This is becoming an annual tradition. Yes the tickets are a little pricey, but in my mind, it's well worth a beautiful evening among the candlelight botanical gardens. It's beautiful- there are a lot of different music options too. Last night included handbell choirs, classic choirs singing a cappella, as well as these two amazing brothers playing Guitars and they were fabulous! As you stand in the middle of the garden, you can hear all the different types of music playing just follow the path to what you want to listen to. lol As far as food options, what we found was a food truck in one area which I've posted their menu as well as the patio restaurant had an ordering encounter. Bars are plentiful throughout as well as they have a margarita station. I know they had hot chocolate somewhere, but we did not find it They had s'more's kits as well and plenty of kids were lining up for that If you wanted to go high-end, you could make a reservation at Gertrude's but we really didn't enjoy their food last year With as many people that attend, it never felt claustrophobic either, just take one of the candlelight paths and explore to your hearts content. They did have people stationed throughout, helping you in case you felt lost. Make sure to go back and see the owls, that was pretty cool too. read more

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We celebrate our engagement by coming to Lumi every year, this year was our 19th Lumi! It is disheartening to write a negative review, but we can't help but hope DBG re-thinks the direction they have gone with Lumi. What uses to be peaceful, pleasant, and enjoyable is just crowded. They have way over sold this event. Walking in herds , no space to view the entertainment, is nothing like it used to be . They stopped prioritizing the high talent musicians and the elevated experience of what this event used to be. Thankfully they still have some of the best performers, but there are far less than in the past. (I do have to say a new performance this year was absolutely amazing, the dancers , so impressive). Now it's more like a money grab. All to say, this used to be worth the cost, it used to be what I looked forward to all year, it used to be romantic, and special. It very much isn't anymore. read more

As a visitor to Scottsdale (another so-called short-term snowbird), I wanted to check out the Desert Botanical Garden since it is so highly rated. I figured I could hit two birds with one stone by getting a Las Noches ticket so I could see the garden with the nighttime lights. I was partially right. The place is clearly popular--even the overflow parking lot was almost full. I did the main loop and some of the smaller loops. There were performances, art installations, and food and drinks for sale. The issue is that the garden just does not show very well at night. I stood in reverence of the giant cacti but really wished I could see them in the daytime. While the administration has put up signage and maps to make things easier, I still found the whole place confusing to navigate. Save your money (it is almost $50 for entry) and visit the garden during the day. read more

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I was visiting from out of town and came here with my spouse on 12/22. I honestly had low expectations going in because the marketing didn't make it sound that interesting. But we ended up having a delightful time! There was so much stellar live music and the luminarias were enchanting. We picked a time slot that was close to the opening time so we were able to still admire the cacti in the fading twilight. There was also a beautiful view of the cityscape from one of the trails through the saguaros. The garden did get more crowded as time went on so we were glad we came in earlier. But even with the crowds, it was still possible to find more quiet, peaceful areas to relax and soak in the ambiance. read more

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The 2025 event was terrible! The Garden management took a fabulous event and sucked all the fun out of it. Limited music. Terrible food. Horrific "art" display. Instead of families lingering, they thronged to the exit. I do not recommend this event any longer. I will not be attending spring events even though I am a member. Ugh! What were they thinking? read more

Cool to see all the lights and displays. Plenty of folks to help guide you if you get lost. Need to do a little research first so you know what you want to see or hear and able to find it. A little disorienting in the dark like that. The sheer amount of people was a little much especially in the dark like that. Be ready for a lot of folks pushing past to get to a specific spot or event. Plenty of parking all within a short distance. read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Glass display - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I came here to write almost exactly what Courtney B wrote so I won't repeat everything. We've been going for years and years and we're not sure what happened this year. Crowded like never before, not many bands like they used to have, and very few cactus decorated like previous years. And who's idea was it to put up giant, bright, Jumbotrons all over the night desert? We spoke with some staff and they said it was the "art" installation this year. Yeah, just what we wanted, to go out into nature to get away from the TV screens only to see them all over the outside. BRING BACK THE BANDS!! and get rid of the Jumbotrons. read more

