Winter Garden aGlow dazzles Boise with 800,000 lights, drawing crowds and generating $500,000 for Idaho Botanical Garden expansions and programs.
BOISE, Idaho — One of Boise’s brightest holiday traditions is once again lighting up the season and helping fund the future of a community landmark. Winter Garden aGlow has returned to the Idaho Botanical Garden, drawing thousands of visitors and generating key funding for renovations and long-term growth.
As the sun sets, the garden transforms into a glowing winter wonderland, with more than 800,000 lights illuminating pathways, trees and displays for one of its largest fundraisers of the year.
The annual event opened Nov. 28 and continues to bring in families, couples and visitors from across the Treasure Valley.
“What I’m impressed by is all the colors,” visitor Nancy Adams said. “The colors are just amazing. They’re so bright and there’s lots of photo op places—that’s way cool for people.”
Now approaching its 30th year, Winter Garden aGlow helps support major improvements and the garden’s year-round programming.
“This tradition that we’ve developed here at the Idaho Botanical Garden is more than just a light show,” Executive Director Erin Anderson said.
“It’s an opportunity to help fundraise for the Idaho Botanical Garden. Year-round ticket sales from this event today help us throughout the entire year, whether that’s subsidizing our education programming for children or helping our garden grow,” Anderson said.
The garden set a fundraising goal of $500,000 for this year’s event, and as of Sunday, leaders say they’ve met that mark. A significant portion will fund a large expansion underway at the site.
“Over the next six months, you’ll see 10 acres of expansion happening here at the Idaho Botanical Garden,” Anderson said. “Within this first phase… we are building a new parking garden and outdoor event lawn. We’re building a therapeutic garden and also an arboretum Education Center internally within the garden.”
Money raised will also go toward pathway repairs, new plantings and continued infrastructure improvements.
Many visitors say they’re eager to see how the garden continues to grow.
“Boise is getting bigger, so I feel like stuff like this getting bigger gives families a better opportunity to be out here longer and spend time with friends and family and enjoy the holidays,” said Ceana Floyd.
Max Juarez added, “Just exactly what she said. It’s great to know that we’re contributing in some way.”
Winter Garden aGlow runs through Dec. 31. Garden leaders are already planning for 2026, with new seasonal events, concerts and further improvements on the horizon.
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