Garden Glow presented by Kroger, October 15th to November 9th, is a unique experience that's difficult to capture in a nutshell. It's a fun family outing, or a friends' get-together, or the perfect date night -- it's even become a special occasion for proposing marriage (for real, it happens nearly every year!).
The Experience Itself
A walk after dark through Maymont's landscape and gardens transformed by colors and artful lighting that change and shift so slowly that it mesmerizes as it alters one's sense of the surrounding space.
Along the Kinsale Glow Path, guests will find three new artistic light installations curated by Culture Creative:
- A lawn blanketed with thousands of lights that pulse and blink in patterns synchronized with music -- "Effervescence" (designed by Culture Creative)
- Towering bouquets of 22-foot-tall "Peonies" sprouting on a hill (designed by French studio TILT)
- A flock of origami-style birds caught in midflight in the treetops -- "L’Envol" presented by Genworth (designed by French studio, Pitaya)
Finally, there's the Glow Village, on the Carriage House Lawn, where everyone gathers around fire pits and glow furniture to enjoy food, drinks and conversation, or indulges in the fun of posing before the giant Shadow Wall presented by Juno Financial, making designs with colored pegs on the Big Bright Mega Light (a 5-ft-by-10-ft Lite Brite board), and taking a turn at the Glow Swings.
The event opens Wednesday, October 15th and runs nightly except Mondays through Sunday, November 9th. Maymont's grounds will close at 4 pm daily, and Garden Glow opens at 6 pm for the first 8 days, then at 5:30 pm and 5 pm as the days grow shorter. The event ends at 10 pm nightly, and the last entry is at 9 pm.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $25 for adults, with discounts for Maymont members and children. Event proceeds support Maymont.
Visit the Garden Glow page for full details about dates, times, ticket prices and the rotating line-up of food trucks.
New this year is a one-night-only fundraising evening, Glow Up! Thursday, October 16, is reserved for a smaller crowd, with special treats like light bites and refreshments, VIP swag and live entertainment, all included in a special night to support Maymont, with group packages available for companies or individuals who want to entertain clients, employees or family and friends. More on Glow Up! here.
Insider tips
- Walking the full length of the Glow Path, Woodland Trail and Japanese Garden covers a little over a mile and takes about 90 minutes, with some steeper sections that are optional.
- Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for the more rustic sections, and warm layers as the temperature drops during the evening.
- A trolley shuttle will make regular trips to and from the Japanese Garden for anyone who can't manage the slope of the Woodland Trail. Some historic sections of the gardens cannot accommodate wheelchairs or strollers, but The Robins Nature Center is accessible, as are the Kinsale Glow Path and the Carriage House Lawn.
- There are 13 Value Nights (mostly weeknights and the first weekend of the event) that offer discounted admission and a more relaxed vibe.
- Allow ample time to find parking, and for the walk to The Robins Nature Center.