This is one of my favorite holiday events to attend. It's a little less packed than ZooLights and they always do a great job each year. Desert Botanical Garden in Tempe has hosted Las Noches de las Luminarias since the late 70's. It has been a Valley tradition ever since. The luminarias are brown paper bags with sand and a candle in them. Hundreds of them are placed all over the garden. The staff goes around and lights each candle every evening for this event. There is also live music, hot cocoa, wine tasting and food over at Gertrude's. The Traveler band is one of my favorites and they play here almost every evening. This past year they had the Chihuly in the Desert exhibit. Having these beautiful glass installations in the garden really made this past year's Luminarias special. They blend well against the plants and trees in the garden. I have been attending Las Noches de las Luminarias for many years going back to my membership days (they host a few members only nights). Definitely get your tickets ahead of time as some evenings sell out. Parking can be a bit of a hassle as it can get crowded during peak times. Also most of the staff are retired folks who volunteer and sometimes they can be a little cranky. But majority of them are really nice and helpful. Overall I love coming here for Christmas with family and friends to enjoy a fun festive evening under the stars. read more

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I have been to the Botanical Gardens during the day and enjoyed that visit, but this felt like a totally separate place, even though you walk the same path. It was beautiful to see all the lights lining all the pathways and all the lit up artwork strewn about. They also had musical performers in many different sections so when you are walking, you can stop and listen or even just as you walk, you hear various different musicians playing. A very serene and beautiful way to spend your night. I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting or living in the desert. It's fun to go with friends or family, but it is especially fun for a date. read more

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The Luminary nights series at the desert botanical gardens is a wonderful event for the holiday season. The trails are open as they would normally be, but the paths are illuminated by luminaries and festival lights. The night we went there were wonderful musical groups scattered throughout the gardens. There was a folk band, Spanish guitarist, singing duets, harp concert, caroling quartet, mariachi band, and indigenous flute player. There are food and drink stands throughout the park serving alcoholic beverages, hot chocolate, and a few different food options. Taking one star away for lack of food options and being way too crowded (so many people that it took away from the serenity of the gardens). read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Succulent Christmas tree - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is a holiday season MUST if you enjoy music. This year they had dueling pianos, folklorico, the Sahnas brothers, Apache flute player, and many other musicians playing around the property. They also offer a great selection of wines and mixed liquor-infused hot drinks to sip on while you are walking around, listening to the music-filled evening! read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Dueling pianos! - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I'm honestly kind of disappointed by this event. May be I just didn't have realistic expectations of the event, but if I had to do this again, I would probably go for a daytime visit at Dessert Botanical Garden instead of nighttime luminaries event. Specifically, I thought that with more expensive tickets for luminaries event, I would be able to enjoy the garden much more. However, what I didn't realized that it was so dark at night that I couldn't really possibly see much of the garden even with all the luminaries lit along the path. The week we were there it was super cold...freezing...and the path wasn't light enough for us to really see much of the garden. The place was crowded and I think a lot of people didn't know where they were heading either. To be fair, there was a paper map provided to us at entrance, but it was kind of impossible to follow it in the dark, so we spent most of our time just kept walking along lit path to see some exhibitions/performance here and there. Overall, kind of disappointed..but that was because I think I would enjoy seeing all the fresh cacti more than lights and ok performances here and there. Given this us a fundraising event for DBG, it was a good initiative..but I wished it had more to offer in temrs of ambiance. Next time I'm in the area again though..if totally opt for daytime ticket at this place. I saw photos of the place during daytime and I think the beauty of those pictures far exceeded what I was able to capture during my luminaries visit there! :) read more

