Supported by Classical KING FM 98.1

Thousands of tiny twinkling lights will transform Bellevue Botanical Garden into a fantasyland of flowers every evening during the annual Garden d'Lights festival from November 29, 2008 through January 3, 2009.  Inspired by plants found in Northwest gardens, hundreds of volunteers bundle strings of commercial grade outdoor lights into three dimensional flowers, shrubs, vines, and critters. In November, these creations are 'planted' in the Botanical Garden and, with a flip of a switch, this unique holiday garden blooms every evening from 5:00-10:00 pm.

Volunteers design new flowers for the display every year so it continues to grow. In addition to artistic interpretations of plants, the volunteer team has created several charming animal characters. The large green frog remains a favorite and will be back by his pond in the Groundcover Garden.

Your Donations Are Needed. In order to continue making this a special family event available to everyone (as in no admission fee), please give generously when you visit.  There is a $5 fee for preferred parking in the Botanical Garden parking lot, Free parking is available to the east at Wilburton Hill Park and WISC. Parking fees will support future Garden d’Lights. Complete Details

The lights will be on each evening from 5:00 to 10:00 starting Saturday night November 29 (so you can bring your out-of-town Thanksgiving guests) and continuing through January 3, 2009.  If you like crowds come late in the month; if you’d like a more peaceful evening, come early in the month preferably when there is a light rain.

So come, enjoy the dazzling magic of Garden d'Lights, bring your aunts and uncles, grandparents and grandchildren, third cousins and anyone else you can think of; they will like the lights too.

Dogs or other pets are not allowed in the garden.

Need directions and a map?
Parking Directions

Visit our garden gallery for a glimpse of the 'winter bloom'.

The Garden gift shop, 'The Trillium' will be open 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm each night with books, garden tools, accessories and decorative botanical items for the home as well.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help create this magical event.  Learn how to create your own 'winter garden' by attending one of our classes and helping make, install, or takedown the display.

Our Wonderful 2007 Sponsors

Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center is also sponsoring Garden d'Lights and provides a 'treasure map' and crayons, so kids can locate and color special Garden d'Lights critters.
Bellevue Downtown Association allows us to be part of the Magic Season even though we are not located downtown.
Bellevue Botanical Garden Society supports Garden d'Lights not only monetarily, but with thousands of hours of volunteer work to make and display the seemingly millions of lights that make up the display.
City of Bellevue Parks Department provides the power and infrastructure for Garden d'Lights.  Not only do they pay the power bill, the Parks Department staff provides guidance in administrating the event and help in setting up the display.  We also receive a generous cash donation as part of the City’s support of the Bellevue Magic Season. Classical KING FM 98.1 presenting sponsor, provides beautiful background music and on-air advertising. From the Nutcracker to your favorite carols, share the gift of great music!