We have officially kicked-off our Christmas fun this year! And lucky for us, we started at one of the best Christmas displays in the Philadelphia-area. The Longwood Gardens Christmas is a must-do holiday event. As you walk through the beautiful property, you can’t miss the attention to detail and creativity that goes into each display. And your children will love it! The kids couldn’t decide which display was their favorite, and neither could I! Before you visit this popular event, I put together some tips and things to know to make your experience even better.
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We received complimentary admission in exchange for our review. As always, all opinions are my own!
Longwood Gardens Location and Admission
Located in historic, small town of Kennett Square, PA, Longwood Gardens is approximately 45-60 minutes from Philadelphia and 1.5 hours from Baltimore. The Longwood Gardens Christmas event runs through the first weekend in January. Timed-entry tickets are required for admission. Children four and under are FREE. It is recommended to purchase your tickets ahead of time, as this event is popular and times can sell out in advance.
Tips For Visiting A Longwood Gardens Christmas
Allow for Enough Time
Longwood Gardens is enormous! At almost 400 acres in size, it takes time to walk, and explore, the various areas. They suggest allowing 3-4 hours to tour the premises fully. We spent 3 hours at Longwood Gardens and didn’t get to see everything (fatigue got the best of us!). If you are short on time, make the Open Air Theater fountains and the conservatory your priorities. However, we encourage you to see the entire property, as it is beautifully decorated!
Dress Warmly and Wear Comfortable Shoes
The majority of the Christmas displays a Longwood Gardens are outside. Of the 3 hours we spent at the gardens on our visit, more than half was spent outdoors. We made sure to bring warm gloves, hats, scarves, and our heaviest coats. Although there are fire pits strategically located throughout the grounds, we enjoyed the reprieve from the cold inside the Cafe and conservatory. But for the most part, we were happy to have bundled up for the experience!
Also, wear comfortable shoes! As noted above, the gardens cover almost 400 acres. You will be doing a lot of walking around. Most of the paths are paved, so there is no mud to trudge through. However, there is a section that is made up of a sand/stone mixture.
Note: Strollers and wheelchairs will be able to to navigate the property easily. There are a few sections where the paths are narrow and full of people, so those may be difficult to navigate with a double stroller.
Arrive Before Sunset
When visiting Longwood Gardens at Christmas, we suggest arriving before the sun goes down. We entered the gardens about 45 minutes before it got dark, and that was the perfect time! The kids could see some of the unique features of the gardens that are not illuminated at night. And, we got to experience the magic of watching the lights start to POP as the daylight dissipated. It was a magical experience!
Don’t Miss These Kid-Friendly Displays
While the entire property is beautifully decorated and magical, there are a few displays that will really capture your child’s attention.
First, you can’t miss the Garden Railway at Longwood Gardens! The miniature train display is decked out for Christmas, with colorful lights. Kids will see some familiar faces, like Thomas, and have fun watching them go around and around.
Next, our kids loved the Open Air Theater fountain show! And at five minutes in length, it is the perfect show for kids with short attention spans. The fountains dance to some classic favorites like Sleigh Ride. If your kids want to watch another show, you only have to wait a few minutes for the next one to begin!
Lastly, inside the conservatory in the children’s garden. This garden is a maze-like play area filled with animal fountains and unique details all within a whimsical setting. Your kids won’t want to leave this fun area!
Take Time to Enjoy Something to Eat
When you visit Longwood Gardens at Christmas, you will NOT go hungry! There are many opportunities to stop and enjoy a hot chocolate, a delicious beer, or have a full meal. We ate at The Terrace Cafe, where the kids indulged on hot dogs, chicken fingers, and macaroni and cheese. We ate the delicious prime rib entree! This is not your average museum cafeteria. Come hungry, and leave happy.
In addition to The Cafe, you have other options at the Victory Beer Garden. Pizza and other hot entrees were available to order at the outside stands. Seating in heated tents is located adjacent, so you can warm up while you enjoy a savory meal.
If you are looking for a calmer, more relaxed meal, consider making a reservation at 1906, Longwood’s signature restaurant.
Put Longwood Garden Christmas on Your Holiday Bucket List!
Have you visited Longwood Gardens at Christmas? If not, you should add this fantadtic event to your Christmas bucket list. It is the perfect accompaniment to our Philadelphia Christmas fun! The amount of time and attention to detail that they put into their displays is evident. And your kids will love exploring the gardens insides and outside of the conservatory!
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