Reimagined + Christmas November 22–January 12
The Moment is Here
November 22, 2024–January 12, 2025
The moment has arrived—at the most magical time of year.
Experience A Longwood Christmas as you never have before, made even more spectacular with new Longwood Reimagined gardens, glasshouses, and landscapes decked out for the holidays. It’s the moment—and a collection of moments—unlike anything ever experienced at Longwood.
Welcome to our biggest, most magical season yet.
Want holiday updates, beautiful photos, and sell-out alerts?
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Unwrap Longwood Reimagined
Welcome to our most magical moment yet—our very first A Longwood Christmas for our new Longwood Reimagined spaces.
You may have experienced our new spaces during our Longwood Reimagined Member previews; if you have, you'll now see them made all the more magical, decked out for the holiday season.
If you haven’t yet seen our new spaces, you’re in for a real treat. We can’t wait for you to experience 17 acres of new gardens, new landscapes, and new buildings that will truly leave you in awe.
Thank you all for your enduring support and excitement throughout the Longwood Reimagined project. We are honored to have enhanced, stewarded, and preserved one of the most important, most beautiful collections of gardens and glasshouses—and we are delighted to share it all with you.
Welcome to the magic.
Paul B. Redman President and Chief Executive Officer
Magic is Here
Indoor Moments Not to Miss
In honor of the 17 acres newly opened with Longwood Reimagined, we present 17 can’t-miss moments for the season. Catch these eight spectacular features throughout our indoor spaces among many other magical moments.
Christmas Debut
Winter Wonderland
Our iconic East Conservatory has been transformed into a snowglobe, featuring larger-than-life packages that magically open and close.
The new West Conservatory makes a statement with more than 1,000 bold Hippeastrum ‘Mystica’ gracing its interior landscape, floating trees swathed in gold and white, towering columns of Echeveria, and 40—yes, 40!—white Phalaenopsis baskets overhead.
Inspired by an equatorial coastal rainforest, our lush, preserved Cascade Garden is tastefully accented with green lighting as a nod to the season. 1
Community Trees
We celebrate the intersection of community and art in the Ballroom, with trees dressed in ornaments crafted by local arts organizations.
Jewel Box
Towering Work of Art
A 33-foot-tall translucent tree featuring more than 900 hand-tied geometric shapes stands tall in our Exhibition Hall.
Peppermint
Palace
Our lavishly decorated Music Room rolls out the red carpet, complete with a gingerbread house façade.
Floating on Air
Rotating to floating how-did-they-dothat trees grace the Orangery amid a sea of poinsettias, while our adorned Peirce-du Pont House Conservatory tree delights.
Blown Away
Stroll along a windswept Acacia Passage, as beautifully bent conifers and branches lead the way.
Magic is Everywhere
Outdoor Moments Not to Miss
Continuing our list of 17 can’t-miss features, here are nine of the countless magical moments that await you throughout our outdoor gardens … and amid our hundreds of thousands of lights.
Tunnel Vision
A dazzling 200-foot-long light tunnel perched just north of the Main Fountain Garden leads to our new West Conservatory Plaza.
Seeing Stars
The canopy of our hundred-yearold London plane-trees takes new, celestial form just outside of our West Conservatory.
Beautiful Bonsai
The new Bonsai Courtyard greets its first A Longwood Christmas with artfully placed bonsai and an icicle-inspired tokonoma display.
Fountains of Light
Lights resembling fountains dance along to music in our Main Fountain Garden basins, beginning at 2 pm daily*.
Fountain Fun
Open Air Theatre fountain shows set to holiday music run daily at 10:15 am and every 15 minutes beginning at 12 pm*.
Family Favorites
Our three dressed-for-the-season treehouses don soft, fluffy textures, to gleaming bells, to celestial ornaments.
Terrific Trains
Miniature model trains rumble through a beautifully landscaped setting, complete with a new West Conservatory model among many others, at our Garden Railway*.
Warm Welcome
Warm your hands—and hearts—at our three cozy fire pits, found at the Italian Water Garden, Peirce-du Pont House, and Pumphouse Plaza, open daily 12–11 pm*.
Musical Moments
Delight in the sounds of the season with carolers and holiday performances throughout our Gardens, as detailed on the calendar pages of this brochure*.
*weather permitting
Make the Most of Your Visit
Member Reservations & Tickets Available Now: longwoodgardens.org
Free Timed Member
Reservations Required Daily Members may visit anytime, but require free, timed reservations every day during A Longwood Christmas from open to close. Make your reservations in advance as sell out is likely Gardens Premium Members and those included in their Membership, as well as Innovators, do not require timed reservations.
