Attractions
All attractions are included in your ticket price:
- Candlelit winter woods *
- Live musical entertainment stationed throughout the gardens *
- Magical Gnome & Fairy Villages (final year!)
- Photos with Santa 5:00-8:30pm (traditional Luminary Walk nights only) *
- Holiday Trains running in the Train Garden 5:00-8:45pm *
- Complimentary Louisburg Cider Mill hot apple cider, hosted by Boy Scout Troops 222 & 91 *
- Family selfie photo-op spots for great holiday pictures
- Lighted pathways and displays
*Electric Glow and Glow Cart Tours are a limited, electric-lights-only experience that does not include Santa, candlelit woods, musicians, free cider, nor trains running in the train garden.
Ticket Pricing & Information
$17 for Luminary Walk and Adults-Only Candlelight Stroll (18+), and $12 for Electric Glow. No charge for children age 5 and under, although a free ticket must be “purchased” to reserve an entry slot. No children’s tickets will be available for the Adults-Only Candlelight Stroll.
Tickets are date-specific and sold in half-hour entry time frames.
You must enter during the half-hour period following the time on your ticket. (Purchase a 7:00 ticket for entry any time between 7:00 and 7:30, for example.)
No entries allowed after 8:00pm; lights start going out at 9:00pm.
In the event of a cancellation due to severe weather conditions, tickets may be exchanged for any other date based upon availability. Please review the weather cancellation policy below.
Tickets will not be refunded for inclement weather, including but not limited to snow, wind, rain, or cold temperatures. Tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or unused.
All proceeds benefit Friends of the Arboretum.
Can I purchase tickets at the door?
We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your spot. Time slots can sell out quickly, and same-day availability is not guaranteed.
If you arrive without tickets, QR code signage will be available in the parking lots and at the LongHouse Visitor Center entrance for onsite purchases—but please note, tickets may no longer be available by the time you arrive. To avoid disappointment and ensure entry, we advise purchasing your tickets ahead of time before making the drive to the Arboretum.
Ticket Exchanges
Tickets are non-refundable, but they are exchangeable - based on availability. After completing your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation with a button labeled "Exchange Tickets"
For detailed, step-by-step instructions to swap your tickets: visit Showclix.com
Here’s what you need to know before purchasing:
- Create an account before completing the sale. There will be a prompt to do so.
- If you wish to exchange after purchasing, log into our ticketing partner’s website – https://www.showclix.com/my-tickets/login.
- Follow the instructions to “swap” your tickets for another date and time of entry.
Tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or unused.
For customer service support help regarding your tickets, please visit the ShowClix support site for a robust list of FAQ information and contact options.
What does an Any-Time ticket mean?
Any-Time tickets are $25 each and offer flexible entry. You’ll still select a specific event date and time slot when purchasing, but your ticket allows you to enter any time that evening between 5:00pm and final entry at 8:00pm, regardless of the time slot chosen.
New Glow Cart Tours (Accessibility-Friendly)
Monday-Wednesday, December 1-3
3-Seat Cart: $45 • 5-Seat Cart: $75
(Priced per group, with assigned departure times from 5:00pm to last entry at 8:00pm)
Carts depart at the exact time listed at booking. Please plan to arrive early; late arrivals cannot be accommodated. Tours depart from the south exit of LongHouse Visitor Center near the Kopperman Garden.
Enjoy a guided ride through the gardens’ holiday lights from the comfort of a golf cart—an ideal option for guests with mobility challenges or special needs. Each cart is festively decorated and includes fleece blankets and complimentary hot cider for every rider. Arboretum staff drive the carts, so your group of up to 3 or 5 guests (not including the driver) can sit back, relax, and enjoy the sparkling displays.
For safety and seating capacity, small children ages 5 and under may be accommodated as lap riders (maximum one lap rider per seated adult).
Tours last about 45 minutes and travel through the Electric Glow portion of the Luminary Walk, providing a calm, low-sensory holiday experience.
The Arboretum gift shop and Cafe Celeste will be open and operating on these nights.
Accessibility Note: Our passenger carts are not equipped with ramps or lift devices. Guests who use wheelchairs or mobility aids will need to transfer independently or with assistance from their companion in order to board.
How Much Time Does the Walk Require?
