Activity Lakeside, Richmond
GardenFest of Lights
An activity in Lakeside, Richmond, moderately priced ($$) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: After dark.
Why go
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's winter light show, with lit gardens, model trains and a glowing conservatory.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Richmond, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 4.0 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Activity · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Lakeside
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 2 hr
- Best time
- After dark
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Richmond, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Richmond brewery whose seasonal Gingerbread Stout, brewed with local ginger and honey, arrives each winter.
Drinks · 4.0 mi straight-line - 2Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Free-admission art museum with Faberge eggs, American paintings and a large sculpture garden.
Sight · 4.5 mi straight-line - 3Carytown
Nine blocks of independent shops, cafes and the 1928 Byrd Theatre along West Cary Street.
Shopping · 4.8 mi straight-line - 4Mama J's Kitchen
Jackson Ward soul food restaurant known for fried chicken, catfish and candied yams.
Food · 5.4 mi straight-line - 5The Jefferson Hotel
1895 Beaux-Arts hotel whose marble staircase and stained-glass lobby hold a towering Christmas tree each December.
Stay · 5.5 mi straight-line - 6Maymont
Gilded Age estate on the James River with gardens, wildlife habitats and the Dooley Mansion, decorated for the holidays.
Outdoors · 5.9 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
GardenFest of Lights is a stop on our Williamsburg & Richmond route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Richmond
GardenFest of Lights is our only activity pick in Richmond; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Richmond guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Richmond run from 44°F in January to 91°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For GardenFest of Lights itself, we suggest: After dark.
Modelled monthly averages for Richmond from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Richmond weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for GardenFest of Lights, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 37.62120, -77.47110
- Destination
- Richmond, Virginia
- Website
- lewisginter.org
GardenFest of Lights: quick answers
How much time do you need at GardenFest of Lights?
Plan on about 2 hours at GardenFest of Lights. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit GardenFest of Lights?
Our pick: After dark. Insider tip: Timed tickets sell out on December weekends; book ahead.
Which TripsCircle routes include GardenFest of Lights?
GardenFest of Lights appears on Williamsburg & Richmond, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add GardenFest of Lights to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Richmond.
Plan Richmond
- Richmond travel guide 9 places
- Best time to visit Richmond weather by month
- Williamsburg to Richmond 44 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Richmond
- Sub Rosa Bakery Food
- Virginia State Capitol Sight
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.