Gardens Aglow

Miles and Miles of Brilliant Lights

Returning for its ninth season, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ annual Gardens Aglow celebration features new walking routes and paths to explore and plenty of old friends including the Trolls and of course Wade the Moose. With more than 750,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens, this year, the Gardens are amplifying the brightest light display in Maine with these new designs and sustainability initiatives. As provided by CMBG, here are some facts about this year's Gardens Aglow. The event will include just two trolls, Roskva and Lilja. As part of their sustainability practices, CMBG gives one of the gardens a rest from foot traffic each year. 

The event has become an annual tradition for my friend and I. Even when the tour was limited to a drive-only experience with buildings off limits and the gift shop closed, or the year we  scheduled a visit for late afternoon on a day Maine faced sleeting rain and icy road conditions in the morning. Fortunately, the afternoon was well above freezing temps and the rain had slowed to a drizzle… We have never had a bad experience. It is so magical to experience illuminated trails, nature-inspired sculptures, themed areas, and swaths of light with undulating effects all conspiring to create an immersive experience. And oh, did I mention those Trolls and the moose? 

The Gardens Aglow route is approximately 1 mile of beautifully lit pathways winding through the gardens. It is easily accessible and walkable. Along the route there is hot chocolate and treats for purchase to keep you warm. It usually takes my friend and I a couple of hours to really take it all in. You can make the magic last longer by visiting the Boothbay Lights, a celebration of signature Holiday events in the mid-coast towns of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. The towns sparkle with thousands of lights. Lodging, shopping, and dining are open with plenty of fun things to do for the whole family. You can also check out the entries in the Community Lighting Contest where participants festively light up their homes or businesses for the public to vote for their favorite to win this year’s People Choice Award. With more than three dozen entries into this year’s lighting contest, the peninsula is alight! 

No trip to the Gardens is complete without a visit to the gift shop with its inventory of gifts from artisans, local makers, and environmentally-conscious merchants. Every purchase directly supports the Garden’s mission to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through education, horticulture, and research. Can’t think of a better place to do my Christmas Shopping. I found lots of fun stocking stuffers and a few new ornaments for my tree collection. 

Gardens Aglow runs from November 18th, 2023 to December 31st, 2023. Admission times are 4pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased on the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden's website. I enjoyed my date with Wade the Moose, and I’ll see him again next year - same time, same place.