Bright Nights at Lauritzen Gardens: when to go, and what off-peak saves you

Bright Nights is Lauritzen Gardens’ evening holiday walk: lit-up indoor gardens, luminaries in the conservatory, a 20-foot poinsettia tree, model trains, fire pits and colorful installations in Sofia’s Play Garden. It runs 5 to 9 p.m. on select nights from Nov. 27 to Jan. 3. The date you pick changes the price.

Off-peak: Nov. 27 to Dec. 13. Tickets are $18 for ages 13 and up and $9 for ages 3 to 12. Members pay $14 and $7. The off-peak nights are Nov. 27 to 29, Dec. 3 to 6 and Dec. 10 to 13.

Peak: Dec. 16 to Jan. 3. Prices rise to $22 and $11, or $16 and $8 for members. Peak nights are Dec. 16 to 23, Dec. 26 to 31 and Jan. 2 and 3.

The math. A family of two adults and two kids pays $54 on an off-peak night and $66 at peak. Waiting to buy at the door adds $4 per ticket, which is another $16 for the same family. Kids 2 and under are free, but Lauritzen asks you to reserve a ticket for them too.

Other things to know. Santa visits through Dec. 23. Parking is free. Tickets are timed, non-refundable and sold only on Lauritzen’s own website; the garden says third-party tickets will not be honored.

Bring the dog, earlier in the day. On Sundays, Dec. 6 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lauritzen’s Santa Paws lets you bring your dog for a photo with Santa in the floral display hall. It is included with regular garden admission, and no registration is needed.

All prices are from Lauritzen Gardens’ Bright Nights page as of Nov. 11.