Garden d’Lights 2023

Garden d’Lights features over half a million sparkling lights formed into the whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls set amid the natural beauty of the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

DATES & LOCATION

Saturday, November 25 – Sunday, December 31, 2023 (closed Christmas Day)
Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA

TIMES & COST

GENERAL ADMISSION NIGHTS

Nov 25-26, Dec 1-3, Dec 8-31 (closed on Dec 25)
First entry at 4:30 p.m. every night
Last entry at 9:00 pm. Lights go out at 9:30pm.
11 Years and Older: $8.00 per person. Kids 10 and under are free.

SPECIAL $5.00 NIGHTS (NEW THIS YEAR!)

First two weeks, Monday through Thursday, Nov 27-30 and Dec 4-7
First entry at 4:30 p.m. Last entry at 8:00pm. Lights go out at 8:30pm.
11 Years and Older: $5 per person. Kids 10 and under are free.

TICKETS

Tickets must be purchased online and are date and time specific, so plan accordingly. You may enter at any time within your one-hour window. Tickets are not refundable. If you cannot attend the event on the date and time you chose, you can reschedule your own tickets through the link in the confirmation email you received. You can print your ticket or display the QR code on your mobile device.

GIFT CARDS

Garden d’Lights gift cards make a great gift for any occasion! The recipient will be able to choose their preferred date and time.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

HOW TO GET HERE

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is located at 12001 Main St., Bellevue, WA 98005. There are several ways to get here from I-405, I-90, and SR-520. We recommend consulting a navigation app to find the best route from your starting point.

General Directions
From I-405, take exit 13A onto NE 4th St. and head east. Turn right on 120th Avenue. Go south approximately 1/2 mile to the stoplight at Main St. Turn left onto Main St. The Garden entrance is about three blocks up Main Street on the right.

King County Metro
Please consult the King County Metro Trip Planner for routes and times.

 New in 2023! Take the BellHop
BellHop is Bellevue’s first 100% electric, on-demand, and free shuttle service. Simply download the Circuit app, request a ride, and within minutes a sustainable shuttle will pick you up and transport you to the Garden. For service area and more information CLICK HERE

PARKING

Premium parking in the Garden’s lot is available for $5/car, cash or card, as space allows. Parking is free in this lot for individuals with a disability parking permit. Show your permit to the parking attendant. Free parking is available at Wilburton Hill Park, located 1/4 mile east of the Garden on the south side of Main Street.

Event parking is not permitted along Main Street or in the lot immediately north of the Garden.

Bus, RideShare and Shuttle Load/Unload
Rideshare vehicles, shuttles and buses may drop off and pick up passengers in the loading zone at the Garden. BUS AND SHUTTLE PARKING IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE GARDEN. Large vehicles must park at Wilburton Hill Park.

ABOUT THE DISPLAY

The display is outdoors on a well-lit pathway and is accessible on foot only. You can plan on walking 3/4 mile. Your time will vary depending on how long you pause to enjoy this one-of-a-kind display. The average time it takes to see the lights is 30-45 minutes.

REFRESHMENTS

Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase in the Shorts House.

SCAVENGER HUNT (previously known as the Critter Map)

A map of the current year’s route, which includes a list of the special creations for you to find, can be downloaded and printed HERE. Paper maps will not be provided at the event.

GIFT SHOP

The Trillium Store is open every evening during Garden d’Lights. Nov 27-30 and Dec 4-7 the store will close at 8pm. All other nights the store will close at 9pm.

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Live music provided by local instrumental and vocal groups will be offered several nights. Performances take place in The Aaron Education Center. Admission is free and is included in your ticket. DOWNLOAD MUSIC SCHEDULE.

WEATHER

The event will be open, even if it rains. On occasion, it may be necessary to cancel the event because of snow, ice, high winds, or other adverse weather conditions. If we cancel the event due to weather or power outage, we will post an alert on this website, and on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

PETS

Dogs and other pets are not allowed at Garden d’Lights or anywhere in the Garden. Service animals only are permitted.

REFUNDS

Tickets are not refundable unless we cancel the event. If you cannot make the date or time you chose, you can reschedule your own tickets by clicking the link in the confirmation email you received.

RESTROOMS

Accessible restrooms are located near the Trillium Store. Visitors are welcome to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity or expression.

WAIT TIMES

While we plan carefully to make our system run smoothly, please be patient as there may be a wait to enter the event. Allow plenty of time for parking and entering the show.

PRIVATE PARTIES

Private parties, such as company or birthday parties, are not permitted at the Garden, and we do not have any indoor areas you can use. You are free to enjoy the lights together as a group and then exit the event, but please be mindful of other visitors and do not gather for celebrations in public areas.

ACCESSIBILITY

• Disabled parking spots are available in our lot for vehicles displaying a state-issued disabled parking permit or license plate. There is never a charge to park in these spots. Show your permit to the parking attendant.
• Wheelchairs are not available at the event.
• Accessible restrooms are located near the Trillium Store.
• The pathways around the buildings, as well as the Shorts House patio, and the ramp from the Shorts House to the main entry are paved, and many lights can be seen from there. It is about a 1/8 mile walk to the Shorts House.
• The majority of pathways through the lights are gravel. The gravel is 3/8 minus, which packs down and is an ADA-compliant material. The entire route is approximately 3/4 of a mile. Please allow at least 45 minutes to tour Garden d’Lights.
• Many of the pathways are slightly sloped. You may encounter puddles and uneven terrain.
• For assisted groups, the ratio of caregiver to your guests should be 1:5. Please stay with your group to ensure everyone’s safety.
• All visitors should dress for the weather; non-skid shoes are recommended.

LOST AND FOUND

If you have found an item, please bring it to the Trillium Store. For lost items, please leave a voice mail message at the Garden office at 425-452-2750 or email us. Please include your name and contact information, a description of the lost item, and a photo if possible.

MEMBER TICKETS

Garden Society members will receive a free pass for one with an individual membership, or a free pass for four with a family/dual and above membership. Members will receive a discount code to claim their free tickets.

DISCOUNTS

Garden d’Lights is produced by the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, a non-profit organization, and we use proceeds from this event to support our educational programs and to make improvements to the Bellevue Botanical Garden. For this reason, we do not offer military, senior, group, or other discounts.

FURTHER ASSISTANCE

Please email us if you have questions not answered on our event page.