Holidays at Leu Gardens opens Friday, Nov. 20: thousands of poinsettias and a yeti hunt by day, then Dazzling Nights takes over the same 50 acres after dark with lights, live shows and falling snow.
Quick Facts
- When: Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027. Daytime gardens 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily (last entry 3 p.m.). Dazzling Nights on select nights, timed entry from 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
- Daytime admission: $15 adults, $10 ages 4–17, free under 4
- Dazzling Nights: Separate ticket, online only. $35–$56 adults (13+), $33–$53 ages 4–12, free for 3 and under (fees included, plus tax)
- Night parking: Free off-site garage with shuttle, or $49 prepaid valet
Leu Gardens does the holidays twice a day. From 9 a.m. it is Holiday Blooms, with thousands of poinsettias and seasonal plantings worked into vignettes and container gardens across the property. Once the sun goes down, it turns into Dazzling Nights, a ticketed light walk now in its seventh season. Both open Friday, Nov. 20, and run through Sunday, Jan. 3.
They are two separate tickets. That trips people up, so here is how each half works.
By day: Holiday Blooms and the yeti hunt
Regular garden admission gets you into the daytime show. The poinsettias are the headliner, and kids get a mission too: eight whimsical yetis are hidden around the gardens, and the challenge is to find all of them.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Holiday Craft Day adds a snowman ornament, snowball slime and mini-wreath decorating, all included with admission.
Holiday-season garden hours are shorter than usual: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily from Nov. 18 through Jan. 3, with last entry at 3 p.m. The gardens are closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Monday, Dec. 7, is one of Leu’s scheduled free days. Daytime parking is free on-site. Leu doesn’t take cash, so bring a card or phone pay.
After dark: what’s new at Dazzling Nights
The organizers say the 2026 season includes live music and a brand-new acrobatic dance show called DriftLands. Other stops on the list:
- The Snowy Revue: holiday music in front of a 50-foot snowman in the Rose Garden
- Chilly Celebration: Arctic wildlife and a giant mural built from tens of thousands of points of light
- Yeti Mine Adventure: a play area with climbing, slides and glowing caves
- Poinsettia Promenade: a 60-foot tunnel of illuminated poinsettias
New worlds this year include Polar Nights, Radiant Disco and Holiday Hop. Fan favorites like Crystal Kingdom, Glowing Forest and Twinkle Market are back. Leu also promises falling snow, holiday music, treats, and beer and wine for the grown-ups. The night version has its own yeti scavenger hunt, too.
How Dazzling Nights tickets work
Tickets are sold online only, for a specific date and entry time. There is no box office at the gate, and the event is cashless. Every night is priced as Value, Popular or Peak, and the price also depends on when you enter. Prime entry runs 5:30–7 p.m., standard 7:15–8 p.m. and late 8:15–9 p.m. Here’s the part worth knowing: a late entry on a Value night is the cheapest way in, at $35 per adult and $33 per child. A Peak night costs $56 per adult and $53 per child at any entry time. Prices already include fees, with tax added at checkout.
Plan around the calendar. According to the official schedule, Dazzling Nights is open Nov. 20–21, goes dark Nov. 22–25, and returns Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26–29. After that it runs nearly every night through Jan. 3. It’s closed Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 7, and it’s open Christmas night even though the daytime gardens are closed that day.
Tickets can’t be refunded. You can move an entire order to another night up to 48 hours before your entry time, though fees may apply. Kids 3 and under don’t need a ticket. Bundles that add drinks in LED cups, snacks and a souvenir photo start at $85 for one adult or $266 for a family four-pack.
Parking at night is different
Leave yourself extra time, because night parking doesn’t work like a daytime visit. Free parking is in the AdventHealth Imaging Center Innovation Tower garage at 266 E. Rollins St., where a complimentary, ADA-accessible shuttle takes you to the gardens. Organizers say to get to the garage 45 minutes before your time slot. Valet at the gardens is $49, including fees, plus tax. It has to be reserved online ahead of time and can’t be bought that night. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your slot. Parking gates close at 8:45 p.m. Don’t park on the surrounding neighborhood streets, since cars left outside the designated areas may be towed. Rideshare drop-off is in front of the Welcome Center.
Why We’re Hyped
Most holiday light shows give you one look. Leu gives you two: a free-parking poinsettia stroll with a yeti hunt in daylight, and a full nighttime production on the same paths after dark. The price ladder helps too. Pick a Value night with late entry, or just go in the daytime for $15, and the season fits a lot more budgets than the Peak-night prices suggest.
The Details
- Event: Holidays at Leu Gardens (daytime Holiday Blooms) and Dazzling Nights (evening, separate ticket)
- Dates: Friday, Nov. 20, 2026–Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027
- Daytime hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily (last entry 3 p.m.); closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
- Dazzling Nights hours: Select nights; timed entry every 15 minutes from 5:30 p.m., with the last entry window 8:15–9 p.m.; closed Nov. 22–25, Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 7
- Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
- Daytime admission: $15 adults; $10 ages 4–17; free for under 4, members and active-duty military; free day Monday, Dec. 7; tickets at the Welcome Center or online; no cash
- Dazzling Nights tickets: Adults (13+) $35–$56; ages 4–12 $33–$53; 3 and under free; prices vary by night tier and entry time, include fees and are plus tax; online only; non-refundable; reschedule up to 48 hours ahead
- Holiday Craft Day: Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., included with daytime admission
- Parking: Daytime: free on-site. Dazzling Nights: free off-site parking at the AdventHealth Imaging Center Innovation Tower garage, 266 E. Rollins St., with shuttle, or $49 prepaid valet (no night-of sales); gates close 8:45 p.m.
- Official info: Holidays at Leu Gardens · Leu Gardens admission and hours
- Tickets: Dazzling Nights tickets · Dazzling Nights parking · Dazzling Nights FAQ
