy, the Beaming Butterflies whimsically mimic the tropical beauties of the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House–the Garden’s location in Chesterfield, dedicated to promoting pollinator education in the St. Louis community. These new additions can be spotted flying around the Climatron®.

The Golden Prairie and Grand Grove that premiered at last year’s show will be part of this year’s display.

More Interactive Areas

As guests near the end of their journey through the Garden, they’ll have the opportunity to take control of the show through the new Brilliant Blooms feature.

Located in the Gladney Rose Garden, this interactive area allows guests to control the lights and create their own holiday light show through kiosks. 

An upgraded show at Tower Grove House

An upgraded classic–the holiday show projected onto Tower Grove House has been updated and expanded. The show will feature new animations, including an homage to the 12 days of Christmas, in a larger format across the entire 19^th-century home.  

Guests can also tour the inside of the home and learn how the holidays were celebrated in the Victorian era. The home is open for tours every night. 

This year, the Garden offers a Sensory Night for patrons with sensory sensitivities on Tuesday, November 18. The evening mirrors the traditional Garden Glow experience, including a visit from Santa Claus, but also includes sensory maps, show modifications, and quiet areas.  

Admission is limited for this evening, and advanced tickets are required. Sensory Night is also a Family Night, with tickets for children ages 3-12 at just $6. 

This festive evening is designed just for grown-ups. After 6 p.m., guests 21 and older can enjoy the lightshow with a complimentary drink, live music, and cozy firepits.  

The Mean One himself will be at Jingle and Mingle Night, there to listen to all your holiday season complaints while you snap a souvenir photo. 

Tips for making the season merrier and brighter

1. Get your tickets in advance

Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged for Garden Glow. This helps you guarantee the date and time of your choosing.

New this year, guests who purchase their tickets before 4:30 p.m. the night of their visit will receive Plan Ahead Pricing.

2. come during the quieter nights

If you’d like to enjoy Garden Glow with a smaller crowd, we suggest coming on a weekday between Thanksgiving and Christmas (around December 1-11). Another option is to come after the holiday season on January 1-3.

These evenings tend to be a little less busy, but we still recommend getting tickets in advance.

3. Enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa at a private fire pit

Warm up with up to 20 of your friends and family members at your own reserved fire pit. Make the most of the evening by adding on a s’more roasting kit and some hot cocoa for your guests.

You can add on your VIP fire kit when you purchase your tickets online. Reserved fire pits are not available for purchase night-of and must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance. 

4. Grab a festive drink or bite to eat

You don’t need your own fire pit to enjoy some delicious s’mores and hot cocoa. S’more roasting kits are available for purchase at retail locations around grounds, and public fire pits can be found at Central Axis and Linnean Plaza.

If you want to plan your evening a little further in advance, select a Dine and Glow package when purchasing your tickets online. The night of your visit, enjoy your selected dinner at the Sassafras Restaurant inside the Visitor Center.

Sassafras and The Bellwether Café are also open nightly for walk-in guests. Additional bites can be found along the Glow path, including at Café Flora.

5. Enjoy Everything included in your ticket

Along with a dazzling display of over 2 million lights, your ticket also includes entry into our Holiday Flower and Train Show, Tower Grove House, and character meet and greets on select evenings.

Holiday Flower and Train Show

The Holiday Flower and Train Show is perfect for lovers of model trains of all ages. Located inside the Emerson Conservatory, connected to the Visitor Center, the show is a great way to start the evening.

The Holiday Flower and Train Show is also available to daytime visitors of the Garden, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and is included in admission.

Explore Victorian Christmas at Tower Grove House

At Tower Grove House, the holiday magic extends to the interior of the building, welcoming guests to step back in time and enjoy a Victorian Christmas.

Tower Grove House is open for evening admission, 5:30–9:30pm. It is also available to daytime visitors of the Garden, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and is included in admission.

Get your photo with santa or the winter sisters

Before he returns to the North Pole, Santa Claus will be stopping by Garden Glow. Families can visit with Santa and get their photo with him on Mondays and Tuesdays, November 18–December 9. 

Throughout the holiday season, children can also visit the Winter Sisters at the Arctic Circle and get a photo with the pair. The Snow Queen and Snow Princess will be at Garden Glow every Thursday evening (not including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

How to Get Tickets to Garden Glow

Garden Glow is the Garden’s most popular event, and we highly suggest getting your tickets in advance, especially if you have a specific date or time in mind for your visit. New this year, guests who purchase their tickets before 4:30 p.m. the night of their visit will receive Plan Ahead Pricing.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. Admission rates vary by date.

As a reminder, the Missouri Botanical Garden never sells tickets on third-party platforms, including social media.

Where to Park During Garden Glow

The Garden offers parking outside of the Visitor Center, including several EV charging stations. There is no charge for parking at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The main parking lot outside the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center will reach full capacity very quickly each night of Garden Glow. In the event that the parking lot is full, visitors can use the free parking at the overflow lots at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Vandeventer. Shuttles will be running from this parking lot to the Visitor Center throughout the entire Garden Glow season.

As leaders in sustainability, we are also big fans of walking, biking, and public transportation. We offer bike parking near the Visitor Center and are conveniently located near two Metro bus stops.

Thank you to our sponsors: Garden Glow is presented by Edward Jones. Additional sponsorship support by Ameren, Amundsen Davis LLP, Boeing, Caleres, Commerce Bank,  Michael and JiaMin Dierberg, Lelia and David Farr, Graybar,  Liz Green, H-J Family of Companies, David and Kathy Hollo, Protiviti, Inc., Mike and Karen Stern, Wells Fargo, Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Co. Inc. 

Jessika Eidson | Public Information Officer