Get your glow on again in Boothbay
File photo / Renee Cordes
Maine came out on top as the best place for families to spend the holidays, according to Family Destination Guide, and New Hampshire came in third. Attractions such as the drive-thru arch at Gardens Aglow in Boothbay Harbor, shown in 2021, no doubt add to the top ranking.
"Gardens Aglow" at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens will reopen this fall after a two-year hiatus for those who want to walk in a winter wonderland this holiday season.
The eighth annual seasonal sensation in Boothbay returns to its roots as a 1-mile, self-guided walking experience with a new, reimagined design that includes more than 750,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens.
Visitors can "see the gardens in a whole new light" from Nov. 19 to New Year's Eve, when over 250 lighted flowers, three dozen lighted animals and two dozen assorted mushrooms will be featured.
One of the garden's popular trolls will be included along the route, but it will not be decorated, said Tory Paxson, digital marketing specialist.
"We don't decorate the trolls, but it will be all festive around the troll," Paxton said.
Despite limited access to the rock stars of the botanical gardens, the number of visitors is expected to triple compared to eight years ago: This year’s attendance is projected to reach around 120,000, versus 36,000 people the first year.
"There is nothing quite like winter in Maine, and Gardens Aglow, together with Boothbay Lights, has become a firm tradition in Maine’s seasonal calendar — the Boothbay Peninsula is the place to be for wintertime cheer," said Gretchen Ostherr, CEO and president of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, in a prepared release.
Timed tickets must be purchased in advance at GardensAglow.org, where more information can also be found.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public garden in New England at nearly 325 acres and has gained national recognition for its 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens, a children’s garden and sensory garden, and so much more.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments