LARGO — Some of the finest dazzling holiday cheer is almost here: The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation is set to kick off the 25th anniversary edition of its Holiday Lights in the Gardens event, opening on Friday, Nov. 28.
Considered by many to be the premiere holiday event in Pinellas County, Holiday Lights in the Gardens has been ranked in the Top 10 Botanical Gardens Light Displays in the country by USA Today. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, the Florida Botanical Gardens will glow with the twinkle of more than 1 million lights. The annual holiday display will include laser light shows, live entertainment, and photo opportunities. Holiday treats and snacks will be available for purchase. Admission is a $10 suggested donation for visitors over 12 years old.
This Pinellas tradition has been evolving and growing every year. Visitors will see the popular Snowflake Bridge, Wedding Garden and giant holiday tree.
Mia McCormick, current executive director of the Florida Botanical Gardens, explained the origins of Holiday Lights in the Gardens.
“Vernon Bryant is in charge of the production side of our Holiday Lights event,” McCormick said. “Early in his career at the Chicago Botanical Gardens, he had seen how beautiful and successful their light festival was. In 2000 he was the horticulture manager for Pinellas County and when the Florida Botanical Gardens opened, he and the county team thought having a holiday lights display would be a great way to officially celebrate the opening. It was a way to say thank you to the community for supporting the development of the gardens.”
For the first eight years, Pinellas County staff at the Florida Botanical Gardens ran the event. In 2008, county staff was reduced, and the event was offered to the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation.
“The foundation, along with a dedicated group of dozens of volunteers and the support of Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources, has run the event ever since,” McCormick said. “In the beginning the funds raised by the foundation were used to help fund additional horticultural staff at the garden, buy plants, and to do some maintenance projects like painting.”
Gradually, the foundation began to take on capital projects like the construction of the Vinery, the Wetlands Walkway boardwalk and finally the Majeed Discovery Garden, which opened in November 2023.
“Holiday Lights donations made up part of the funds used in all of these projects,” McCormick said.
Most homeowners can complete their outdoor holiday displays in a single weekend. Setting up Holiday Lights in the Gardens takes months.
“We work with a contractor that begins wrapping trees with lights the day after Labor Day,” McCormick said. “Most of the additional decorations are added in October and everything is completed by the middle of November.”
According to McCormick, the foundation just completed its final walk-thru with the county on Nov. 12. She said that small things will be tweaked and added right up until the invite-only preview party that takes place several days before the official opening.
“Thanks to the generosity of sponsors that step up each year in the community, we are able to make small additions to the display each year,” McCormick said. “Our team of contractors and volunteers works tirelessly to ensure there are new, fun features for guests to enjoy each year.”
In honor of the 25th anniversary, Santa will be visiting Holiday Lights in the Gardens for the first time in five years. Santa will be found in the Majeed Discover Garden for children, Fridays through Sundays, and the week of Christmas. Photo opportunities are available for a nominal fee.
There also will be free children’s activities every Thursday and Sunday night. The event also features live entertainment.
“We will have a wide variety of live entertainment every evening, including a gospel night, line dancing, Zumba, aerial performers, and of course, plenty of familiar holiday music performed by singers of all genres,” McCormick said.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens is a fundraiser for the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation. The mission is to support the gardens as a natural oasis that engages and inspires through education, enjoyment and well-being. With the addition of the Majeed Discovery Garden, the foundation brings environmental educational experiences to students of all ages across the Tampa Bay region.
Parking for Florida Botanical Gardens can be found at 12520 Ulmerton Road and 12211 Walsingham Road in Largo. Holiday Lights in the Garden will run Nov. 28 through Jan. 3, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Leashed pets are welcome.