Ticket sales for the second annual Winter Lights event, held at the North Carolina Arboretum from November 20 – January 2, are available for purchase through www.ncwinterlights.com. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for children ages 5 to 11. Children under age four can attend for free. The light show will extend through three acres of property at the N.C Arboretum.
From the North Carolina Arboretum
Press Release
The North Carolina Arboretum is cooling off this summer by opening ticket sales for its second annual Winter Lights exhibit. Beginning July 8, 2015, tickets will be available for purchase for the 44 consecutive night holiday light show, which will be held November 20, 2015 – January 2, 2016 from 6 to 10 p.m. on the Arboretum’s 434-acre property located just south of Asheville, North Carolina.
Winter Lights visitors can walk through the three-acre tour and discover the natural beauty of lighted garden exhibits and landscapes, including the Arboretum’s nationally-known Quilt Garden and Bonsai Exhibition Garden. Produced in collaboration with former designer and manager of holiday decorations, special projects and events for Walt Disney World®, Jerry Stripling, the Arboretum’s Winter Lights exhibit is designed with an artistic aesthetic and is composed entirely of energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights, which use 80% less energy than conventional lights.
New to this year, Winter Lights will include animated displays that are programmed to illuminate to the sounds of musical holiday favorites. In addition, the second annual event will contain several new displays and activities that will be placed throughout the gardens. Visitors can also enjoy the Arboretum’s family-favorite, Rocky Cove Railroad, a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to Western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. This lighted model made its debut at the inaugural 2014/2015 Winter Lights show and currently operates every Saturday afternoon during regular business hours.
“Our Winter Lights exhibit is a great way to educate visitors about the beauty of the Southern Appalachian region while providing them with a festive holiday experience that is suited for the whole family,” said George Briggs, executive director of The North Carolina Arboretum. “Last year, we received an overwhelmingly positive response from our community and out-of-town visitors regarding our inaugural show. We look forward to this year’s event and offering visitors more lights, new displays and an overall beautiful experience.”
Tickets are available for purchase through Etix.com or by visiting www.ncwinterlights.com. All tickets must be purchased in advance and are date-specific. Pricing is $18 for adults and $16 for children (ages 5 to 11). Children age four and under are free. This year, the Arboretum will offer a discounted ‘Friends and Family’ night every Tuesday in which attendees will receive a discounted flat rate of $15 per ticket. Members of The North Carolina Arboretum Society receive a $2 discount on all ticket purchases. Group tickets are also available ($15 per person, minimum 20 people).
For more information about Winter Lights, please visit www.ncwinterlights.com. Follow the Arboretum on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thenorthcarolinaarboretum) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/thencarboretum) for event updates.
About The North Carolina Arboretum
Each year more than 500,000 visitors experience the Arboretum’s gardens, trails, exhibits and plant shows, educational programs, demonstrations and lectures. The Arboretum’s ability to meet its mission and enrich the visitor experience is made possible by a community of supporters – from members, volunteers and staff to state and local funds, tribute gifts, grants and community partners.
The central mission of The North Carolina Arboretum, an affiliate institution of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, is to cultivate connections between people and plants. Admission into the Arboretum during regular business hours is free; however, a standard $12 per vehicle parking fee is required for non-members. Special events and after-hours activities may require additional fees. The Arboretum’s Winter Lights show is a special event requiring per-person ticket admission, but no parking fee. For more information, please call (828) 665-2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.
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