We look forward to hosting you to this year’s Gardens Aglow! We enjoy your visits during our regular season and love to see you here for our very popular Gardens Aglow program. Please read below to get answers to some of your burning questions.
Ticket & Ticket Pricing Information
Gardens Aglow takes place from 4:30-8:30 pm on the following dates:
- Friday, November 28
- Saturday, November 29
- Sunday, November 30
- Wednesday, December 3
- Thursday, December 4
- Friday, December 5
- Saturday, December 6
- Sunday, December 7
- Tuesday, December 9
- Wednesday, December 10
- Thursday, December 11
- Friday, December 12
- Saturday, December 13
- Sunday, December 14
- Tuesday, December 16
- Wednesday, December 17
- Thursday, December 18
- Friday, December 19
- Saturday, December 20
- Sunday, December 21
- Monday, December 23
- Friday, December 26
- Saturday, December 27
Ticket entry times are at 4:30-5:45 pm, 5:45-6:45 pm, and 6:45-8:00 pm nightly.
- Wednesday, October 15:
- Members with a Benefit Package (purchased on or before August 31, 2025)
- Members with Supporter Level and Above (purchased on or before August 31, 2025)
- Honor Society Members
- Gardens Aglow Sponsors
- Wednesday, October 22:
- All Current Heritage Museums & Gardens Members
- Wednesday, October 29:
- General Public
Gardens Aglow takes place at Heritage Museums & Gardens, on Cape Cod in Sandwich, Massachusetts. To find directions to Heritage Museums & Gardens please follow the link here. Please note that the museum is located in a neighborhood and we ask all visitors to respect a 20 mph speed limit of the surrounding roads.
General Admission – date and time specific
- Adults: $28
- Youth (3-17): $18
- Member Adults: $26
- Member Youth (3-17): $16
- Child (2 and under): Free*
Day-of Tickets (if available and NOT guaranteed)
- Adult: $56
- Youth (3-17): $36
- Member Adult: $52
- Member Youth: $32
- Child (2 and under): Free*
Flex Anytime Tickets – visit one time on any scheduled Gardens Aglow date at any time
- Adult: $56
- Youth (3-17): $36
- Member Adult: $52
- Member Youth: $32
- Child (2 and under): Free*
Gold Pass – unlimited visits including any scheduled Gardens Aglow dates at any time
- Adult $100
- Youth (3-17): $60
- Member Adult: $90
- Member Youth: $57
- Child (2 and under): $10**
- Member Child (2 and under): $7**
*Note: it is required to reserve tickets for children 2 and under (even if there is no charge for the ticket) in order to provide an accurate count of event attendance.
**This fee is charged to cover costs associated with setting up and administering records for all Gold Pass holders.
Your purchase confirmation email will include a single QR code located at the top, with the date and time of your tickets listed above it. This QR code is your ticket and contains information for all individual tickets purchased in the transaction. This QR code will be scanned at the Ticketing Pavilion for entry. We also recommend you take a screenshot of your QR code for easy reference to show as your e-tickets for parking and entry.
The QR code is for Heritage’s ticketing system only and will not redirect you to anything if you scan it yourself. This QR code will also be sent in a reminder email a few days before your ticket date.
Are discounts available for members?
Yes! Discounts are available on all types of admission tickets for members of Heritage Museums & Gardens. Click here to see member-specific event information.
General Admission – date and time specific
- Member Adults: $26
- Member Youth (3-17): $16
- Member Child (2 and under): Free*
Flex Anytime Tickets – visit one time on any scheduled Gardens Aglow date at any time
- Member Adult: $52
- Member Youth: $32
- Member Child (2 and under): Free*
Gold Pass – unlimited visits including any scheduled Gardens Aglow dates at any time
- Member Adult: $90
- Member Youth: $57
- Member Children 2 and under: $7**
*Note: it is required to reserve tickets for children 2 and under (even if there is no charge for the ticket) in order to provide an accurate count of event attendance.
**This fee is charged to cover costs associated with setting up and administering records for all Gold Pass holders.
No, there are no discounts offered for groups. We do, however, offer advance group bookings for 50 people or more, on select nights, for a limited number of groups. Our Group Sales Manager will provide concierge booking services for those who qualify. For more information contact groupsales@heritagemuseums.org.
