GardenFest of Lights celebrates 25th anniversary

The GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has become a garden of delights for the family of Rob and Elizabeth Hazelton.

The adults appreciate the beauty of a half-million holiday lights that celebrate "wings of wonder" this year. Nine-year-old Ben and 5-year-old Erich get excited about watching the model trains, toasting marshmallows over the firepit to make s'mores and running through the maze in the children's garden. Twelve-year-old Gracie, smiling in a wheelchair, blinks to say she likes a snowflake necklace that twinkles around her neck.

"It's beautiful, and it's very inclusive," Elizabeth Hazelton said in the conservatory while the family watched a snow-white boxcar filled with candy canes pass a snowy village scene created partially of gourds. "We've been coming since they were babies.

"It's Richmond at its best. They've made the treehouse accessible, and that means a lot to us. There are not a lot of things we can do that everyone in the family is able to participate."

The annual holiday tradition began its 25th year on Friday night. The relatively mild weather last night attracted crowds to stroll across a new Lotus Bridge between the Rose Garden and Children's Garden -- showing just why the garden wanted to build a wider, well-lit pathway across Sydnor Lake. Last year, nearly 60,000 people attended the event before it closed in January.

The 14-foot-wide bridge has a slight "S" curve in its 140-foot path that skims the surface of the lake. During the holiday celebration, plants made of lights seem to grow out of the water beside it.

Butterflies, dragonflies and bees -- in keeping with the theme of wings -- have landed in many of the lighted displays, such as the 50-foot purple coneflower that spreads its petals across the sunken garden.

The grand holiday tree honors the 25th anniversary with ornaments of silver and gold, including butterflies, dragonflies, gingko leaves, magnolia blossoms, magnolia leaves, crystal branches and cascading sprays.

Energy efficiency also increased this year with more than 20 miles of LED strands in the 600,000-light display. While slightly more expensive than incandescent lights, the LED lights pay for themselves in electricity savings in the first year, according to Dominion Virginia Power, which partners with the garden for the event.

The end product was a hit with Karen Clarke of Midlothian, who meets her sister's family there every year. Julie and Lyn Franklin and daughter Lucy, 21, live near the University of Richmond

"It's nice to have someplace that's not all plastic, that accents the natural," Clarke said. "I think it's a gorgeous place anyway."

Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or .