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Experience the most magical season of the year at Holidays at the Garden! Starting November 28, Daniel Stowe Conservancy transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland filled with over one million dazzling lights and the Gardens at Stowe shine with holiday cheer. Local food trucks will be on site with hot dinner options, while our bars (including our Holiday Speakeasy!) serve hot chocolate and all your favorite seasonal beverages to sip as you stroll. Step inside the Great Hall to warm up, take in our awe-inspiring Orchid Tree and enjoy live performances from talented community musicians to make your visit even more merry! We invite your family to start a new tradition, or return to a favorite one: gather your favorite people and come experience the lights and magic of Holidays at the Garden!

Get Your Tickets!

General Tickets require you to attend on a specific night with no options for a refund.

Any Time Tickets allow for flexible rescheduling to any open date of Holidays at the Garden, from November 28 – December 30. From the sniffles to rainy weather, Flex Tickets provide you with ticket insurance for the unexpected. You will have to select an initial date when you purchase your tickets, but you can use your tickets on any date you’d like!

Our recommendation: If you are 100% certain you will attend Holidays at the Garden on a specific night, buy tickets for that night. If you would like the option to attend on any night, select the date you are most likely to attend and buy flex tickets for the option to attend any night of your choosing.

Event Highlights

  • The Holiday Speakeasy is back with new cocktails, elevated decor and a relaxing vibe to take you out of the chaos of the holidays and into your own personal lounge space.
  • Our Tram Road is home to the year’s Community Trees, creatively designed and decorated by local families, businesses and community partners. Learn more about Community Trees here.
  • The Holiday Trackless Train returns on Fridays in December leading up to Christmas (December 4, 11 + 18) from 6-9 p.m. for a choo-choo Christmas ride up and down our Tram Road!
  • Ho ho ho! Santa Claus visits our Garland Board Room on Saturdays and Sundays before Christmas (December 5-6, 12-13 + 19-20) from 6-8 p.m. for a very merry family tradition. 
  • Make parking a breeze with optional VIP parking! Pre-purchase for a spot in our paved lot. Free parking will be available in the grass overflow parking. (Handicap-tagged cars will receive free reserved handicap parking.)

Know Before You Go

Members receive 15% off!*

Any Night Ticket Pricing (Provides the flexibility to attend any night!)

Adult: $33

Senior (60+): $30

Child (2-12): $25

General Ticket Pricing (Attend on a specific date)

Adult: $28

Child (2-12): $25

Value Night Pricing (Monday-Thursday on a specific date):

Adult: $24

Child (2-12): $18

Children under 2: Free

*Does not apply to Reciprocal Memberships of other gardens or institutions; must be active members of Daniel Stowe Conservancy to apply discount. 

Holidays at the Garden runs from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Final admission each night is 9 p.m., so please plan accordingly.

Daniel Stowe Conservancy is located at:

6500 S New Hope Road
Belmont, NC 28012

Get Directions

FAQ

Holidays at the Garden is a holiday lights exhibit in Belmont NC that takes place every year during the holiday season at Daniel Stowe Conservancy. Millions of twinkling lights welcome guests from near and far to explore the Gardens bringing the magic of the holidays to life.

Holidays at the Garden is the ultimate Christmas event in the Charlotte area; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located in Belmont, NC. Our address is 6500 S New Hope Road. We’re about 20 miles from the heart of Uptown Charlotte. 

Holidays at the Garden is a walking tour of the light display throughout The Gardens at Stowe. Parking at Stowe is free!

Holidays at the Garden runs from 5-10 p.m. Click the “Select Your Date” button above to view all dates.

Holidays at the Garden would not exist without the support of the community. Email volunteer@danielstoweconservancy.org to learn about volunteer opportunities during the Garden’s holiday season and all year long. You can also donate to support our incredible annual display here. 

Tickets for Holidays at the Garden are available to pre-purchase online (recommended) or at The Gardens’ front desk, either in person or by phone, during regular business hours. You have two options for purchasing tickets: 

  • General tickets – Select the exact date you want to visit and buy your tickets for that date.
  • Flex tickets – Select a date with the flexibility to change your ticket to any other date.

Our recommendation:  If you are 100% certain you will attend Holidays at the Garden on a specific night, buy tickets for that night. If you would like the option to attend on any night, select the date you are most likely to attend and buy flex tickets for the option to attend any night of your choosing.

For the flexibility to attend Holidays at the Garden on any night, we recommend purchasing Flex Tickets, which can be used on any night.

General tickets to Holidays at the Garden are non-refundable.  All unused tickets are considered a donation to Stowe in support of our mission. 

 Groups of 15 or more require a reservation; please fill out this form to request your group visit. We do not offer group discounts.

With limited availability at the door, the only way to guarantee your admission to Holidays at the Garden is to pre-purchase your ticket in advance. Without a pre-purchased ticket, you may need to wait for availability. If tickets are entirely sold out when you arrive, you may be asked to return on a different night. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed, so we strongly encourage you to pre-purchase your tickets before arriving!

We recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid tickets being sold out at the door.

General Tickets require you to attend on a specific night with no options for a refund.

Flex Tickets allow for flexible rescheduling to any open date of Holidays at the Garden, from November 28 – December 27. From the sniffles to rainy weather, Flex Tickets provide you with ticket insurance for the unexpected.