If you are a group of fewer than 5 people, please plan within your party to purchase tickets in groups of 15 at a time to ensure you can all attend Gardens Aglow on the same date and time.
Yes, current Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) card, or ConnectorCare card holders can receive free admission for up to 4 individuals by calling 508-888-3300, ext. 0. The Card to Culture program is a collaboration between the Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program and Massachusetts Health Connector that increases accessibility to cultural programming. A full list of organizations participating in this program is available on the ConnectorCare, EBT, and WIC websites.
Advance online ticket purchases are strongly advised, as timeslots will sell out quickly. Visit www.heritagemuseums.org/gardensaglow to purchase tickets online.
New this year: Members of Heritage Museums & Gardens must set up a Portal Account in advance of purchasing tickets in order to receive discounted tickets for Gardens Aglow. All ticket purchasers are encouraged to set up a Portal Account in advance of purchasing tickets order to make the ticket purchase process quicker and easier.
Set up your Portal Account here. It takes just a few minutes and will make purchasing tickets a breeze! Day-of ticket sales are not guaranteed, and if available, are double the price of tickets purchased online in advance.
All tickets are date and time specific (except Gold Passes and Flex Anytime tickets) and attendance is limited to provide a safe, high-quality experience for all. Tickets are non-refundable, and are only valid for the date and entry time for which they are purchased. Note that by purchasing Gardens Aglow tickets you agree to the conditions of the Ticketing, Cancellation, and Refund Policy. Please read this policy here in its entirety before purchasing tickets.
Ticket entry times are at 4:30-5:45 pm, 5:45-6:45 pm, and 6:45-8:00 pm nightly. Visitors can continue to enjoy the event until 8:30 pm. Visitors may present either printed tickets or e-tickets on their mobile device upon arrival.
The online system is the only way to purchase tickets. If you call Heritage Museums & Gardens, staff can only assist you using the same system, including queuing and wait times.
To reach us by phone please call 508-888-3300, ext. 0 during the following times:
- October 15-19: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
- October 20-23: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
- October 24-25: 11:30 am-8:30 pm
- October 26-November 26: , 9:00 am-3:00 pm
- Closed Saturdays, Sundays, November 7 and November 27
- November 28-December 23: 11:30 am-8:30 pm
- Except Mondays: December 1, December 8, and December 15: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
- December 24-25: Closed
- December 26-27: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm
All voicemails are answered in the order in which they were received.
We highly recommend purchasing tickets as close to the time they go on sale as possible, as this event has sold out quickly for the past several years. All sales will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets are date specific, time specific, and attendance is limited to provide a safe and high-quality experience for all. Nights nearest to the holidays and Saturdays will likely sell out first, possibly months in advance of the event. Day-of ticket sales are not guaranteed at the door. Tickets are non-refundable, and are only valid for the date and entry time for which they are purchased.
Access to any part of the ticketing site before checkout does not guarantee tickets, as sales go very quickly. The number of remaining tickets will be displayed. When the event has sold out, the ability to purchase will be grayed out and deactivated.
All tickets are non-refundable. If you need to reschedule your admission ticket’s date or time, please email tickets@heritagemuseums.org or call 508-888-3300, ext. 0 to inquire about an exchange to a different available date or time. Exchanges are not guaranteed. No exchanges can be made fewer than 24 hours prior to your ticket time and we cannot exchange a ticket for a sold out date or time. Refunds will not be issued for unused tickets.
New this year: Members must set up a Portal Account in advance of purchasing tickets in order to receive discounted tickets for Gardens Aglow. All ticket purchasers are encouraged to set up a Portal Account in advance of purchasing tickets order to make the ticket purchase process quicker and easier.
Set up your Portal Account here. It takes just a few minutes and will make purchasing tickets a breeze!
To manage the expected high volume of website traffic and to ensure a fair and efficient purchase process, we are implementing a new ticketing system this year that includes the use of a waiting room. The waiting room can be entered up to an hour in advance of tickets going on sale and will hold your place in line with an estimated wait time. Note that if you leave the waiting room for any reason, you will be placed at the end of the queue if you choose to re-enter.
