Conservatory Aglow

11-23-2024 01-05-2025 5-9pm nightly and 5-10pm Fridays and Saturdays in December

During Conservatory Aglow, THE CONSERVATORY CLOSEs AT 4PM AND REOPENs AT 5PM

Tickets are available now!

Step into a holiday wonderland as the gardens and interior biomes come alive with dazzling lights and captivating experiences. Wander through mesmerizing light displays, dance the night away at our nostalgic 90s-themed party, or unwind in cozy festive igloos at the all-new Ahlum & Arbor Arctic Terrace. Inside, the magic continues as lights adorn the Conservatory’s lush biome spaces.

These exciting new features join returning favorites including the iconic ornament trees, the whimsical Whirly Tree by Tork Inc., the life-size gingerbread house, the enchanting Paul Busse Garden Railway and Through the Vines: A Seasonal Journey.

Please note: The Conservatory will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On December 5, no one under the age of 21 will be permitted entry after 5pm.

Know Before You Go

A safe and enjoyable experience for guests and staff is our top priority. We thank all guests for reviewing these guidelines before their visit. A map is also available for guests to use to navigate the entire Conservatory during Conservatory Aglow.

Read Visitor Policies ADMISSION RATES view map

Conservatory Aglow is made possible by

Experiencing Conservatory Aglow

All there is to do and see during the evening. Be sure to make a list and check it twice!

Light Displays & Shows Light displays organized into vignettes through the interior biomes and all through the outdoors brighten the Conservatory experience.

Live Entertainment The Amazing Giants, with their talented troupe of variety entertainers will roam the outside experience on select nights during Conservatory Aglow. Performances will vary by night, with each night featuring a pair of performers who will entertain the crowd as mirrored dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, roller skaters, LED jugglers, penny farther riders and more!

Entertainment Schedule

Friday, November 22, 6-8pm: Snowflake Duo
Monday, November 25, 6-8pm:Snowflake Duo
Tuesday, November 26, 6-8pm: Snowflake Duo
Wednesday, November 27, 6-8pm: Snowflake Duo
Friday, November 29, 6-8pm: Stiltwalker & Ground Performer
Friday, December 13, 6-9pm: Stiltwalker & Ground Performer
Sunday, December 22, 6-8pm: Stiltwalker & Ground Performer
Monday, December 23, 6-8pm: Christmas Tree Sway Pole
Thursday, December 26, 6-8pm: Silver Mirrored Man
Friday, December 27, 6-9pm: Penny Farther
Saturday, December 28, 6-9pm: Fire Duo
Sunday, December 29, 6-8pm: LED Juggler/Unicyclist
Tuesday, December 30, 6-8pm: Penny Farther
Friday, January 3, 6-8pm: Gold Mirrored Man
Saturday, January 4, 6-8pm: Mirrored Woman

Musical Performances Starting at 7pm on select dates, a variety of musical guests will perform indoors.

The schedule is subject to change without notice. Thank you for understanding.

Performance Schedule

Saturday, November 23: Magpie Consort
Tuesday, November 26: Vaud Villities
Saturday, November 30: Trista Hill & Phil Maneri
Friday, December 6: Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Saturday, December 7: Gahanna Community Chorus
Saturday, December 14: EFlat Jazz Band
Sunday, December 15: Bryden String Quarte
Tuesday, December 31: Arch City Big Band (6-9pm)

Multi-Color Lit Biomes Multi-color warm lights brighten the way through the interior Biomes.

Ahlum & Arbor Arctic Terrace Unwind in cozy festive igloos with nostalgic games.

Holiday Glass Ornament & Gift Sale Shop for beautiful glass ornaments and holiday-themed glass items. All of the products for sale are hand-crafted in the Conservatory’s Hot Shop or by local artists.

Refreshments Dining options will available be from the Conservatory's Garden Café, Liberty Kettle Corn and local food trucks.

