The U.S. Botanic Garden at the foot of the Capitol puts on Season’s Greenings from November 26 to January 3: model trains running through national parks and historic places built entirely from plant parts, and it costs nothing. North of the city in Wheaton, Maryland, Brookside Gardens runs Garden of Lights, a half-mile walk of lights, from November 20. Here is how each works, what it costs, and where to eat near each.
We run Botanical Garden Near Me, a directory of public gardens and arboretums across the United States, and we are a guest here. Top of DC asked for the gardens. They supplied the restaurants.
The plan, in order
Go to the Botanic Garden on a weekday if you can; the garden says it is busiest on holidays and the weekends around them. It has no parking of its own, so take Metro to Federal Center SW, three blocks away. For Brookside, buy a timed ticket online for your date and entry time, since Garden of Lights tickets are per person with a set arrival time. Garden of Lights is closed for all of Thanksgiving week, November 23 to 26.
Season’s Greenings, U.S. Botanic Garden
The U.S. Botanic Garden is at 100 Maryland Ave SW, with a permanent collection of more than 44,000 plants. Season’s Greenings: National Parks and Historic Places runs November 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed December 25. The trains run through a display of national parks and historic places made from plant parts. The garden stays open until 8 p.m. on December 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 and 29. There is no admission fee and no ticket for any part of the garden. The outdoor train display may not run in bad weather. The garden’s Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens, at 245 First St SW, is open dawn to dusk.
Garden of Lights, Brookside Gardens
Brookside Gardens is at 1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton, and admission to the gardens is free. Garden of Lights runs Friday, November 20, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027, an outdoor walk on a half-mile paved trail that works for wheelchairs and strollers. Entry times start at 5 p.m. Tickets are $13.99 Sunday to Thursday and $16.99 on Friday and Saturday, each including a $1.99 service fee, and children 4 and under are free. Tickets went on sale online on October 12. It is closed November 23 to 26, December 24 and 25, and January 1. Park at the main entrance at 1800 Glenallan Avenue. The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the conservatory 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The full list
Hours, prices and directions for each of these, with the official page for each, are on our side. The gardens in Washington, D.C. page on Botanical Garden Near Me lists them, closest first.
