NIGHT LIGHTS PARTIES

Celebrate the winter season with half a million lights and a one-of-a-kind party experience your guests are sure to enjoy. Holiday parties and birthday parties for kids are unforgettable among the wonderous displays of Night Lights.

Holiday Parties

Host your corporate or social holiday party, or a gathering with your friends and family, during Night Lights for a truly festive celebration! Make it a party to remember with delicious, locally sourced food or holiday-themed snacks by Peppers Artful Events. Holiday parties at the Garden are perfect for groups of 50 to 100 people. Please contact Private Events at privateevents@nebg.org for more information.

holiday food

For the 2026 Night Lights season, we will be offering special pricing for the Reservoir Room and the Southeast Link. The Reservoir Room features large windows overlooking the Wachusett Reservoir and copper ceiling details. The Southeast Link is a lovely space with floor to ceiling windows, slate floors, and views of gardens and woods.

Reservoir Room Pricing 
For up to 50 people: $1,600
For up to 75 people: $2,100
For up to 100 people: $2,600

Southeast Link Pricing
Flat rate (for up to 50 people): $1,850

Rental packages include the exclusive use of the event space and admission to Night Lights for all of your attendees. The space is conducive to a variety of table sizes and arrangements including cocktail-style or large seated rounds. Black conference chairs are available for your use and included in the rental price, or if desired, white garden chairs or fruitwood Chiavari chairs can be purchased at an upgraded price.

Parties can be scheduled from 4–9 p.m. Your guests are welcome to explore the gardens after the room rental has concluded until we close at 10 p.m.

New England Botanic Garden works exclusively with Peppers Artful Events and ARTbar for holiday parties. Peppers is an award-winning caterer whose reliability for sumptuous foods, five-star service, and dazzling displays has built a name for them in the community and at the Garden, where they also operate the Farmer and the Fork café. 

Birthday Parties for Kids

Celebrate your child’s special day while enjoying an evening under the lights. All evening birthday party packages include a room rental for up to 3-hours, admission to Night Lights for 15 children and 15 adults, and an hour-long guided activity. Each child will also receive a glow stick necklace to take home.

A child at Night Lights, a holiday lighting event at New England Botanic Garden

Snow Slime Party
Learn about science of snowflakes, mix up your own sticky, sparkly snowball slime, and conduct a fizzy snowflake experiment. Practice following step-by-step directions and measurements as we mix up two batches of slime complete with glitter, food coloring, essential oils, and more.
*Recommended for ages 5–12

Snow Globe Terrariums
Create your own winter wonderland scene as you learn about some of our garden’s strangest plants and play a paper cacti bowling activity. Each child will receive their own glass terrarium complete with a succulent or cactus, faux trees, and décor including sand, sea glass, rocks, jingle bells, and more.
*Recommended for ages 7–12

Please note that dates are limited. Parties must be booked at least two weeks in advance. For more information or to make a reservation call Jenna Hough, Youth Education Specialist, at 508.869.6111 x101 or email at jhough@nebg.org. 

What if I just want to rent a room without a birthday party package?
Private event rentals are handled through our Private Events department. Please see the information above for Holiday Parties or contact events@nebg.org for more details.  

Do you offer catering?
We offer catering through our onsite café, Farmer and the Fork. Their services include setup, breakdown, tableware, and a water dispenser. A link to the Kids Party Menu will be sent to you upon inquiry.

What if I have more than 30 guests? 
Additional adults will incur an additional admission fee and will be admitted at a discounted rate of $26 per adult. Additional children will incur an additional admission and materials fee and will be admitted at $23 per child. Parties with 18 children or more will require a second educator and will incur an additional $100 fee. Please note our rental space cannot accommodate more than 40 guests.  

Will Garden staff entertain for the entire party block?
Garden educators will be onsite to check-in and answer questions or provide support for the duration of the party but will only entertain for the guided one-hour portion of the party.   

Are parties suitable for any age?
We recommend party packages for children ages 6 and up. Activities and instruction can be scaled up or down to suit the age and abilities of the group. 

Will my party have exclusive use of the space?
Night Lights birthday parties are only offered indoors in our downstairs children's classroom, Classroom C, and will have exclusive access to that room.  This room can be accessed by stairs or elevator. Your guests will be able to explore the Night Lights displays in the gardens at their own pace, alongside other visitors.

What happens in the case of inclement weather?
Night Lights is an all-weather event. However, if weather presents a risk to safety, New England Botanic Garden may decide to cancel an evening. If so, the party will be rescheduled to an alternate date if available,  or you will receive a full refund. 

How early can I come in to set up?
Rental packages include thirty-minutes of set up and thirty-minutes of cleanup before and after your booked party block. An additional thirty-minutes of time can be added on at a price of $50. Please request this at the time of booking. 

Can I bring confetti or balloons?
Confetti and balloons can be harmful to wildlife. We ask that these items remain at home.   

Do you offer any add-ons?
When you book, ask about our pre-packaged s'mores for roasting at our fire pits or 3-D glasses to transform the lights into amusing shapes. Each item is priced per guest.

For general Night Lights tickets, please plan your visit here.