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Pretty good to go once and that's it. Although there is not much to in Phoenix. It's basically a $40 per person donation to the garden with free parking. I had a good time but have no idea how it sells out (it said sold out, but I was able to buy tickets online an hour beforehand). The music was great but some of the exhibits were lame. Like why am I walking around the middle of nowhere? I probably wouldn't go again for a decade or so. Bring heat warmers, gloves and thicker pants. Hot cider or coffee was $3 and a cactus jack (cider with a shot of whiskey) was $8. This event is not kid friendly because it's super cold outside and dark. I hardly saw any kids. And the ones I did see didn't look happy. The volunteers were very nice. They had telescopes set up for star gazing and I got to hold a piece of a meteorite! read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The Desert Botanical Gardens hosts a show called the Las Noches de las Luminarias (the night of the electric lamps), which is famed on Trip Advisor as one of the absolute must-see events while in Phoenix. And we couldn't agree more! When we walked in, we were expecting to see a few cactuses and desert trees with background lighting. But we were truly blown away by the various ensembles that each hosted different music from calming to Christmasy, and created a unique view of their own. Soon as you enter the gate, there are about 3-4 different trails you can take that are all lighted by "over 8000 flickering luminarias" as the website describes. There's even a trail through an actual butterfly gardens where you can see cocoons sleeping amidst the light shows. Overall a must for anyone visiting the area. Just wish the staff were nicer (especially a blond hair elderly man who sits behind the ticketing counter). Also, the price is quite hefty at $27 plus tax per ticket. And the show gets booked days-weeks in advance so plan accordingly. Just FYI though, in case you're looking at this last-minute, we did find 2 tickets that opened up about 10 minutes prior to our scheduled arrival. Don't be afraid to bug the ticket sellers -- they often just assume (and say with full confidence) that everything is sold-out. But once they check their computers, there's something open -- which has happened to us twice. Saving that, the whole experience is a really unique adventure! We really recommend it if you get some time.. read more

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The garden looked beautiful. However, for ticket prices, there should be more bars available throughout the event. Additionally, the storage of warm drinks needs to improve. The hot cocoa cocktails were in fact, not hot at all. read more

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What a wonderful evening out. Limited admission made the entire garden feel private. Purchase tickets ahead of time as night will sell out. Get a churro at the Patio Cafe and then a cup of spiked hot chocolate at the bar. It was so nice to explore the garden trails at night without it feeling crowded in years past. read more

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This is the second time my boyfriend and I have visited Las Noches De Las Luminarias - the first being in 2017. We love the Botanical Gardens and have become members to support this lovely Phoenix institution. Coming the the Luminarias was something I've been excited about for weeks. It's an enjoyable part of the holiday season. This isn't your typical light experience - this is more romance, beauty, and experiences. Everywhere you turn there's an intimate musical performance or an experience. There's really something here for everyone. I recommend arriving when they open (around 530pm) and then finishing off your evening around 8pm at Gertrudes with some cocktails and dessert. Some of our favorite performances were the hand bell choir, the all female mariachi group, and the native american flutist. I love the holidays, and I love this experience! read more

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Know yourself well before buying tickets for this event. It costs $30 ($25 for Botanical Garden Members) and what you get for that price are pathways lit with luminarias and musicians playing throughout the park. I thought it was beautiful, and enjoyed seeing the park lit up in that manner. However, I think the cost is way more than it should be. When you spend $25 to come during the day, you can see all of the native plants and displays. It's hard to believe they up the admission fee when all of those things are obscured by the darkness. I enjoyed the music, but I'm not one to sit and listen to a performer for a long period of time. My teens were a bit bored by the whole event, and I imagine that younger kids would be as well. I recommend coming as a couple, or with other adult friends. But only come with those who enjoy strolling, or sitting to listen to music. It's very beautiful, just overpriced in my opinion. ***I just saw a note in my program that said this event is vital for the Garden because all proceeds support the operating budget and mission. In light of that, if you can afford to go, you know you're supporting the AZ Botanical Garden's purpose.*** read more

Our family loved this event - something for everyone and a fun way to see the garden. It was so beautiful at night as well! read more

