Blossoms of Light Denver: Dates, Tickets & Photo Tips
Denver Botanic Gardens' holiday light show, Blossoms of Light, returns to York Street from November 20 to January 10, and its sister event Trail of Lights opens at Chatfield Farms on November 21. Public tickets for Blossoms of Light go on sale Monday, November 9 at 10 a.m., so now is the time to plan your night. Here's everything you need in one place, plus a few tips for photos that actually come out well in the dark.
At a glance
- Blossoms of Light: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street, Denver
- Dates: Nov. 20 – Jan. 10, 4:30–9 p.m. (closed Nov. 26 and Dec. 25)
- Tickets: $19–$45 general admission, $16–$38 for members, free for kids under 2 (price depends on the date)
- Public ticket sales: Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. (member presale Nov. 4–6)
- Sensory-friendly night: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 5–8 p.m.
- Trail of Lights: Chatfield Farms near Littleton, Nov. 21 – Jan. 3
Blossoms of Light at York Street
Blossoms of Light turns the York Street gardens into a mile-long LED path that takes about 60 to 75 minutes to walk. Every light in the show is LED, and the route winds through the gardens, so wear shoes you can stroll in for an hour.
Tickets are for a specific date and time, and you should arrive within 30 minutes after the time printed on your ticket. The gardens use plan-ahead pricing, which means the cost changes by date and demand. The Denver Botanic Gardens website is the only official place to buy tickets.
- Tip: pick a weeknight early in the run for a lower price and a calmer path
- Tip: book the 4:30 p.m. slot if you want photos while the sky still has a little blue in it
Ticket timing and the sensory-friendly night
Member presales run November 4–6, staggered by membership level, and public sales open Monday, November 9 at 10 a.m. Popular dates in December tend to go first, especially weekends.
If you're planning a group outing, agree on two or three backup dates before sale day. That way whoever is buying can grab the next best night instead of texting the group chat while slots disappear.
Want a quieter visit? On Tuesday, December 1, from 5 to 8 p.m., Blossoms of Light hosts a sensory-friendly evening with a quieter, more accommodating experience. Capacity is limited, so book early if this fits you or someone in your group.
Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms
If you'd rather see lights out in the foothills, Trail of Lights runs at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms near Littleton from November 21 to January 3. The LED trail is just under a mile long.
It has more closed nights than York Street: November 26 and 30, December 1, 7, 8 and 25. Double-check your date against that list before you plan the drive.
- Tip: nights in the foothills get cold fast, so bring gloves that work with your phone screen
How to get photos that don't look dark
Light displays make faces look dim, because the brightest thing in the shot is behind you. Stand so the lights are beside you or in front of you instead, and your face will pick up the glow.
A light-colored scarf or sweater bounces light onto your face, which helps a lot at night. Hold your phone with both hands and pause for a second before each shot to cut down on blur.
- Face the lights, don't stand with your back to them
- Wear white, cream or pastel near your face
- Shoot early in your time slot before the path gets busy
Turn the night into a photo strip
After the walk, warm up at a cafe and make a 4-cut photo strip of the night with Hanaduul, the iPhone app for taking and decorating four-cut photos. Open [Shoot solo], pick a background, prop your phone up, and set the timer so you and your date or friends can pose hands-free.
If someone in your crew couldn't make it to Denver, open [Shoot together] on your home screen to get a room code, and have them enter it through [Join with room code]. You each join from your own phone, talk while you line up your poses, and end up side by side on the same background in one strip.
Want it to match the night? In [My BGs], use [Make your own background] and describe the scene you want, like a softly lit garden path with warm string lights. It takes a short wait to generate, and the picture is yours to use for that strip.
FAQ
When is Blossoms of Light this year?
November 20 through January 10, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. It's closed November 26 (Thanksgiving) and December 25.
How much are Blossoms of Light tickets?
General admission is $19–$45 and members pay $16–$38, depending on the date. Kids under 2 are free.
When do public tickets go on sale?
Monday, November 9 at 10 a.m. Members get presale access November 4–6.
Is Trail of Lights the same event?
It's a separate light trail run by Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms near Littleton, from November 21 to January 3, with its own closed dates.