Missouri Botanical Garden’s 2021 Garden Glow

Hi friends!

The holiday season is in full swing and Christmas is a week away, and for the first time in a while, I’m actually feeling right on schedule with things! It’s a nice change of pace from scrambling around at the last minute, and it’s given me more time to enjoy the season’s offerings!

I don’t know about you, but during the holidays, one of our favorite things to do as a family is to look at the various lights displays around town. From the famous South City Candy Cane Lane to the drive-through Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm to the Brewery Lights at Anheuser Busch, we love a good lights display. So it’s surprising to say that until this year, we’d never attended the Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and boy were we missing out!

Missouri Botanical Garden

If you’ve never been to the Missouri Botanical Garden, you need to go! Founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw, MO Bot Garden houses several curated gardens like the Japanese and Children’s Gardens, the oldest continuously operating greenhouse west of the Mississippi River, the Climatron Geodesic Dome Conservatory, Sachs Museum, Chihuly glass sculptures all over, and more! There are always special exhibits and events going on too, like their evening concerts every summer!

The summer of 2019, before Covid hit, I took my plant-loving mom to the MO Bot Garden for the first time and she absolutely loved it! Seeing it in full bloom is a must, but even in colder temps, there is plenty to see and do, like the Garden Glow!

Garden Glow

Driving around and looking at lights is cool, but walking through them? That’s some next-level stuff right there. And if you want to see some next-level lights displays, the Garden Glow has them.

Many of the displays were timed to music, making for some pretty spectacular multi-sensory shows. There were tunnels and passageways to walk through and even a hedge maze that is so magical with its twinkling lights you won’t be scared that you’ll get lost. If you would like to see some of these in live-action, check out my video below!

With tons of photo opportunities along the way too, you can get all those fun family shots (be sure to check out the last pic in the slide show above for a blooper with my youngest, whose facial expressions never fail to make me laugh!), sweet or funny romantic poses, and if you’re planning to propose, you’re in good company, since the Garden Glow is a popular engagement spot!

HBW Hubby Fave: There are multiple kiosks and booths set up throughout the garden for grabbing cold bottles of Christmas cheer (aka beer).

Those same kiosks also have s’mores, cocoa, and other festive drinks. Everything you need to have some holiday fun!

Highlights Video

Come along with us as we take in the lights displays at the Missouri Botanical Gardens Garden Glow this December 2021! This year’s display features colorful luminaries and installations that are timed to music, walk through tunnels of lights, lots of photo ops, and even a lighted hedge maze!

Plan Your Visit

If you are local or visiting St. Louis this holiday season, be sure to check out the Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden! They are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but the event continues into January. The whole thing took us about 2 hours and that was with me stopping for allllll the photos and videos, a handful of posed photos, and standing in line for a few photo ops.

You can check ticket availability and get more details here, but if you see a ticket time that works for you, snatch it up quickly because they sell out fast! If you’re a member, you can get a really good deal on tickets, but even if you aren’t, it’s still a very reasonable price for everything you can see.

Looking for More Lights?

If you are local to St. Louis, here are a few more ideas for viewing lights this holiday season! All have impressive displays and tons of seasonal cheer!

• Tilles Park Winter Wonderland – Drive Through, Horse-Drawn Carriage, and Walk Through options
• Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights – Drive Through
• Brewery Lights at Anheuser Busch – Walk Through
• Candy Cane Lane, Angel Avenue, Snowflake Street South City Streets – Drive Through or Walk through
• Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo – Walk Through
• Wonderlights Christmas – Drive Through
• Way of Lights at Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – Drive Through + other attractions
• Holiday in the Park at Six Flags – Walk Through + other attractions

Until next time!

xx

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