With a timed Member reservation or timed ticket, you may enter the Gardens as early as a half-hour before (except for 10 am) or a half-hour after your entry time. Later or earlier arrivals cannot be accommodated. Once you enter the Gardens, you may stay as long as you wish.
Check our website for real-time ticket and Member reservation availability: longwoodgardens.org
Member Guests & General Admission
Admission to A Longwood Christmas is by Timed Admission Ticket with tickets issued for a specific date and time. Guests not included in a Membership require a Timed Admission Ticket. We cannot accommodate a Member’s request for tickets if we are sold out. Purchase in advance as tickets do sell out.
Complimentary Guest Tickets
Complimentary Guest Tickets are not valid on blackout dates during A Longwood Christmas, which are all Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025, and every day December 20, 2024 through January 5, 2025. Timed Admission Tickets or Member reservations are not needed with Complimentary Guest Tickets. Check your tickets as restrictions may apply.
Arrival, Parking, and Re-Entry
Reserve an early arrival time and you’ll miss the evening rush of traffic and still have time to explore all the Brandywine Valley has to offer after your visit to the Gardens. Please be prepared to park in our main or remote lot. Parking is free. Transportation is provided from our remote parking lot. Accessible parking with your permit is available in the main lot.
Once you leave the Gardens, there is no re-entry, so please make sure you have everything you need before you enter.
Mobility Devices
Shuttle service is not provided. Scooters, wheelchairs, and strollers are available on a first-come, firstserved basis, weather permitting. Guests must be 18 years of age or older to rent a mobility scooter. We encourage you to bring your own single rider device when possible. Devices must have three wheels or more and stand on their own when unoccupied.
Dining
Turn to the Culinary Artistry Awaits pages of this brochure for details.
Shopping
Turn to the Holiday Gifts, Reimagined pages of this brochure for details.
Lights and Fountains
Our outdoor lights begin to come on at 10 am daily. Our Open Air Theatre fountain shows run daily at 10:15 am and every 15 minutes beginning at 12 pm (weather permitting). Fire pits, located at the Italian Water Garden, Pumphouse Plaza, and Peirce-du Pont House Plaza, are lit daily beginning at 12 pm (weather permitting).
Interactive Map
Visit longwoodgardens.org/maps/ christmas on your smartphone to help navigate the display.
Culinary Artistry Awaits
From new, exquisite experiences to festive favorites, find fantastic dining options for everyone.
Reimagine your holiday dining experience with our new 1906.
Facing the Main Fountain Garden, 1906 combines the culinary artistry of Executive Chef George Murkowicz and his team with sustainable, farm-to-table selections and stunning new décor. With plush seating, soaring ceilings, bespoke furniture crafted from reclaimed wood from Longwood trees, and more, every detail of this remarkable space is designed to delight and inspire.
A variety of options are available, including a private dining room and a bar and lounge, which offers a special menu of casual yet elevated interpretations of our seasonal fare.
For menus and reservations, visit longwoodgardens.org/ dine/1906
Lunch menu: 11 am–3 pm daily
Dinner menu: 4–8:30 pm nightly
Bar & Lounge menu: 11 am–9:30 pm daily
The Café
Enjoy à la carte options for the entire family, from ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads to hot entrée selections to freshly prepared desserts.
Daily: 11 am–9 pm
Beer Garden
Savor tasty pub fare paired with delicious Victory Brewing Company selections—including Longwood Seasons: Mistletoe Mule, brewed with freshly harvested ginger, key lime juice, natural cranberry puree, and a touch of rosemary.
Daily: 12–10 pm Weather permitting
Taste of Christmas in The Fountain Room
Enjoy holiday hospitality like never before with Taste of Christmas in The Fountain Room—newly opened as part of Longwood Reimagined
Warm up, recharge, and savor the season while enjoying spectacular views of our holiday display. Enjoy exclusive access to an imaginative array of chef-prepared sweet, savory, and carved-to-order selections; decadent desserts; non-alcoholic beverages, including an enticing hot chocolate station; and house wines, seasonal local craft beers, and a themed cocktail. Premium cocktails are also available for purchase.
