Published November 17 2023
Garden d’Lights, which has been enchanting visitors at the Bellevue Botanical Garden for 29 years, will open Saturday, Nov. 25, and run nightly through Sunday, Dec. 31, excluding Christmas Day. New this year are discounted $5 nights Nov. 27-30 and Dec. 4-7, 4:30-8 p.m.
This beloved community event features over half a million sparkling lights formed into the whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals and cascading waterfalls, set amid the natural beauty of the garden.
Along with the lights, visitors can experience live music from local groups on select nights. The Copper Kettle Coffee Bar will be selling hot drinks and tasty treats from the Shorts House. The Trillium Store gift shop offers options for visitors looking to purchase gifts.
Tickets and Parking
On general admission nights, tickets are $8, and the show runs 4:30-9 p.m. Children 10 and under are always free. Tickets are date- and time-specific, and must be purchased at BellevueBotanical.org/garden-dlights. They are not sold at the event.
Parking in the Botanical Garden lot is $5 per car (cash or credit/debit card), or free with a state-issued disability parking permit. Free parking is available at Wilburton Hill Park, a quarter-mile east of the garden. Also new this year, attendees can use BellHop, the electric, on-demand, free shuttle service, to travel to the Garden from downtown.
Volunteers make it happen
Approximately 130 volunteers donate 6,400 hours over the previous 11 months to make this event happen. They create a wide variety of botanically correct plants, animals and natural features using incandescent and energy-saving LED lights, zip ties and rebar. Volunteers also install the lights in the garden, work at the event and take down the lights when the event is over.
Partnerships make it possible
Amazon is this year’s presenting sponsor. The nonprofit Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, a partner with Bellevue Parks & Community Services in the year-round maintenance of the garden, produces Garden d’Lights. Proceeds from this event support improvements and educational programs at the Botanical Garden.