Access to any part of the ticketing site before checkout does not guarantee tickets, as sales go very quickly. Once it is your turn to purchase tickets, the system will allow you to enter the purchase page. The number of remaining tickets will be displayed. When the event has sold out, the ability to purchase will be grayed out and deactivated.
Day-of ticket sales cannot be guaranteed at the door on any night. If any tickets become available due to cancellations or reschedules, they will be made available online and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Check out the Gardens Aglow Flex Anytime ticket! This ticket allows you the flexibility to visit one time on any date during the 24 scheduled nights of Gardens Aglow, with entry any time between 4:30-8:00 pm. There are a limited number of these tickets available, so act fast!
Specialized Tickets
Flex Anytime ticket holders may visit one time on any date during the 24 scheduled nights of Gardens Aglow, with entry at any time between 4:30-8:00 pm. Please note that this ticket is not valid for the Santa VIP Experience program. A limited number of Flex Anytime tickets are available, and we expect them to sell out. Not valid with a member discount code. Flex Anytime tickets go on sale to Members on October 22 and to the General Public on October 29.
No, Flex Anytime tickets are only valid for entry one night of Gardens Aglow. If you would like to attend Gardens Aglow on multiple nights, try the Gold Pass.
The Gold Pass is the perfect choice for those who plan to visit multiple times and are looking for maximum flexibility and value. Each Gold Pass allows one designated ticket holder unlimited visits including any date during the 24 scheduled nights of Gardens Aglow with entry any time between 4:30-8:00 pm. Please note that the Gold Pass is non-transferable, and identification is required at check-in from the named Pass holder. This pass is not valid for the Santa VIP Experience program. If you plan to visit multiple times with groups of family and friends, this is the ticket option for you! There are a limited number of Gold Passes available, so act fast! Not valid with a member discount code. Gold Passes will go on sale on October 22 for Members and October 29 for the General Public
The one-time-use guest pass that accompanies certain membership levels is only valid toward general admission during the main season, which runs from mid-April to mid-October. It is not valid for Gardens Aglow. Gardens Aglow is a special, ticketed event for which members receive a discounted price.
If you received Gardens Aglow tickets as part of the Member Benefit Package, or an upper-level membership, you will receive an email with a unique code to use during check-out when purchasing tickets. If you are in need of assistance with this process, please contact the Development Department at 508-888-3300 ext. 159 or ext. 119.
Please note: Benefit Package purchases on or after September 1, 2025 will be honored for Gardens Aglow 2026 and cannot be used for this 2025 season.
The Santa VIP Experience is a separate ticketed event that begins before Gardens Aglow and includes admission to both events. A limited number of tickets will be available for this exclusive experience, by advance sale only. Families will be treated to early bird parking, a meet and greet with Santa, story time, a holiday sing-along, craft making, and cookies and hot chocolate. Participating families may then experience the rest of Gardens Aglow for the remainder of the evening.
Complimentary Gardens Aglow tickets may be redeemed for any of the 24 nights of Gardens Aglow. Please join us on the date you wish to enter and show your complimentary tickets to the parking attendant. Once you have parked, please turn in your complimentary tickets with the back side filled out with your information at the Ticketing Pavilion for entry to the event.
Arrival Information
Please arrive within the time window associated with your ticket or entrance will not be guaranteed to the event. If you arrive more than ten minutes prior to your ticket arrival window, you will not be allowed to park and you will have to return at your ticket’s designated time. Adherence to scheduled arrival times is critical for the success and safety of the event.
We highly recommend that you carpool as there is limited gathering space before the ticket booth. We recommend that if you cannot arrive with your party to ensure each member has their own ticket so that everyone can go through the entry line and gather beyond the ticket booth at the designated group gathering area to wait for the rest of their party.
No, the times indicated on your ticket are for your arrival window. Please come at any point during your designated entry window and stay for as long as you wish up until the event ends at 8:30 pm.
When you arrive, be ready to show your ticket (QR code embedded in your email) upon entry at the parking lot. Once parked, hand your printed ticket or display your e-ticket (a single QR code) on your mobile device to the staff member at the Ticketing Pavilion for scanning and entry into the event.
No, the times indicated on your ticket are for your arrival window. Please come at any point during your designated entry window and stay for as long as you wish up until the event ends at 8:30 pm.