Learn more and buy tickets at longwoodgardens.org/taste-of-christmas
Holiday Gifts, Reimagined
Looking for special Longwood Reimagined keepsakes, unique gifts, thoughtful picks for your loved ones, and more? We have everything you need to spread joy this holiday season in The Garden Shop and online at shop.longwoodgardens.org. Looking for even more? View our complete holiday gift guide at longwoodgardens.org/gift-guide.
Have Yourself a Reimagined Christmas
Commemorate our most magical moment yet with special Longwood Reimagined-themed keepsakes, everyday favorites, beautiful custom pieces, and more.
Relax and Unwind
From high-quality, luxurious bath and body goods … to delightful home decor sure to inspire peaceful moments at home … shop everything you need to unwind this holiday season or surprise your loved ones with something they’ll love.
Gifts for Kids
Connect the little ones in your life with the beauty of nature courtesy of sustainable toys, colorful and imaginative books, kits to grow their curiosity, and so much more.
Gifts for Gardeners
Shop one-of-a-kind botanical arrangements made in-house at The Garden Shop, top-notch gardening tools, unique finds for houseplant lovers, and more.
Botanically Inspired Books
For the avid readers in your life to garden-lovers and beyond, find the perfect book for them to enjoy long after the holidays.
Gift Our Gardens
Give the gift of a beautiful experience with our Garden Gift Cards and Gifts of Membership—now made even more magical with the opening of Longwood Reimagined.
Holiday Calendar
November
Garden Railway On View
Now–January 12, 2025
Weather permitting
November 18
Closed for A Longwood Christmas Installation
November 19
Closed for A Longwood Christmas Installation
November 20
Conservatories Closed for A Longwood Christmas Installation
Outdoor gardens open 10 am–5 pm
Member reservations not required
The Garden Shop Closed
Fall Wine Selection
6:30–8:30 pm1
November 21
Conservatories Closed for A Longwood Christmas Installation
Outdoor gardens open 10 am–5 pm
Member reservations not required
The Garden Shop Closed
Handmade Holiday Cards
9 am–12 pm1
A Longwood Christmas Innovator Preview 5–8pm2
Exclusively for Longwood Innovators
Plantology on Tap: The Outdoor Magic of A Longwood Christmas
The Creamery of Kennett Square
Doors open at 5 pm
Lecture at 6 pm1
Designing for the Occasion: Grateful Tables 6–8 pm1
November 22
A Longwood Christmas On View Now–January 12, 2025
Needle Felt Ornaments 9 am–12 pm1
November 23
Advanced Fall Centerpiece Workshop 9 am–12 pm
November 26
Member Talk: The Making of A Longwood Christmas 2024 Fully Online 12 pm3
November 29
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
November 30
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December
December 1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 3
Holiday Tablescape Design 1–5 pm1
Virtual Member Orientation 9 am–12 pm4
December 4
Indoor/Outdoor Arrangement Workshop 10 am–12 pm1
Painting Christmas in the Conservatory 2-part class
Begins December 41
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 5
Professional Horticulture Program
Holiday Plant Sale
10 am–6 pm While supplies last
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 6
Professional Horticulture Program
Holiday Plant Sale
10 am–6 pm
While supplies last
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 7
Learning Together: Holiday Cookie Creations 10–11 am5
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 8
Holiday Village Workshop: Peppermint Twist
The Creamery of Kennett Square 1–3 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 10
Holiday Hues Floral Design 9 am–12 pm1
December 11
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 12
Traditional Wreath Workshop 10 am–12 pm1
Holiday Cocktails 6:30–8 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 13
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 14
Citizen Science: Christmas Bird Count 9–11 am1
Holiday Village Workshop: Indoor/Outdoor Arrangement
The Creamery of Kennett Square 1–3 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 15
Holiday Village Workshop: Perfect Poinsettias The Creamery of Kennett Square 1–3 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 16
Holiday Smartphone Photography 3-part class
Begins December 161
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 17
Mini Green Wall Workshop 10 am–12 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
December 18
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 19
Designing for the Occasion: Season of Light 6–8 pm1
Christmas in Black and White 3-part class
Begins December 191
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 20
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 21
Elegant and Elevated Holiday Designs 9 am–12 pm1
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 22
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 23