Food Truck Schedule

Saturday, November 23: Bada Bing Bada Wing
Monday, November 25: Fat Kids Burgers
Tuesday, November 26: Ninja Bowl
Wednesday, November 27: Mustafa’s Halal Gyro, Tortilla Street Food
Friday, November 29: Hangry Planet, Little Italy Ristorante
Saturday, November 30: Schmidt’s
Friday, December 6: Pitabilities, Impastas
Saturday, December 7: To be announced
Sunday, December 8: Cupzilla
Thursday, December 12: Little Italy Ristorante
Friday, December 13: Ninja Bowl, Tortilla Street Food
Saturday, December 14: Ninja Bowl, Pitabilities
Sunday, December 15: Dirty Franks, On the Fly Pizza Guy
Tuesday, December 17: Impastas
Thursday, December 19: Hangry Planet, Cupzilla
Friday, December 20: Hangry Planet, Tortilla Street Food
Saturday, December 21: Schmidt’s, Pitabilities
Sunday, December 22: Dirty Franks, Tortilla Street Food
Monday, December 23: Mustafa’s Halal Gyro, Little Italy Ristorante
Thursday, December 26: Grilled Cheese Gangsters, Smash City
Friday, December 27: Grilled Cheese Gangsters, Bada Bing Bada Wing
Saturday, December 28: Dirty Franks, Mustafa’s Halal Gyro
Sunday, December 29: Smash City
Monday, December 30: Bada Bing Bada Wing
Friday, January 3: Impastas
Saturday, January 4: Smash Burger

Bar On select evenings, a bar on the West Carriage path loop will serve cocktails, beer and wine. Specialty cocktails and mocktails will be available and served with light up ice cubes.

*Bar will close 30 minutes before the Conservatory closes*

Bar Schedule

November 22 (Member Holiday Party)
Saturday, November 23
Sunday, November 24
Monday, November 25
Tuesday, November 26
Wednesday, November 27
Friday, November 29
Saturday, November 30
Sunday, December 1
Wednesday, December 4
Friday, December 6
Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8
Wednesday, December 11
Thursday, December 12
Friday, December 13
Saturday, December 14
Sunday, December 15
Wednesday, December 18
Thursday, December 19
Friday, December 20
Saturday, December 21
Sunday, December 22
Monday, December 23
Thursday, December 26
Friday, December 27
Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
Monday, December 30
Tuesday, December 31
Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Additional Offerings

The entire Conservatory is open to visitors during Conservatory Aglow.

Holiday Blooms Seasonal horticulture, themed vignettes, and wintry container gardens are found throughout the Conservatory and botanical gardens.

Through the Vines: A Seasonal Journey Explore the ever-changing tapestry of nature’s cycle within this captivating exhibit installation.

Paul Busse Garden Railway The railway and botanical structures are adorned with lights.

Chihuly Collection See the stunning glass installations after dark, illuminated against the botanical landscapes.

Cocktails at the Conservatory: Jingle Brews Plan a date night for an adults-only winter wonderland at Cocktails at the Conservatory. Stroll through the beautiful lights during Conservatory Aglow with a cozy, festive beer in hand.

December 5 from 5:30-9:30pm | 21+ only

Pre-Hanukkah Celebration Open to all, this special Conservatory Aglow evening, presented in partnership with the Jewish Community Center, will celebrate the upcoming holiday, Hanukkah "Festival of Lights."

December 17 from 5-7:30pm

Meet & Greet With Santa And Live Reindeer Don’t miss Santa and his live reindeer! Visit with Santa and get an up-close look at his furry friends during Conservatory Aglow.

December 20 & 21 from 6-9pm

Check Off Your Gift List

It’s easy to give wonderful gifts while supporting the Conservatory.

Membership Includes a year of free admission to daytime exhibitions, discounts at Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse and Garden Café, special member events and more!

Gift Cards Conservatory gift cards make easy gifts that recipients can use to personalize their visit. They are redeemable for tickets, memberships, classes and at Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse and the Garden Café.

To purchase, email [email protected] or speak with a staff member at the Visitor Center.

Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse Find something special for everyone! Gifts include plants, home & garden decor, books, toys, jewelry and more.

Tribute Gifts Tribute Gifts of any size honor a loved one and support the Conservatory's outreach programs.

More to Explore

June 1 – January 5 Paul Busse Garden Railway All aboard! The Paul Busse Garden Railway is arriving at Conservatory station. 9 G scale model trains travel across 1,122 feet of track that runs high and low through themed…

June 8 – January 5 Through The Vines: A Seasonal Journey A site-specific installation created by the artists at Applied Imagination will invite guests to explore the lights, sights, and sounds of the four seasons with a series of vine arches…

November 23 – January 5 Holiday Blooms We’ve decked the Conservatory’s halls, and they’re blooming with holiday spirit! Featuring hundreds of unique poinsettias, the poinsettia trees and more, visitors can spend the season amidst themed photo-ready holiday…