Tulsa Botanic Garden unveils new Garden of Lights event

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[Tulsa, OK] — Tulsa Botanic Garden is offering an illuminated garden escape from the holiday hustle and bustle with a new event, Garden of Lights, running from Nov. 23 to Jan. 6. Visitors will be able to stroll through whimsical displays in the Children’s Discovery Garden and enjoy elegant views and dazzling lights in the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces and other areas of the Garden.

“Being in the Garden any night is wonderful, but with the light display we’ve created with our designer, it’s just magical,” says Garden CEO Todd Lasseigne. “The path through the Children’s Discovery Garden includes fun surprises along the walk and a soundscape created by a Tulsa musician especially for that area. We also have the traditional music and colors for the holidays in the Tandy Floral Terraces. With all of the activities going on, there’s really something for everyone.”

Every night of the event warm beverages and s’mores kits will be available for sale in the “Holiday Hearth” area located near the Garden’s visitor center. Fire pits will be available for roasting marshmallows. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22, a food truck and cash bar with seasonal warm drinks will also be available.

From Dec. 7 to 14, a large scale model train exhibit by the Tulsa Garden Railroad Club will be in the Garden’s Mabee Grange building. Members of the Railroad Club will be staffing the 1,200 sq. ft. display nightly from 5 to 9 p.m.

The schedule of activities during Garden of Lights also includes:

Wednesdays with St. Nick: Every Wednesday from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19, the Garden’s “botanical” Saint Nick will be available for informal visits and photos from 6 to 9 p.m. (bring your camera).

Musical Thursdays: Each Thursday, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20 enjoy live music from talented Tulsans including:

·         Nov. 29, 6-8 p.m.: Holiday Gypsy Jazz with David Horne and Friends

·         Dec. 6, 6-7 p.m.: Bravo School of Performing Arts; 7-9 p.m.: Cascia Hall Singers

·         Dec. 13: TBA

·         Dec. 20, 6-8 p.m.: Harpist Lorelei Barton

Holiday Express Train Rides: Every Friday and Saturday from Nov. 23 to Dec. 22, you can take a train ride to see the lights from across the Garden’s Lake. Free with admission.

Tickets are $15 for ages 13+ and $5 for ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are free. Members of the Botanic Garden receive discounted pricing of $10 for ages 13+.  Tickets are limited each night and pre-purchasing is highly advised.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.tulsabotanic.org/gardenoflights, in person in the Garden’s visitor center or by phone at 918-289-0330.

During the event, the Botanic Garden will alter its daytime hours closing at 3 p.m. (instead of 5 p.m.) Tuesday through Sunday. The Garden will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and only open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 1.

Sponsors for 2018 Garden of Lights include Closebend, ePumps, GableGotwals, Triad Eye Institute, Osage Casino Hotel, Premier Advisors Group, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and T.D. Williamson. Drs. James & Samuel Owens Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, Howell & Vancuren, Proceeds from the event help support the Garden, a non-profit organization.

For more details on Garden of Lights events, visit www.TulsaBotanic.org/GardenofLights or call 918-289-0330.

ABOUT US:

Tulsa Botanic Garden is an all-season oasis blooming in the Osage Hills northwest of Tulsa.  The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces feature over 8,000 plants with seasonal beds, beautiful art deco designs and water features, and a spectacular spring display of over 100,000 bulbs. The Children’s Discovery Garden is a wonderland of interactive fun for the whole family including the iconic Spring Giant, spitting animal fountains, carnivorous plants, Sensory Walk, whirligigs, and the Tree Fort where the canopy provides a natural backdrop for storytelling and imaginative play. The Lakeside Promenade gracefully encompasses a seven-acre lake, and the Cross Timbers Trail provides a 1.5 mile hike through the trees. Admission:  Free for members, $8 for ages 13 and up, $4 for ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and under.  Memberships are available beginning at $50. Tulsa Botanic Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, call 918-289-0330 or visit www.tulsabotanic.org.