WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks’ popular Garden of Lights returns to Brookside Gardens on Friday, November 20, transforming the grounds into a glowing winter wonderland with more than a million twinkling lights. New displays this year feature nighttime creatures, including a bat, luna moth, owl, and fireflies.
Event Information
What: Garden of Lights
When: Friday, November 20, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Timed entry begins at 5 p.m. Closed November 23 to 26, December 24 and 25, and January 1.
Where: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902
Tickets: $13.99 per person Sunday through Thursday; $16.99 per person Friday and Saturday. Children aged 4 and younger are free. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased online in advance at GardenofLights.org.
The half-mile, walk-through exhibit follows a paved trail past illuminated flowers, plants, insects, animals and other nature-inspired elements. Bright rope-light displays and colorful photo opportunities add to the experience.
Refreshments and drinks will be available for purchase from an on-site vendor. The Brookside Gardens Visitor Center will be open for information and restroom access, and the Gift Shop will offer garden-inspired gifts and seasonal finds. Garden of Lights is held rain or shine. Tickets are nonrefundable but may be transferred to another available date.
For a separate daytime outing, visitors can explore the free Garden Railway exhibit in the Brookside Gardens’ South Conservatory, where the Washington, Virginia & Maryland Garden Railway Society’s G-scale model trains travel through miniature versions of local Maryland landmarks. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday, November 28, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027. It is closed December 24 and 25 and January 1 and is not open during Garden of Lights evening hours.
Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages 417 parks and more than 37,000 acres of parkland. Our parks, programs, and facilities promote physical activity, social connection, and environmental stewardship. As part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible park experiences. M-NCPPC has been stewarding public lands since 1927 and has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services.
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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