Worcester Telegram & Gazette
The nearly 200 acres of pristine woodland trails and formal gardens of the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill are alight with a record half million lights this holiday season, something that’s landed the Central Mass. destination in the number one spot nationwide in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for best botanical garden holiday lights.
“We’ve been doing this for so many years,” said Tower Hill CEO Grace Elton. “Our staff put their heart and soul into it every year for the public and it’s such an honor to have the public respond like this.”
Tower Hill is the only botanical garden in New England to make the list. In second place was Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights in Richmond, Virginia, followed by Enlighten at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“It is such an honor to represent the region as the only botanical garden listed in the entire Northeast, we are just so honored and blown away,” Elton said with pride.
“Night Lights: Dazzling Gardens” includes eight unique formal garden spaces, two subtropical conservatories, as well as the visitors center. The popular 100-foot Rainbow Tunnel will also be on display within the illuminated grounds. All the gardens and pathways illuminated by Night Lights are ADA accessible.
The designs are created by the staff at the gardens, offering unique designs each year. New in 2025 are a giant flower visible from above in the secret garden as well as more concessions throughout the trails.
“Now, if you find you’re all the way in the children’s garden and want a hot chocolate, we’ve got you covered,” Elton explained, adding there is quite the glitter theme throughout.
“One of the conservatories is adorned with 300 disco balls, all hanging from the ceiling, and there is disco music playing,” she continued, adding visitors are often spotted dancing through the tropical space like it’s the 1970s.
Night Lights has become Tower Hill’s biggest annual event, drawing a record 70,000 visitors last year, and is one of the largest of its kind in the region.
The annual light show began Nov. 22 and runs through Jan. 4.
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