WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks’ beloved winter tradition, Garden of Lights, returns to Brookside Gardens on Friday, November 21, 2025. The annual event will light up evenings with dazzling displays, including a lighted Loch Ness Monster, larger-than-life flowers, and more.
Event Details:
What: Garden of Lights Opens
When: Friday, November 21, 2025 | 5 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton MD 20902
Tickets:
- Must be purchased online in advance.
- Sunday — Thursday: $13.99 (includes $1.99 service fee)
- Friday — Saturday: $16.99 (includes $1.99 service fee)
- Children 5 and under: Free (no ticket required)
- Tickets are non-refundable; but date changes may be made based on availability.
Garden of Lights is a walk-through experience, featuring more than one million lights along a one-half mile path. The displays feature animals, insects and plants created from lights and are the result of months of work by Montgomery Parks staff.
“Each year, we start planning Garden of Lights almost immediately after the previous year’s show is taken down,” said Jeff Patterson, landscape supervisor for Brookside Gardens. “We incorporate the newest technology in lighting with the goal of putting on a display to awe our visitors and bring them back year after year.”
Garden of Lights visitors can enjoy warm beverages and food from on-site vendors, and shop for nature-inspired gifts in the Brookside Gardens gift shop.
The Garden of Lights runs through January 4, 2026, with closures on November 24 -27, December 24-25, and January 1. Brookside Gardens will close daily at 4 p.m. and reopen at 5 p.m. for the ticketed event.
The free Garden Railway exhibit will be on display in the Conservatory from Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (closed on December 25 and January 1). This seasonal G-scale model train display features miniature versions of Montgomery County landmarks.
Please Note: The Garden Railway exhibit will not be open during Garden of Lights hours.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 414 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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