The Gardens at Twin Hickory

Living in an apartment in Glen Allen, VA and wanting to get into the holiday spirit? Come to Richmond. Even though the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is best known for its beautiful blooming flowers, it is the perfect place to wander and get into the holiday spirit. During the holidays, the garden becomes a "Gardenfest of Lights" with over 500,000 red, green, pink, blue, purple, white and golden lights to get you in the holiday mood.

Beginning with a live band in the welcome center, there are 40 acres of lights for you to enjoy, a winter wonderland. At the Botanical Garden's you walk and enjoy, a better alternative than driving. With indoor and outdoor displays, you can enjoy the outdoors and warm up inside as well.

“The outdoor gardens are filled with unique Christmas lights from the hand-blown glass orbs to lights wrapped to resemble grapes dangling from arbors covering the walkways. As you journey along the paths you never know what you will find from magical fish jumping along the fountains edge to a pink flamingo or a pair of swans swimming in the water. If you are lucky, you just might catch a glimpse of a wolf as he sneaks silently through the forest of lights. If you feel like you are being watched, look a little closer and you may find that some of the trees are actually looking back at you.” (Virginia Wind)

You warm up by going back to springtime in the conservatory, a 63 foot tall room covered in live orchids, tropical flowers and greenery.  The main attraction in the conservatory is the Christmas tree, decorated in the theme “Season of Wonder”.

Of course there is also a model train at the “Gardenfest of Lights”. The unique model train village and village is exceptionally beautiful and made entirely of plants and natural materials gleaned from the gardens!

Don’t forget to bring your kids to the Children’s Garden where there is a kid-friendly tree house. There is also hot chocolate and snacks, or visit the Tea House or the Garden Café which are open for dinner during the festival of lights.