Glow Crazy This Holiday Season!

Brookgreen Gardens knows how to throw a holiday party for the senses! The 26th Annual Nights of a Thousand Candles turns this Lowcountry landmark into a glowing winter escape, running select evenings through January 4. Picture more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and millions of lights flickering across one of America’s most beautiful sculpture gardens. It’s the kind of tradition that keeps visitors coming back every December, because no photo ever quite captures the magic.

There’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the night. Start your stroll under centuries-old oaks draped in golden lights, then follow paths lined with sculptures that glow against the backdrop of twinkling ponds. Stop for a cup of cocoa or a glass of wine, warm your hands, and let the holiday soundtrack set the mood. You’ll catch everything from jazz ensembles to bagpipers, all playing in tucked-away corners of the garden that make every stop feel like its own discovery.

Food trucks and pop-up stands add to the fun, serving everything from hearty seasonal bites to festive sweets. If you’re planning a full evening, make dinner reservations at the on-site Harvest Restaurant, which turns into a cozy retreat once the lights come on. Every detail is timed to perfection, from the lighting ceremony at dusk to the way the reflections dance across the water once night falls.

This year’s event marks more than a quarter-century of what’s become one of the Southeast’s favorite holiday traditions. Tickets sell out quickly every season, and for good reason: it’s the perfect mix of art, music, and that sparkly, feel-good energy that defines the holidays.

Whether you go for date-night magic, a family outing, or a reason to gather friends, Nights of a Thousand Candles delivers a little dose of wonder for everyone.

Discover more South Carolina gems that glow year-round at guidetosouthcarolina.com/arts-entertainment!