9 Festive Botanical Gardens with Spectacular Holiday Light Shows

We all know how much I love Florida’s botanical gardens. They’re places of beauty, often mixed with history, and provide that hit of nature we all need. During the holidays, these gardens put on some truly spectacular holiday light shows, too. Taking advantage of Florida’s subtropical climate, abundant plant life, and warm weather, they create unforgettable displays and memories.

I’ve received this question a lot lately – where are the best botanical gardens with light shows? Seems the perfect opportunity to put together a list of my favorite spots and why they’re my favorite. So, without further ado, here’s a list of some top botanical garden holiday light shows in Florida that I think you’ll love.

Dazzling Nights at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando

Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando is one of Florida’s best botanical gardens and a super popular non-theme park attraction in the land of theme parks. Leu Gardens is best known for Leu House and the Camellia Garden. During the holidays, the 50-acre park turns into a festive wonderland. Regular entry to the garden, during the day, includes holiday blooms, Santa’s market, and garden gnome hunt.

Over 1 million lights, interactive displays, and themed areas light up the night. I love the look of historic homes decorated for the holidays, and Leu House does not disappoint. The gardens also include activities daily snow (a huge treat in Florida!), food and drink vendors, and live entertainment. Highlights this year include a 70’ lighted tunnel, a forest of stained glass windows, and light luminaria walls inspired by the holiday festivals of Europe.

Tips for Attending Dazzling Nights

• Buy tickets early. They sell out fast!
• Off-site parking is free and offers a complimentary shuttle.

Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo

Florida Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite places in the Tampa Bay area. It’s a hidden gem which is also a county park spanning 150 acres with several themed gardens, including the wedding garden, tropical garden, herb garden, and vinery. Recently they opened the Children’s Garden, and I can’t wait to see how that looks during the holidays.

The first time I attended Holiday Lights in the Gardens, maybe 15 years ago, it was a meager display. Lots of yard  ornament type displays. Pretty, festive, not spectacular. Since then, I’ve watched this annual tradition grow into a spectacular display of over 1 million lights with live entertainment, local school performances, and food and drink vendors. The highlight of the event is the large sculptures made from lights, such as butterflies and animated figures.

Tips for Attending Holiday Lights in the Gardens

• Admission is free; however, there’s a suggested donation of $10/person. This event is a major fundraiser for the gardens.
• Arrive early; parking is limited and fills up fast.

Fairchild’s Night at the Garden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is one of the oldest and most historic botanical gardens in Florida. It’s also one of the few truly tropical botanical gardens in the United States, making it a place where many exotic tropical plants thrive in more natural settings. Gardens, lakes, and open green spaces offer the perfect place for a beautiful day trip not too far from Miami’s hustle and bustle.

Starting mid-November, Fairchild transforms into a magical holiday playground. While daily admittance includes “A Very Merry Garden”, you’ll want to get the extra ticket to experience Fairchild at night. Rainbow-lit paths, a talking tree, and a Fairy Quest for the kids. The magical oasis comes to life with motion-sensing technology, outdoor holograms, sculptures, and projections, offering a unique holiday experience.

Tips for Attending Night at the Garden

• Get the FairyScope app for an augmented reality experience.
• If you live near Miami, grab a Fairchild membership and get free tickets to Night at the Garden.

Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens, Sarasota

Selby Gardens in Sarasota is, perhaps, one of the most spectacular gardens in Florida. It features two “campuses” (locations) approximately 10 miles apart – the original downtown location and the waterfront location at Historic Spanish Point. Both locations offer amazing gardens, including the gardens’ specialty, epiphytic orchids, ferns, and bromeliads.

Lights in Bloom is held at the downtown campus and features more than 2 million lights illuminating the gardens and garden paths. This holiday event has been ranked #6 in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice contest for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in the country. And rightfully so! You’ll enjoy photo ops, beautiful light displays, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Tips for Attending Lights in Bloom

• Tickets are highly recommended. Walk–up admission may not be available.
• Early admission opens an hour early to enjoy the gardens without the crowds.