Our recommendation: If you are 100% certain you will attend Holidays at the Garden on a specific night, buy tickets for that night. If you would like the option to attend on any night, select the date you are most likely to attend and buy flex tickets for the option to attend any night of your choosing.

Guests can enter at any time after 5 p.m. and prior to 9 p.m.

Holidays at the Garden are held in the rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, Holidays at the Garden will be canceled, and we will announce the cancellation by 3 p.m. on our website and social media channels. In this situation, all pre-purchased tickets can be rescheduled to another date or refunded upon request. You may also donate your ticket fee to the Garden. To request a refund, please email info@danielstoweconservancy.org within five business days of the canceled date. We ask that you kindly allow two business days for a response to ticket inquiries, including refund requests.

Holidays at the Garden admissions begin at 5 p.m. The last admission is at 9 p.m. We ask all our Holidays at the Garden guests to enjoy the experience at your own pace until 10 p.m.

Yes, our paths are a mix of paved roads, pressed gravel and brick hardscape. They are wide enough to accommodate strollers, wagons and wheelchairs. Please note, that during Holidays at the Garden, paths can be dark in some areas, so we recommend bringing a flashlight to help you navigate wheels along the path. Our Prairie Castle Playground is also wheelchair accessible for the first two stories. 

Wheelchairs will not be available for rent during Holidays at the Garden. To help everyone in your party have an enjoyable and comfortable experience, we encourage you to bring your own strollers, wagons and/or wheelchairs as needed.

For 2026, we’re offering:

  • Visits with Santa (Saturdays + Sundays in December before Christmas; December 5-6, 12-13 + 19-20) from 6-8 p.m.
  • Trackless train rides (December 4, 11 + 18) from 6-9 p.m. 
  • Musical entertainment in the Great Hall (on select evenings)
  • Speakeasy with specialty cocktails (every night)
  • Bright Lights Race (November 25)
  • Merry Market (November 28)
  • Santa Paws dog event in The Village (December 12)
  • Morning with Santa
  • Holiday Jazz Concert (December 30)

For your safety, please remain on the lit paths. But feel free to take photos to your heart’s content with your phone camera, tablet or point-and-shoot camera! We love seeing your photos and videos, so please share with us on Facebook and Instagram by tagging us (Daniel Stowe Conservancy on all platforms). Those looking to take professional photos of our lights must follow our Photography Policy.

Dogs are not allowed at Holidays at the Garden and we defer to our standard pet policy:

“Dogs are not permitted in The Gardens at Stowe. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails and paths outside of The Gardens, at The Trailhead Store porch, The Farmhouse Garden Center porch and may be unleashed in the Dog Park.

Trained service animals which perform life functions for those with disabilities are permitted to enter The Gardens at Stowe, in compliance with ADA regulations.”

Dogs are welcome on our designated Santa Paws Event (Saturday, December 13 at The Trailhead Store).

Even More Holiday Fun!

Monday, November 23 | 5-10 p.m. | The Gardens at Stowe | Free for members 

Holidays at the Garden dazzles for another year! Millions of lights glisten, fountains dance in festive rhythm, and holiday cheer fills every Garden path. Members can experience the magic before anyone else! Keep your ears open for merry tunes and prime your tastebuds for seasonal drinks, s’mores by the firepit and more!

Holidays at the Garden: Member Preview is a members-only, one-night event. 

Not a member yet? Join now to participate in Member Preview night and reap all the amazing benefits of a Daniel Stowe Conservancy Membership! 

Wednesday, November 25 | 6 p.m.

Light up the night at our Bright Lights 5k and Fun Run! Run or walk through illuminated pathways and dazzling displays of holiday lights as you are among the first to journey through the garden after dark and witness the 2025 Holidays at the Garden display. It’s a festive and family-friendly event that will leave you feeling energized and inspired for the holiday season!

Registration Coming Soon

Saturday, November 28 | 5-10 p.m. | The Gardens at Stowe | Included with admission 

Shop local vendors offering artisan goods from fresh honey to homemade pottery for unique holiday shopping.

Thank you to Helt Design for sponsoring the Merry Market!

The Merry Market is sponsored by Helt Design: 

Wednesday, December 9-Friday, December 11 | 2-3:30 p.m. | The Gardens | $30/members; $45/non-members

Welcome neighbors, friends and family into your home with a beautiful wreath. Join us at The Gardens to create your own festive Holiday wreath with natural materials foraged right here on the grounds of Stowe! With hands-on instructions from one of our knowledgeable horticulture staff, you will create a beautiful and unique piece and have a wonderful time creating it.

Select your date from the calendar via the link below: 

Saturday, December 12  | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | The Village| Free

Embrace the holidays with specialty drinks, decor, gifts, and, of course, furry friends. Bring your fur baby for photos with Santa on The Trailhead Store porch, then stroll along the Farmhouse walkway and shop for homemade gifts made with love from local child entrepreneurs!

More info coming soon!

Sunday, December 30 | Holiday Jazz 

Looking to bring the holiday season up to New Years? Check our special Holiday Jazz concert on December 30, offering one final night of music and celebration to send the holidays out in style! (Jazz tickets required for concert admission on December 30; Holidays at the Garden tickets will admit guests to the Gardens only.) More info on tickets coming soon! 

We still have some Holiday sponsorships available for local businesses! If interested, please reach out to Diana Knudsen, VP of Advancement and Communications.