No, Gardens Aglow tickets (except Gold Passes and Flex Anytime tickets) are only valid for the date and entry time for which they are purchased, and you will be unable to use tickets that are for a different time slot. Please arrive within the entry time window designated on your tickets or entrance will not be guaranteed to the event. Adherence to scheduled arrival times is critical for the success and safety of the event.
If you choose to arrive at Gardens Aglow without purchasing a ticket in advance you will not be guaranteed entry, as day-of ticket sales are not guaranteed at the door. If any tickets are still available upon your arrival, the parking attendant will direct you to park and purchase tickets at the Ticketing Pavilion. Note that day-of tickets, if available, are double the price of timed tickets purchased online in advance.
No, Gardens Aglow tickets (except Gold Passes and Flex Anytime tickets) are only valid for the date and entry time for which they are purchased. Please arrive within the arrival time window designated on your ticket or entrance will not be guaranteed to the event. Adherence to scheduled arrival times is critical for the success and safety of the event.
If your plans change, you may email tickets@heritagemuseums.org or call 508-888-3300, ext. 0 to inquire about an exchange to a different available date or time. Exchanges are not guaranteed, and tickets are non-refundable. No exchanges can be made fewer than 24 hours prior to your ticket time and we cannot exchange a ticket for a sold out date or time.
If your plans change, you may email tickets@heritagemuseums.org or call 508-888-3300, ext. 0 to inquire about an exchange to a different available date or time. Exchanges are not guaranteed, and tickets are non-refundable. No exchanges can be made fewer than 24 hours prior to your ticket time and we cannot exchange a ticket for a sold out date or time.
Confirmation emails with your e-ticket (QR code) are sent out by our ticketing system immediately following your purchase. If you cannot find or did not receive this email within six hours of your purchase, please check your “clutter,” “junk,” “social,” and/or “promotional” folders or tabs in your email account. If you still do not see an email from Heritage, please email tickets@heritagemuseums.org or call 508-888-3300, ext. 0 for assistance.
You will also receive a reminder email a few days before your designated date with your e-ticket (QR code) in the reminder. Either of these two emails will work as your e-ticket as long as the date and time of entry are visible to parking and ticket staff.
Yes! You can present your e-ticket (QR code) on your mobile device to the parking attendant upon arrival and then again to the staff member at the Ticketing Pavilion.
Parking Information
Parking at Heritage Museums & Gardens is free. Our parking attendants will direct you to available spots. Please be ready to present your date and time specific ticket before being allowed to park. Please only enter the parking lot during your specified arrival window. If you arrive more than ten minutes prior to your ticket arrival window, you will not be allowed to park and you will have to return at your ticket’s designated time.
Yes, there are ample accessible spaces reserved for handicapped parking in the Elm Parking Lot. Please let the Parking Attendants know upon your arrival of any mobility concerns, and they will assist you to available spaces or to passenger drop-off, as needed. Please note, accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Our attendants will work to assist anyone with access needs.
General Visitor Information
Please note that specific event elements are subject to change without notice as weather or public safety demands. At this time, the event is planned to include:
- The Barbey Family Welcome Center
- The Shop at Heritage featuring unique holiday gifts, festive attire, and more
- Light up Necklace sales
- Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
- The J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery, featuring:
- An exhibit of Heritage’s antique and classic car collection
- Visits with Santa in a 1913 Ford Model T
- The American Art & Carousel Gallery, featuring:
- A display of winter-themed Currier & Ives lithographs and other objects from Heritage’s collection
- Pictures with the 1908 Looff carousel
- Lighted gardens and outdoor features, including:
- Hydrangea Pathway
- The McGraw Family Garden of the Senses
- The Old East Mill
- The Flume Field
- The Hydrangea Gardens (Cape Cod Hydrangea Society Display Garden & North American Hydrangea Test Garden)
- The Wing House lawn
- The Labyrinth
- The Parade Field
- Outdoor activities, including:
- Marshmallow roasting at the fire pits
- Outdoor G-scale model train display, featuring a bridge made of natural materials (operation weather dependent)
- Fun photo opportunities at the Outdoor Stage, Rhodie Grove, and more
- The Polar PlaySpace at the Parade Field, featuring:
- Cape Cod Donuts food truck with seating
- Warming area
- Imagination Playground giant building blocks
- Piped holiday music throughout the grounds
- Lilly’s Café offering holiday treats, light meals, snacks, and hot and cold drinks (including adult beverages)
Yes, a significant portion of the event takes place outdoors, including extensive outdoor lighted pathways and lighted displays throughout the gardens. Indoor experiences include two museum galleries, the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery and the American Art & Carousel Gallery. As the majority of the activities are located outdoors, please dress for outdoor weather conditions and wear comfortable, winter-appropriate footwear. Please note that specific event elements are subject to change without notice with weather conditions and as the public health situation demands.