Night Lights in the Garden at Naples Botanical Garden, Naples

At 170 acres, Naples Botanical Garden is one of the largest in Florida and a highlight of any trip to Southwest Florida. It’s also a relatively young garden, established in 1993, and already a winner of the prestigious Award for Garden Excellence from the American Public Gardens Association.

Night Lights at the Garden features hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the gardens. There’s live music every night, tons of photo ops, a living bromeliad tree, and of course, festive treats and drinks. It’s an event which has become a holiday tradition in Naples.

Tips for Attending Night Lights in the Garden

• New Late Night tickets available for a discounted rate.
• Upgrade to a GLOW ticket to receive a unique GLOW bag at the gate

Jungle Lights at McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach

McKee Botanical Garden might be one of the oldest and smallest botanical gardens in Florida, but it packs a punch in just 18 acres. More than 10,000 plants grace gardens, walkways, and displays. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for extraordinary special exhibits.

For 17 days in December, McKee’s jungle walkways transform into lighted spectacles. Jungle Lights features hundreds of thousands of lights, Vero Beach’s largest animated Christmas tree, glowing bromeliad holiday trees, live entertainment, and treats and drinks.

Tips for Attending Jungle Lights

• Become a member for discounted tickets
• Complimentary shuttle service from offsite parking

Garden of Lights at Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Fort Pierce

Heathcote Botanical Gardens has been a Treasure Coast hidden gem since 1960. Located in a “transition” zone between temperate zones to the north and subtropical zones to the south, Heathcote features a mix of plants which thrive in each zone. It also features native plants.

Garden of Lights is in its 10th year in 2024 and set to dazzle visitors like never before. New exhibits this year include a light waterfall on the main lawn and new photo ops in the Secret Garden. Fan favorite displays from previous years make appearances again this year, such as the under the sea light vignette. This garden’s smaller size in a less-touristy location make it a excellent intimate choice if you prefer a quieter holiday light show experience.

Tips for Attending Garden of Lights

• Open on Fridays and Saturdays only
• Grab tickets before your visit

Port St. Lucie Lights at Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens is one of the newest gardens in Florida, opening in 2010. The property was originally slated for development but was (thankfully) saved and purchased by the city of Port St. Lucie in 2002. Seven acres of fragile wetlands along the river have been preserved. Nearly two miles of walkways in the rest of the property wind through beautiful gardens, including 13 themed gardens.

Port St. Lucie Lights offers visitors beautiful light displays including thousands of LED lights, ice sculptures, artisans, food and drink vendors, and visits with Santa. Like Heathcote’s holiday light show, this is the perfect botanical garden to visit if you’re looking for something more low-key.

Tips for Attending Port St. Lucie Lights

• Admission is free; however, there’s a suggested donation of $5/person. This event is a major fundraiser for the gardens.
• Arrive early or carpool; parking is limited and fills up fast.

Camellia Christmas at Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee

Maclay Gardens State Park features the historic gardens and home of Alfred P. Maclay who began planting these famous gardens in 1923. Best known for the camellias and azaleas, Maclay Gardens State Park is a great place to spend a day in nature near Florida’s state capital.

Camellia Christmas happens just one night each year. In 2024, that’s December 6th. The community event is free to attend though donations are welcome. The Maclay House gets a festive makeover in greenery and white camellias. Tour the house, sip on hot cider while listening to holiday music, and take a walk through the decorated gardens. 

Tips for Attending Camellia Christmas

• Put this on your calendar now as it’s only one night each year
• Donations help Friends of Maclay Gardens

Wrapping It Up: Holiday Light Shows at Botanical Gardens

Though many botanical gardens in Florida don’t offer holiday light shows at night, several do. These nine gardens are favorites with the holiday crowd who want a unique festive experience. If you find yourself in Florida in November of December, put one of these on your bucket list.

On a related but separate note, though few botanical gardens have light shows at night, most are decorated for the holidays. Places like Bok Tower Gardens tie their decorations into the garden’s history or specialty. If you love botanical gardens, visiting them during the holidays – with or without lights – create a memorable and unique experience.