This year, A Longwood Christmas dazzles with more than half a million lights transforming our outdoor gardens—and it’s all thanks to the incredible creativity and craftmanship of a team of dozens of horticulturists, arborists, craftspeople, and volunteers who make the magic happen. Among that magic is more than 30 miles of lights adorning more than 170 outdoor trees; the spectacular return of our 200-foot-long tunnel of lights in our Meadow Garden, complete with other new Meadow Garden surprises!; gem forms soaring 14 to 18 feet as they float on our Large Lake; and an all-new, dynamic display illuminating the West Conservatory Lawn; among much more. Here, we share a glimpse of what awaits—and how the magic happens—and invite you to experience it all when you visit.
On the east end of our Gardens, a floating, festive ribbon in a classical holiday palette of red and green leads you onward.
Our team installs this year’s Flower Garden Drive lighting. Photo by Troy Sellers.
Flower Garden Drive, adorned with a glowing ribbon of red and green lights. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.
Our Small Lake and Large Lake positively glow, with a collection of stars sitting on and nearby our Small Lake, casting a beautiful reflection along its calm water.
Members of our team place one of the stars on the Small Lake. Photo by Troy Sellers.
The stars on the Small Lake lit up at night, beautifully reflecting off the water. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.
An all-new display takes center stage on the Large Lake. Here, we showcase floating gem-shaped sculptures spanning 14 to 18 feet high, handcrafted by our talented carpenters and metalworkers and wrapped in lights. Their reflections create a shimmering mirror of color that’s spectacular from every angle.
Members of our team paddle out on the Large Lake during install. Photo by Troy Sellers.
Large gems float on top of our Large Lake. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.
An illuminated Meadow Garden makes a bigger and better than ever return this year. Behind the Italian Water Garden (where a 30-foot illuminated cone tree soars), hanging stars lead you along the path and boardwalk to our 200-foot-long curved tunnel of lights. This amazing feature of 20,000 twinkling lights creates an illusion that the lights continue without end, while putting on a spectacular show of gemstone-inspired to rainbow lights.
An astounding 20,000 twinkling lights await in our Meadow Garden tunnel. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
Along the Meadow Garden boardwalk, towering light shards standing 12 to 25 feet tall are synchronized to the sounds of wind, chimes, and owls for an immersive experience. Color blossoms of light shift in hue along to the music, creating a rhythmic, choreographed effect. Photo by Carol Gross.
On the west end of our Gardens, among this season’s highlights is a brand-new display on the West Conservatory Lawn, presented by S4 Lights. Here, thousands of globes, laid out in a mesmerizing grid pattern, shift in waves of color and light, creating an ever-changing spectacle. Installed by a team of seven in two days, this installation is, in a word, enchanting.
Our team lays out the grid pattern before installing each globe of light. Photo by Troy Sellers.
The West Conservatory lawn grid pattern continues to shape. Photo by Marleigh Flanagan.
The finished West Conservatory Lawn delights. Photo by Holden Barnes.
From the sweeping spectacle of the Meadow Garden to the quiet shimmer of the lakes, to the brand-new radiance of the West Conservatory Lawn, our outdoor lighting team continues to push creativity and craftsmanship to new heights. Every detail is designed to surprise and delight … and we can’t wait for you to experience this gem of an outdoor display yourself.