Luminary Walk & Candlelight Stroll: The event path is about 1.5 miles long through the woods and gardens, although there are a few options to make it shorter. Some people enjoy it at a brisk pace, others stop at each display, enjoy the quiet spots, warm up at one of the many fire pits, and enjoy the performances of various entertainers. If you rush, you’ll miss a lot, so at a comfortable pace, and allowing time to enjoy it all, we recommend giving yourself between 1 hour and 90 minutes for the Walk.
Electric Glow: The limited, electric-lights-only experience is much simpler and quick without crowds and all of the extras. Enjoy and explore the gardens at your own pace.
Preparing for the Weather
The entire walk is outdoors, through the woods and the gardens. Dress appropriately for the temperature and for walking, keeping in mind that it gets much colder when the sun goes down. A hat and gloves are highly recommended. Warm walking shoes are a must and we highly recommend all-weather boots if there is snow on the ground. Handwarmers and hats will be available in our Gift Shop inside of LongHouse on Luminary Walk and Candlelight Stroll nights. We also invite you to warm up inside with a hot holiday beverage at LongHouse!
Weather Policy
The Luminary Walk is an outdoor event held at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Please review our full Ticketing, Weather, Cancellation, and Refund Policies here.
Text Alerts
Subscribe to receive important updates for the Luminary Walk event! Text 'Luminary' to 888777 for details on potential delays, cancellations, and other event-related updates. You'll receive all alerts directly to your phone. After attending the event, you're welcome to unsubscribe at any time.
Accessibility
This event is accessible and wheelchair friendly. We make every effort to be as inclusive as possible. The vendor/attraction tents are near the sidewalks and within reach. Our sidewalk grade is well under the maximum deemed by the ADA. We also have wheelchair-friendly restrooms available. The Walk route follows the sidewalks of the Arboretum through the gardens and the woods, with some uphill climbs and downhill slopes. Service animals are permitted.
The Arboretum has a limited number of non-motorized push wheelchairs, available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Because this event draws a large crowd, we recommend bringing your own wheelchair if possible.
Will there be food and drinks available?
Luminary Walk & Candlelight Stroll:
- Jack Stack Catering and Storia Catering will be offering a holiday menu of food, drinks, snacks, and adult beverages in three major locations: the Vision Room at LongHouse, the Leatherwood Depot in the Train Garden, and inside the EEC.
- Complimentary hot cider will be provided in the Train Garden by Louisburg Cider Mill and hosted by Boy Scout Troops 222 & 91.
- Find more food trucks and vendors stationed around the gardens, varying by night. Enjoy corndogs, roasted candied nuts, donuts, bundt cakes, and more available for additional purchase.
Electric Glow:
- Café Celeste will be open inside of LongHouse with their full menu of food, drinks, snacks, and adult beverages on Electric Glow and Cart Glow nights only.
Please, no outside food and drink allowed.
Parking
Luminary Walk & Candlelight Stroll: These are popular event nights, so plan for extra time to park and walk to the entrances. Two entrances will be open from 179th Street - the West Gate going to LongHouse and the East Gate at the Main Arboretum Entrance. Parking is free. Parking onsite is limited, when lots are full, drivers may be directed to offsite parking where shuttles will be provided at nearby Wolf Spring Elementary School. If you need handicap parking, simply let the parking attendants see your parking placard.
Electric Glow: One main entrance will be open at LongHouse Visitor Center.
Are there any discounts?
Friends of the Arboretum Members get $2 OFF tickets to any of the three experiences - Luminary Walk, Adults-Only Candlelight Stroll, and Electric Glow. Coupon codes can be found in the original confirmation email upon signing up for your Membership and have been emailed in the regular monthly e-newsletters. Missing your code? Email us with your full name, the event name, and membership information at fota@artsandrec-op.org to verify your membership and request the code.
Pets
Sorry, no pets allowed, please leave them at home. Even on normal days at the Arboretum, dogs are not allowed on the paths that the Luminary Walk will follow, so we ask that you do not bring them for this event. However, service animals are permitted.
Details
Luminary Walk - Select Nights November 26 - December 30
Traditional Luminary Walk weekends: November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20
Adults-Only Candlelight Stroll: Thursdays December 4, 11, and 18
Electric Glow: November 26, December 10, 17, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, and 30
*NEW THIS YEAR* Accessibility-friendly Glow Cart Tours: December 1-3
--
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
8909 W. 179th Street, Overland Park, KS 66013