Georgia Magazine - November 2022 - 34

GEORGIA Gardens
By Connie Cottingham
T
It's beginning to look a lot like
he holiday light displays at Georgia's public
gardens are don't-miss events, complete
with walk-through light tunnels, themed
areas with illuminated figures and orbs, Christmas
trees, holiday gift shops and much more.
Rock City Gardens' Enchanted Garden of Lights
in Lookout Mountain was selected as the event of
the year last year by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens in
Pine Mountain was featured by National Geographic
magazine as one of the 10 most dazzling holiday
light displays in the world.
Annual visits to these displays are part of many
families' holiday traditions. Some who attended
these events as children years ago now are bringing
their own children to visit.
This year Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the
Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City Gardens
marks its 28th.
Both the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in
Savannah and the Atlanta Botanical Garden in
Atlanta have more than a decade of light shows to
their credit. And yet these long-standing events
continue to offer fresh experiences every year.
Celebrate the season this year by visiting one
of these holiday light shows.
L Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical
Garden
This walk-through display features more than a million lights wrapped
around trees and adorning the arbors and exhibits of the Atlanta Botanical
Garden. If all the light strings used in the garden were laid end-to-end, they
would stretch 50 miles.
Guests can enjoy familiar attractions such as the iconic Orchestral
Orbs-6-foot glowing bulbs on the Great Lawn-and the 25-foot-tall plantand-moss-covered
Earth Goddess, which seasonal lighting has transformed
into the Ice Goddess.
New this year are the lighting of three of the massive Origami in the
Garden sculptures created by Santa Fe, N.M.-based artists Jennifer and
Kevin Box and a flock of glowing bird sculptures by French artist Cedric
Le Borgne.
December Nights & Holiday Lights at Coastal Georgia
Botanical Gardens
Even Santa Claus makes sure not to miss this light display 10 miles
southwest of historic downtown Savannah; he will be in the newly constructed
Children's Garden every night during the event. And don't forget
to bring letters to Santa, which can be dropped off in a special mailbox.
" We are very excited to be hosting December Nights & Holiday Lights
as a walk-through again this year, " says Anne Clayton, business manager
at the garden. " Our staff is quite proud that we plan, decorate and run this
event with only our staff of 13 and a handful of volunteers. "
New this year is a life-size Advent calendar to view upon arrival. Each
decorated garden has a theme, such as Candyland and Starry Night.
34 Georgia Magazine November 2022
Christmas at Georgia's public gardens
COURTESY COASTAL GEORGIA BOTANICAL GARDENS
L
COURTESY ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN
Georgia Magazine - November 2022

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