Longwood Gardens reveal famous Christmas light show with a new retro twist

Longwood Gardens will dial back the holiday clock to dazzle visitors with a timeless experience that promises to light up the season with a shimmering display of flair and nostalgia.

Guests will have themselves a very retro Christmas — starting Friday, Nov. 17.

Tickets are available for this "A Longwood Christmas" installation. Timed admission tickets are required, and daily slots are from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Since Christmas is the most popular season at Longwood, tickets usually sell out quickly for this annual and award-winning exhibit, especially for weekends. So you'll want to secure your ticket early.

Last year's display highlighted half-a-million lights, which took an estimated 125 days (24 hours per day) to set up.

A Longwood Christmas offers indoor highlights

Longwood’s Music Room is trimmed in mid-century bliss as a classy holiday-party scene awaits you.

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and Burning Branch Studio deliver handcrafted glassware coupled with heirloom dinnerware that adds a festive touch to the holiday gathering. The Pennsylvania nonprofits focus on creating glass art as part of community outreach.

So, stay tuned for the "one-of-a-kind punch bowl, candy dishes, glass leaves, and life-like hors d’oeuvres to see the extent of the artisanal talent," according to press materials.

Other highlights include a 24-foot fir decorated in traditional red and green, plus an 18-foot-tall rotating tree with vintage lights and ornaments that grow in size as they progress down the tree.

Longwood’s historic Ballroom will feature seven trees draped in ornaments crafted by members of local nonprofits.

At the heart of "A Longwood Christmas'' are its beautiful plants. 

"Thousands of colorful poinsettias, fragrant paperwhites, amaryllis, begonias, and other floral finery are highlighted throughout the grand Conservatory," according to press materials.

"The creativity of Longwood’s expert horticulturists is highlighted in the form of living wreaths fashioned from succulents and other plants, a chandelier featuring white phalaenopsis orchids, and ornaments crafted from a variety plants throughout the eye-popping display."

What outside highlights are there?

Longwood's impressive light display, featuring half a million of them, decorates the outside of the Gardens.

The pools of the Italian Water Garden are lined with shiny luminarias, while a 24-foot-tall tree fashioned from holiday lights is at the center. 

"Flicker lights lead guests along the Meadow Boardwalk, culminating in a 200-foot-long shimmering tunnel of lights that changes and morphs into different colors and patterns," according to press materials.

A red 1969 "Longwood Farms" truck is featured outside of the Peirce-du Pont House. The truck is a throwback to days gone by as it carries freshly cut Christmas trees in its flatbed, "evoking cherished memories of family trips to the Christmas tree farm."

The exterior of the International Load Star 1800 truck has been restored by Longwood staff, making it a nice setting for a family photo op.

The holiday Garden Railway travels past miniature Longwood landmarks decorated for the holiday season. Folks can feast their eyes on the Main Fountain Garden, featuring a 150-foot-long light tunnel with a specially designed light show.

The Chimes Tower basin displays a 30-foot-tall floating tree, lit and dressed in icy elements. After taking in the icy scene, you can warm up at two fire pits.

More than just sights, guests will also hear the sounds of the season during "A Longwood Christmas.''

This includes strolling carolers on select evenings to the daily fountain shows in the Open Air Theatre that feature 750 jets dancing to holiday favorites during five-minute shows that run throughout the day and evening, according to press materials.

Longwood Gardens has best light show in USA

For the fifth year in a row, Longwood Gardens was crowned the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights contest by USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2022.

This year's ambitious exhibit features everything from trees decorated in throwback fashion to a vintage-themed Christmas street scene that'll remind guests of magical memories from yesteryear.

Visitors will recall some of their favorite childhood toys and unwrap a holiday party scene that's trimmed in mid-century charm.

This blast from the past is a homemade gift for guests.

"A Longwood Christmas'' (Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania) is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday starting Friday, Nov. 17, until Sunday, Jan. 7. (Longwood is also open on Christmas.) Tickets are up to $30 each. For more info, visit longwoodgardens.org or (610) 388-1000.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Longwood Gardens Christmas exhibit shines in new retro, holiday theme