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
December 26
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
Galena Brass
6–9 pm
December 27
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
Galena Brass 6–9 pm
December 28
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
Galena Brass 6–9 pm
December 29
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
Galena Brass 6–9 pm
December 30
Olde Towne Carolers 4:30–8:30 pm
Galena Brass 6–9 pm
December 31
Celebrate New Year's Eve
Galena Brass 4–9 pm
Outside of the East Conservatory Plaza
Duly Noted Quartet 4–9 pm
Outside of the Peirce-du Pont House
Olde Towne Carolers
4:30–8:30 pm
Throughout the Gardens
Live Organ Music (David Christopher)
5:30 –7:30 pm Ballroom
Live Organ Music (Marc Cheban)
7:30 –10 pm Ballroom
January
January 8
Kitchen Garden Design
Fully Online
5-part class
Begins January 81
January 11
Grow Your Own Microgreens
10–11:30 am1
Terrarium Workshop:
Creating Mini Conservatories
2–4 pm1
January 13
Conservatories Closed for A Longwood Christmas Removal
Outdoor gardens open 10 am–5 pm
Member reservations not required
The Garden Shop Closed
January 14
Gardens Closed
Education
Member/ Innovator Event
The Garden Shop Holiday Performance (Free with Gardens Admission)
1 Advance registration required: longwoodgardens.org/enroll
2 For information on the Longwood Innovator program, visit longwoodgardens.org/innovators
3 Advance registration required: longwoodgardens.org/membership
4 Advance registration required: longwoodgardens.org/member-orientation or 610.388.1000
5 Advance registration required: longwoodgardens.org/education/ family-and-youth-programs
Organ Music
Daily: 2–10 pm with live performances through January 1 from 5–8 pm
Visit longwoodgardens.org/ christmas-organ-music for a schedule by date and performer.
Seating is not available for our organ music offerings
Enjoy the sounds of the season on The Longwood Organ, performed by organists:
Marc Cheban
David Christopher
Paul Fleckenstein
Thomas Gaynor
Don Kinnier
Rudy Lucente
Steven Patchel
Andrew Paulson
Luke Staisiunas
Winter Wonder
On View
January 17–March 23, 2025
This winter, we take you to the Mediterranean as the new West Conservatory reaches its peak, beautiful bloom.
Gardening under glass in our Gardens takes unprecedented form as the West Conservatory ’ s Mediterranean-inspired landscape shines. More than any other time of year, this is the season to immerse yourself in the beauty and character of the world’s Mediterranean ecosystems on full, spectacular display … and no flight needed.
Journey with us this winter.
Gardens Information
Gardens Hours
A Longwood Christmas November 22, 2024–January 12, 2025 Daily: 10 am–11 pm
Please Note
Our Gardens and The Garden Shop are closed all day November 18 and 19 for A Longwood Christmas installation. Our Conservatory, the Peirce-du Pont House, and The Garden Shop remain closed November 20 and 21 for installation, while our outdoor gardens are open 10 am–5 pm. Our Conservatory, the Peirce-du Pont House, and The Garden Shop are closed January 13 for A Longwood Christmas removal, but our outdoor gardens are open 10 am–5 pm that day. We are closed January 14.
Tickets
Gardens Admission during A Longwood Christmas Adults: $42 Youth (5–18): $23
Children 4 & under: Free Members and Innovators: Free
Member Reservations
Free timed Member reservations required every day during A Longwood Christmas from open to close.
Gardens Premium Members and guests included in their Membership, as well as Innovators, do not require timed reservations throughout A Longwood Christmas.
Blackout dates not valid for Complimentary Guest Tickets
All Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during A Longwood Christmas (November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025) and every day December 20, 2024 through January 5, 2025. Check your tickets as restrictions may apply.
Visit longwoodgardens.org for more details. Prices and hours are subject to change.
For Your Convenience
Longwood Gardens covers many acres. There are no shuttles within the Gardens. We’re happy to offer non-motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters, and children’s strollers on a first-come basis. Children’s strollers are available for a fee (complimentary for Members and Innovators). Supply limited; reservations not accepted. Scooters are not available during rainy, snowy, or freezing weather.
Parking
Longwood offers free parking for our guests. Transportation is provided between remote parking and the Gardens.
Follow Us
@LongwoodGardens #LongwoodGardens #LongwoodChristmas
Phone: 610.388.1000 Website: longwoodgardens.org
Free WiFi available: Connect to FreeGardenWIFI
Our Gardens are smoke-free.
Photography credits: Holden Barnes, Amy Simon Berg, Laurie Carrozzino, Sahar Coston-Hardy/ Esto, Hank Davis, Adelyn Duchala, Carol Gross, and Daniel Traub
Illustration credit: Rebecca Clarke
© 2024 Longwood Gardens