Gardens Aglow takes place in all weather conditions. The lights have extra sparkle in the rain or snow! Tickets are non-refundable. Heritage will only cancel a night of Gardens Aglow if a major weather event presents a risk to safety (for example, during severe storms with high winds). Visitors should check www.heritagemuseums.org for updated information about any closures. Updates will also be posted to Heritage’s Facebook page, and a message will be recorded on our voicemail, which can be heard by calling 508-888-3300.
If Heritage must cancel a night of Gardens Aglow, all ticket holders will be notified of the cancellation via email and will be automatically refunded. Refunds will only be issued if Heritage cancels the event due to severe weather. We regret that dates canceled due to severe weather are not able to be rescheduled.
Every night at Gardens Aglow provides the same excellent experience, so every night is the best night! We anticipate selling out very quickly for the entire event so get your tickets as soon as you can. Fridays, Saturdays, and nights around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays usually sell out first so we recommend having a backup date in mind when preparing to purchase tickets.
As the majority of the activities are located outdoors and the event takes place in all weather, please dress for outdoor weather conditions ─ including raingear if the weather looks wet ─ and wear comfortable, winter-appropriate footwear.
While everyone’s experience varies, most visitors plan to spend an hour and a half enjoying Gardens Aglow.
Yes, Heritage Museums & Gardens is accessible to visitors with disabilities. There are spaces reserved for accessible parking in the Elm Lot. Buildings are wheelchair accessible and accessible restrooms are available. While most of the route is level or gently sloping, a few areas are more steeply graded and will be marked on the map available upon entry. The main pathway is paved. Optional paths with crushed shell or woodchipped surfaces are also marked on the map but may not be navigable by all wheelchairs. Complimentary transportation between fixed stops is available for visitors with mobility challenges.
A limited quantity of wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Ticketing Pavilion and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted.
Yes! However, priority is given to visitors with mobility challenges on our complimentary transport cart. There are fixed stops throughout the grounds. The transport cart must navigate busy walkways so wait times may reach up to 30 minutes. Please note that transport does not provide tours of the lights.
Yes, main pathways through the event and buildings are accessible by stroller. Optional paths with crushed shell or woodchipped surfaces are also marked on the map available upon entry but may not be navigable by all strollers. Strollers are allowed inside gallery spaces but note that there are designated stroller parking areas conveniently located outside of the two gallery buildings for your convenience and to reduce congestion in busy areas.
Sorry, pets are not permitted at Heritage. Registered service animals are always welcome throughout Heritage Museums & Gardens. Please click here for information on service animals.
Please do not leave animals in your car in the parking lots. Temperature can reach lows that are dangerous to animals.
Yes! Holiday treats, light meals, snacks, and hot and cold drinks (including adult beverages) are available for purchase at Lilly’s Café. The Cape Cod Donuts food truck located at the Parade Field offers fresh, hand-cut donuts and cider.
Yes! Visit The Shop at Heritage from 4:30-8:30 pm on all scheduled nights of Gardens Aglow for unique holiday gifts, festive attire, and more.
To read our health and safety practices, please click here.
Yes, photography is permitted for personal, non-commercial use. Photos may be taken with cell phones or handheld cameras. The use or tripods or monopods is permitted only outdoors and must be out of the way of transport and maintenance vehicles and is not allowed on pathways or in garden beds. Drone photography or videography is not permitted. For more information about photography options at Heritage, click here.
No, unfortunately we do not have the space to host private events during Gardens Aglow.
