Happy New Year everyone! 2020! A new decade?! This is unbelievable to think about. 2020 is going to be a good one! More adventures, more milestones, and more opportunities to be the best you can be. I’m looking forward to writing more content here on this blog, so stay tuned for these posts and check back! My blog goals for 2020 are to write about Canadian destinations (Now that we’ve hit January, I’d love to write about our neighbors up north and the winter activities in Quebec’s Mont Tremblant!), write lifestyle posts that intertwine with travel (like book recommendations for long flights, how to pack for skiing, and how to take memorable travel photos), and write more about Maine destinations. I can’t wait. 2020, let’s do this!

But for now, I want to continue my series of documenting the fun holiday activities I experienced at the end of 2019. Today, I want to show you the event I was lucky to go to on Christmas Eve: A Longwood Christmas (We actually came to see this event on Christmas Day in 2017 too). This is a timed entry event that requires tickets (Tickets sell fast!) that you can buy online. The event runs from November 22 to January 5.

The numbers are riveting. Over 500,000 lights. Over 50 Christmas trees. You can see fountains that are set to Christmas music. There’s even an organ sing-a-long event in the orangery where an organist plays holiday music and you can sing along with the sheet music provided. The Peirce-du DuPont home is also decorated for the holidays, and there are fire pits where you can warm up near after the sun goes down.

Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York folks: You don’t want to miss this event. Longwood Gardens is already a mesmerizing sight because it’s one of the best gardens in the United States, but seeing the exquisite attention to detail during the holiday season is something else.

I highly suggest buying tickets in advance- Every day between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is considered a peak day. And make sure to dress accordingly for the winter weather! There are Christmas trees inside the orangery, but the fountains are outdoors. Wear a warm coat and don’t forget your hat, scarf, and gloves. There are chocolate mochaccinos and caffe lattes at The Café should you get cold.

I also suggest buying tickets at a time in the afternoon. It’ll still be light out when you arrive and you can tour the orangery, but part of the magic happens at night: After you spent some time touring the orangery and the sun goes down, you’ll walk outside and see the illuminating fountains.

Here are photos of the experience that awaits you:

At the Exhibition Hall! What a way to make a statement. This is a 350-foot ribbon and the tree is 24 feet tall.

The music room! There are candy containers from the United States’ oldest candy shop, Shane’s Confectionery of Philadelphia. The exhibit has cookies, lollipops, and chocolate. There are 18-foot trees!

Some more highlights

More highlights from the conservatory

I just really like the conservatory

Fountain shows! These shows occur frequently, and the lights are synchronized to a song for five minutes.

Bundle up because the outdoor light displays are just as stunning as the Christmas trees inside!

Holiday spirit seen in the Peirce-du DuPont house

A Christmas tree on the outside grounds

Some lights before the walkway that leads to the Italian Garden

The organ sing-a-long! We sang Christmas favorites, religious songs, and Hanukah songs. Andrea Bocelli won’t be ready for us.

Roman philosopher Cicero was right when he said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Walking through these holiday-decorated gardens on Christmas Eve is just another one of my many great 2019 memories.

I hope reading about the Christmas celebrations at Longwood Gardens, Lyndhurst Mansion, and Christkindlmarkt gave you inspiration for your Christmas bucket list for the 2020 season!

Much love,

Maya