A Thousand Candles for a Thousand Smiles

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Besides the miles of beaches and the ocean blue, one of the prettiest destinations in Myrtle Beach is the Brookgreen Gardens, with acres of beautiful flowers, a zoo full of animals and tours to help you navigate everything there is to take in. Along with these scenes and attractions, and as the weather becomes chillier and you hear Christmas carols on the radio, Brookgreen has a special way of putting people in the Christmas spirit.

Every weekend in December, Brookgreen Gardens hosts their annual Nights of a Thousand Candles. During this celebration, candles and lights illuminate the grounds creating a totally different experience than if you were to attend during the day. As you stroll through the gardens with a complementary cup of hot cider and hear the sounds of the holiday from different groups of local carolers and choirs, you’ll find new sources of wonder around every corner. With each part of the grounds you walk through, you will be struck with a different sort of amazement and joy.

Along with the illuminated gardens, Brookgreen also features unique exhibits and a centerpiece tree that is special to that year’s celebration. This year’s tree is an enormous 80-foot China fir that will be decorated with well over 70,000 lights and a varying amount of flowers and ornaments. Each night, it is lit up promptly at 5:45 in the most ceremonial fashion and is sure to be one of the highlights of the season! This year’s exhibit will be prominently featured in Anne’s garden and is a wonderful outdoor display of glass flowers and trees for a unique take on the already gorgeous greenery that Brookgreen is known for. All of the art exhibited will be done by Conway Glass, a small, family-operated and owned company located in the charming town of Conway, South Carolina. They hand-blow all of their glass and dedicate so much time to making this a highly memorable display. You definitely do not want to miss the towering China fir Christmas tree and elaborate glass art display this holiday season!

All these wondrous wintry sights and sounds draw large crowds of locals and tourists alike, so it’s important to purchase a ticket in advance online and arrive early to the gardens. Brookgreen recommends coming early on a Thursday evening to beat the weekend crowd. Arriving early means you get to watch as gardeners start lighting each candle, bringing the holiday spirit to life!

Whether you put your Christmas decorations up early or you wait until the last minute to get in the holiday spirit, Brookgreen Gardens is the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening in merry Myrtle Beach.