GLOWING WILD
Select Fridays & Saturdays, September 20 – October 31
Get lost in a night where nature gets weird and things aren’t quite as they seem. This immersive nighttime experience transforms The Ramble into an otherworldly dreamscape of unusual plants and other curiosities set among captivating light displays. This special after-hours event offers a unique opportunity to experience the Stranger Plants exhibition, along with additional entertainment tailored on select evenings for a 21+ or family audience.
A selection of hot beverages, beer, wine, and light bites will be available for purchase during the event. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the Garden. Menu coming soon.
Tickets must be reserved in advance. General admission discounts and passes do not apply to this special event. All sales are final. Please note that The Ramble and the main Visitors Center are the only areas that will be accessible during these evenings. Other outdoor gardens and trails will be closed.
Glowing Wild (Family-Friendly Nights)
Select Saturdays, September 20 – October 25 | 6-8:30 p.m.
Let your imagination run wild as you get transported to a world full of botanical wonder. These fun-filled family-friendly evenings feature fantastical crafts and activities, atmospheric music, and the chance to meet real-life friends from distant galaxies. Experience The Ramble in a whole new light and come dressed up as your favorite fantasy creature or celestial being!
Member Adult: $16; Member Youth (age 4-12): $9
Adult: $22; Youth (age 4-12): $12
Children 3 and under: Free
Glowing Wild (21+ Nights)
Select Fridays, September 26 – October 31 | 7-10 p.m.
Get ready for an out-of-this-world experience and expect the unexpected. As the sun goes down, The Ramble comes alive with the uncanny beauty of the unnatural world. Dance the night away to your favorite beats, sip on cosmic cocktails, and prepare for extraterrestrial encounters with Big Nazo.
Ticket price includes one free beverage: choice of non-alcoholic drink, beer, wine, or the signature drink.
Member Adult: $25
Adult: $35
FAQs
Glowing Wild is a special ticketed event that invites you to experience the Stranger Plants exhibition in a whole new light. It is a walking experience that takes place mostly outdoors in The Ramble and highlights the plant sculptures illuminated at night, in addition to colorful, fantastical lighting in the surrounding trees and plants. Please note that our other outdoor gardens and trails will not be accessible during these evenings.
Saturday evenings of Glowing Wild offer an experience geared toward families, featuring drinks and light bites available for purchase, live harp music, face painting, drop-in crafts and activities, and a chance to interact with costumed characters.
Friday evenings of Glowing Wild offer a 21+ experience, featuring a DJ, drink specials and light bites available for purchase, and immersive performances by Big Nazo’s larger-than-life sized extraterrestrial characters. Each attendee will receive a drink ticket for one complimentary beverage.
There are many ways to enjoy the Stranger Plants exhibition. The exhibit is included with general admission and can be experienced daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last admission time is 4:30 p.m. Please note that the sculptures will not be lit during daytime hours.
Glowing Wild is a special after-hours ticketed event that invites visitors to see these strange plants illuminated at night, with additional fantastical lighting throughout The Ramble, music, performers, and drop-in activities.
Weekend of Wonder is a larger-scale, weekend-long event that spans the whole property and allows you to see the exhibit during the daytime, while also enjoying additional entertainment, artisan vendors, and workshops that differ from the activities offered during Glowing Wild. While Weekend of Wonder is included with general admission, some activities may have an additional fee.
For family-friendly nights, please arrive as close to the entry time listed on your ticket as possible. Ticketed entrance times help stagger visitor arrival times in increments to make for a better visitor experience. You won’t miss any event activities if you reserve a later entry time. Once checked in, visitors are welcome to stay until the event ends at 8:30 p.m.
For 21+ nights, the event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Visitors are welcome to arrive at any point within that time frame and once checked in, are welcome to stay until the event ends at 10 p.m.
New England Botanic Garden will be closed from 5 to 6 p.m. for family-friendly nights, and from 5 to 7 p.m. for 21+ nights. If you arrive early, please wait in your vehicle until the entry time listed on your ticket. The Visitors Center and gardens will not be open.
If you are visiting during general admission hours but have tickets to Glowing Wild that evening, we ask that you please exit the property and return at the time listed on your event ticket.
Drinks and light bites will be available for purchase during the event, including hot beverages, beer, wine, cider donuts, pretzels, pizza by the slice, and snacks. Menu coming soon. For 21+ nights, each attendee will receive a drink ticket for one complimentary beverage. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the Garden.
Yes! The Garden Shop will be open selling out-of-this-world mementos and gifts.
Glowing Wild primarily takes place in The Ramble. The Visitors Center will also be open, including our indoor subtropical conservatories. Our other outdoor gardens and trails will not be accessible during these evenings.
The majority of this event takes place outdoors, so we recommend dressing for the weather, including coats, boots, hats, gloves, and umbrellas as necessary. Costumes are encouraged but not required!
While we love our furry, four-legged friends, pets are not permitted during special after-hours events like Glowing Wild. Service animals are welcome throughout the property during all open hours. Leashed dogs are allowed to visit the Garden year-round during our general admission hours.
Glowing Wild takes place in all weather conditions such as light rain or cold temperatures, but in cases of extreme weather, New England Botanic Garden may decide to cancel an evening. If so, you will be notified about the cancellation by email as soon as possible on the day of your visit. In the case of non-hazardous inclement weather, the event will still take place, but some activities may be moved indoors or canceled.
Tickets for Glowing Wild are non-refundable and are only valid for the date and time selected. Tickets can be rescheduled to a different evening of Glowing Wild for a $10 fee, plus the difference in ticket price for moving from a family-friendly night to a 21+ night if applicable. Tickets may only be rescheduled if tickets are still available for a different evening. If all events in the Glowing Wild 2025 series are sold out, tickets cannot be rescheduled. Ticketholders must call 508-869-6111 x174 to reschedule by 5 p.m. the day before the date on their original ticket.
Please arrive as close to the entry time listed on your ticket as possible. After parking your vehicle, proceed up the path into the Visitors Center. Please have your ticket/confirmation email printed or available to show on your phone for our front desk staff to check you in.
Accessible parking is located closest to the building in the first parking lot on the right. You can learn more about accessibility at the Garden here.
If you choose to use Uber, Lyft, or another taxi service, please note that our entry gate on French Drive will close automatically for arriving vehicles at the end of the event. Please plan to be picked up before the event ends at 8:30 p.m. for family-friendly nights, and at 10 p.m. for 21+ nights. We recommend scheduling rideshares in advance.