Killer in the Conservatory: The Price of Immortality
Fridays and Saturdays, January 10 – 25, 2025 | 7–10pm (doors open at 6:30pm)

Join us for an immersive and interactive murder mystery experience in collaboration with Escapism Productions. Each ticket includes one free beverage, an open popcorn bar, and a killer evening of murder mystery fun. Guests are welcome to come dressed for the occasion. Must be at least 21 to attend.

Back by popular demand, our Killer in the Conservatory series continues with an all-new murder mystery. We invite you to enter into the realm of mystery and intrigue in a second chronicle featuring the tireless Inspector Leopold Lapis. Get transported to the Victorian era as you find yourself invited to the somber yet peculiar will reading of Dr. Vivian Verdant, a renowned herbologist with a passion for the alchemical arts. But as the evening unfolds, it becomes clear that this gathering is no ordinary affair. Lapis soon discovers that Dr. Verdant’s death may not be as straightforward as it seems, and the real mystery lies in uncovering the secrets she left behind. Who among the gathered suspects holds the key to the truth?

Use your detective skills to assist Lapis with unraveling the tangled web of motives and deception. Solve puzzles, interrogate suspects, and gather clues to crack the case and bring the elusive culprit to justice–if you can.

Visitors during Killer in the Conservatory in the Orangerie.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.

Tickets must be reserved in advance. General admission discounts and passes do not apply to this special event. All sales are final.

Member Adult: $60
Adult: $75

FAQs

Killer in the Conservatory is an immersive theater experience. You will be caught up in the scene of a crime and must interrogate characters, solve puzzles, and use your detective skills to crack the case and find the culprit. The event is intended to last the full three hours and will take place in acts.

Upon arrival, you will receive all necessary materials and will be assigned to small groups. The evening will begin with a short social hour including drinks and light bites, and you will be introduced to the case and suspects. Characters will then go to their individual stations throughout the building and groups will move from station to station in a designated order to question each character, find clues, and solve puzzles. Groups will spend approximately 20 minutes at each station. Once each group has visited every station, everyone will reconvene to debrief their findings and cast their votes as to who they think the killer is. The ending scene will reveal whether you were able to bring the culprit to justice!

Yes, each evening features the same storyline and characters, so the experience is the same for all six dates. The storyline is different from past years of the event.

Doors open at 6:30pm and the event begins at 7pm. Please plan to arrive no later than 7pm. Late arrivals may miss important information and instructions for the event.

Each ticket includes one free beverage (choice of non-alcoholic, beer, wine, or the signature drink) and an open popcorn bar with a variety of toppings. Additional drinks and light bites will be available for purchase during the event. Click here to view the menu. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the Garden.

No, the Garden Shop will not be open during this event.

Killer in the Conservatory takes place indoors in our Visitor Center and conservatories. Our outdoor gardens and trails will not be accessible during these evenings.

Guests are encouraged to come dressed for the occasion, though it is not required. We do recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, as you will be moving between different spaces throughout the Visitor Center for most of the event.

While we love our furry, four-legged friends, pets are not permitted during special after-hours events like Killer in the Conservatory. Service animals are welcome throughout the property during all open hours.

Killer in the Conservatory is an indoor event that takes place in all weather conditions. In the case of hazardous weather, New England Botanic Garden may decide to cancel an evening. If an event is cancelled, you will be notified by email as soon as possible on the day of your visit and you will receive a full refund for your reservation.

Tickets for Killer in the Conservatory are non-refundable and are only valid for the date selected. Tickets can be rescheduled to a different evening of Killer in the Conservatory for a $10 fee but only if tickets are still available for a different evening. Ticketholders must call 508-869-6111 x174 to reschedule by 5pm the day before the date on their original ticket.

Plan to arrive between 6:30pm and 7pm. 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.

New England Botanic Garden will be closed from 5pm to 6:30pm. If you arrive early, please wait in your vehicle until doors open at 6:30pm.

If you are visiting during general admission hours but have tickets to Killer in the Conservatory that evening, we ask that you please exit the property and return at the time listed on your event ticket.

We have a large, well-lit parking lot on site. There is no charge for parking.

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 property closes at 10:30pm.