December at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs Highlights Holiday Music and Lights

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The "Holiday Lights" display continues each evening through Dec. 31 (except Dec. 25) at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Garvan Woodland Gardens will host several holiday events in December, including concerts, a Jingle Dog Pups Parade, Holiday High Teas and Santa Nights.

An art exhibit featuring work by Jamie Sanderlin Parks will be on display Dec. 1-31 in the Magnolia Room. A reception for the artist will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 2. She grew up on a farm in the Mississippi River delta of east Arkansas, surrounded by open fields, big skies, bottomland woods, levees and two rivers. She tries to capture the spirit of nature on her canvases, as well as a love of gardening evident in her floral paintings. 

The "Holiday Lights" display will continue through Dec. 31 (except for Dec. 25, when the garden will be closed). The display will run from 5-9 p.m. each evening, with gates opening at 3 p.m. The garden will be aglow with nearly 5 million lights in a myriad of natural settings. Features include the luminescent Garden of the Pine Wind, the Parterre garden on the Great Lawn, traditional holiday scenes in the woodlands and the 50-foot-tall Holiday Tree, which plays holiday tunes animated to a light show. Visitors can conclude their walking tour with free hot chocolate. The Chipmunk Café will be open each night until 9 p.m., serving soups, sandwiches and snacks. 

Visitors can check the Garvan Gardens website for more details about free concerts and events during Holiday Lights. Members must bring their current membership card and photo identification to the garden for admission to Holiday Lights. Weekend nights are very crowded, and visitors can expect long wait times to park and enter the garden. Visitors are encouraged to visit the display Monday through Thursday nights, if possible. Holiday Lights will be open when it rains. However, the garden closes in the case of inclement weather that would threaten the safety of visitors, such as lightning, ice or hail. Dogs are not allowed in the garden during Holiday Lights, except for the Jingle Dogs Pup Parade on Dec. 3.

The "Jingle Dogs Pup Parade" will take place at 5 p.m. Dec. 3 on the Great Lawn. This is the only night dogs will be allowed admission to Holiday Lights. Dogs must be well behaved and kept on a short leash. Retractable leashes are not permitted in the garden. Visitors will be able to take pictures with their dogs and Santa from 6-8 p.m. Each Jingle Dog will receive a sweet treat from Santa.

"Holiday High Teas" will be held at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 in the Magnolia Room. The traditional English-style tea offers participants a sampling of assorted scones, finger sandwiches and desserts, all accompanied by a variety of flavorful hot teas. Participants can view the nearly 5 million lights illuminating the garden after tea. Advance tickets are required.

"Santa Nights" will take place from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 10-13 in the Garvan Pavilion. Rebecca Peterman, a professional photographer, will take photographs that can be purchased on site. Children are encouraged to bring their wish lists to share with Santa. Reservations cannot be made.

Several holiday concerts will be held in Anthony Chapel in December:

• Lake Hamilton First Grade Choir Concert — Dec. 2, 4 p.m.
• First Baptist Church Ladies Ensemble Christmas Concert — Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
• "Classics in the Chapel" Holiday Concert — Dec. 6, 5 p.m.
• The Muses Creative Artistry Project "Voice of Angels" — Dec. 9, 3 p.m.
• Hot Springs Flute Ensemble Concert — Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m.
• Dance City Studio Performers — Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.
• Ouachita Hills Academy Ringers of Hope — Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m.
• The Village Strings Holiday Concert — Dec. 13, 6 p.m.
• Arkansas Youth Chorale — Dec. 16, 6 p.m.

Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas and part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and free for children ages 3 and younger. Some events and activities are free. Some require a fee, advance registration or prepayment.

For more information about these events or to check on upcoming events, call 501-262-9300 or 800-366-4664.