The Magic of Christmas
December 1 – January 6
Christmas is a cheerful time of year at The Gardens. Bundle up and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas displays, sing along to the sounds of the season with Traditional Carollers or listen to the Festive Brass, then stop in at the Coffee Shop to warm up with a hot chocolate and gingerbread by the fire.
Lights Display
While the flowers sleep, The Gardens come to life with colourful displays of lights, including scenes depicting The Twelve Days of Christmas. Wander the pathways to discover each scene while you sing along to the classic Christmas carol.
The Japanese and Mediterranean Gardens are closed during Christmas.
Christmas Carols
With traditional carollers and a festive brass band, there’s no shortage of seasonal sounds at The Gardens! Step into the Piazza and sing along to classic carols sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. The sound of the festive brass instruments and traditional carollers will follow you down the garden path, greeting you at the beginning and end of your walk.
Traditional Carollers and Festive Brass alternate every half hour 5:00pm – 9:00pm.
Dining
Before or after your walk, enjoy The Gardens’ renowned fare in the Dining Room Restaurant. Festive dining is an experience to remember in Jennie Butchart’s former residence, or opt for more casual fare in the Blue Poppy Restaurant.
Snowflake Exchange
For children 12 and under, we invite you to make your own snowflake at home from an 8×11 sheet of white paper. Bring it to The Gardens when you visit, and we will trade you a cup of hot chocolate for your snowflake at our Coffee Shop. Your unique snowflake could adorn the windows of the Coffee Shop throughout the Christmas season.
Pet Policy
Attention pet owners: Pets are not permitted inside The Gardens December 1 – January 6 between 3:00pm and 8:00pm, pets are welcome from 8:00pm until closing. Click here for more information on our pet policy.
Christmas Day
We will be closed Christmas Day to allow our staff to enjoy the day with their families and loved ones.
Skating
Due to ongoing staffing challenges, we are unable to offer ice skating.
Christmas Tickets and Planning
It is strongly recommended that you reserve your ticket in advance of your visit. On busy evenings when we reach capacity, those without timed entrance tickets and those who have not rebooked their incorrectly dated tickets may not be admitted. This includes 12 Month Pass holders. If you are uncertain of the date of your visit at this time, you may purchase day of, subject to availability.
All timed entrance ticket sales are final. There are no refunds after the order has been made. If you have purchased timed entrance tickets and are unable to attend on the designated time or date, and cannot rebook within the 2023 Magic of Christmas season, the dollar value of the unused timed entrance ticket can be applied to a future visit. Tickets never expire. Outside of the Magic of Christmas season, you do not need to book a timed entrance ticket.
If you have purchased timed entrance tickets and are unable to attend on the designated ticket time or date:
- Select ‘Rebooking’ under the Categories option.
- Select the total number of tickets you need to rebook (note: ticket types are not necessary here).
- Select an available date and time.
- Arrive at the Admission Gate with BOTH your original timed entrance tickets and the Rebooked timed entrance tickets. Without both sets of timed tickets, you will not be admitted.
- Our staff will scan the original timed entrance tickets as proof of payment and to ensure that they have not been used for a previous admission.
If you know the date and time the other person would like to visit, you can simply purchase a timed entrance ticket for them through the ‘Christmas Tickets” portal on our website. If you wish to gift a Magic of Christmas visit to someone, but you are unsure when they would like to visit, you may purchase gift e-tickets here. It is important that the gift e-ticket recipient is aware that they will then need to reserve a Magic of Christmas timed entrance ticket and to do so under the “Complimentary Admissions” ticket category.
As tickets may be presented either on a mobile device or in printed version, we ask that you divide tickets up appropriately and ensure each vehicle has screen shots or hard copies of the tickets they will be using.
In order for our timed ticketing system to be effective we ask that all visitors make every effort to arrive at the time stated on the ticket. We allow 10 minutes prior to and after this time as leeway for travel.
Your Dining Room reservation will stand in place of your timed entrance ticket, so there is no need to book tickets. Arrive when you wish at our Admission Gate and provide your Dining Room reservation information. Our Admission Gate Staff there will take your admission payment or accept your valid 12 Month Pass. We ask that you arrive at the restaurant at the time of your reservation.
Pets are not permitted inside The Gardens between 3pm and 8pm, but are most welcome from 8pm until closing. For the safety of your pet and other visitors, we ask that you keep your pet on a leash no longer than 4ft, under control and directly at your side at all times.
The average stroll through the Gardens during our Magic of Christmas season is about an hour. Please allocate more time should you wish to enjoy one of our food services facilities, peruse our Seed & Gift store or take in a Festive Brass or Traditional Caroler performance.
Please book a “12 Month Pass Holder” timed entrance ticket and present it to the Admission Gate staff upon arrival. Our staff will be happy to assist you in renewing your pass at that time. Should you be bringing guests with you on this visit, please select “Guest of a 12 Month Pass Holder” timed entrance tickets. Please note that if the guests do not arrive with you in your vehicle, they will be charged the additional $3.50.
We do not. The Gardens will be open for your enjoyment until 10:00pm.