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My favorite event of the holiday season. Definitely something for everyone in the most beautiful setting

This review is not for the event itself but for the fact it was oversold and the parking was horrendous. We got here 20 minutes early to find parking and spent an hour looking for parking and even had one of the workers tell us that the event was oversold and that we should "try to reach out for a refund". This was very poorly planned. read more

This experience was so magical and impressive! I would be visiting this gem each holiday season if I was a Phoenix local. Hands down this was one of the best Christmas events I have been to. We were coming to Phoenix for a couple of days before Christmas, I had not been in many years so I was browsing online to see what activities I could come up with. My good friend had been to the Desert Botanical Garden (where this event is held) during the daytime and outside of the holiday season. She recommended coming here, however I noticed they also had a night time Christmas event. Short on time and $, I opted to only book tickets to Las Noches de Las Luminarias and skip the daytime visit. This event may seem a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny and supports this beautiful desert garden. Are you looking to get into the holiday spirit? Looking for a romantic night out? This is your place! We enjoyed strolling the grounds, checking out the art, seeing holiday decorations and listening to all kinds of music. We arrived right as the event began, which was a bit before sunset and did get to see some of the gardens. I would have loved to do a separate trip for a daytime visit, but we only had 3 full days to spend in Arizona. Arriving at sunset presented us with the opportunity to witness a stunning west coast desert sunset. The best thing about this event is the multiple genres of music. My absolute favorite performers were the female mariachis and the Greek brothers. Due to the size of the gardens, there are musicians performing in all different nooks and crannies. We also heard Native American musicians, jazz artists, a handbell choir and a brass quartet. It was all quite lovely and the perfect night! There were also many illuminated and colorful art installations that I really enjoyed. . I am SO glad we got the chance to attend this event. I don't know when I will get to be in this beautiful place again. I bought my tickets 2 weeks ahead of time, I'm glad I did since this event does sell out. I'd also recommend wearing sneakers or some kind of solid footwear, you will be walking a lot. read more

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Definitely the best time of year to visit the DBG (at night in the brisk cool of the evening during the Christmas season). You'd rather walk in the hot desert in July looking at cacti? Really? Go take a hike. Las Noches de Las Luminarias translates as "Have a great time listening to music and put yourself in the holiday spirit." How many luminaria bags? Apparently, 8,000 plus a lot of lights, and live music! My personal favorite: the bell group. It might be considered a little pricey, so arrive when it first opens and spend time enjoying the various music groups, enjoy the scenery as you walk from group to group, and stay as late as possible. Dress warmly in layers. Even it is 75 degrees in the daytime, when the sun disappears, so does the warmth, and the desert can be too cold for those shorts worn during a hike earlier in the day. I wasn't sorry that I'd taken my scarf and leather gloves on probably the warmest evening of this year's 2016 festival. I really appreciated the docents who were stationed at various points around the park to help patrons find where the music groups were set up (I was given a map, but, well, I still got lost). I also appreciated that the docents were strung with some white lights to make it easy to identify them! And, no, I didn't drink my way through the park, but that option is available. Until next year ... read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - 2016 - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Twinkling lights, scenic candlelit pathways and live music. What's not to like? We have a membership to the Botanical Gardens and decided to get tickets to this event since we would get discounted admission and we could go on a members-only night which we theoretically thought would mean less people would be attending. We were wrong. We got here later on in the evening, around 6:30ish, about an hour after the event was officially open. The entrance to the parking lot stated that the event was totally sold out so there were no tickets available at the door. We hunted for parking and circled around and around... And around and around... Fortunately they had many parking attendants here that helped steer us to the most recently open lots. Since all the regular parking and overflow parking lots were full, they set aside a dirt plot for the "overflow of the overflow" parking which is where we ended up. Despite the arduous parking situation, it wasn't too bad of a walk to the entrance to the gardens. There were several paths to walk down, and initially there was a huge group of people herding themselves down one particular path which made it annoyingly claustrophobic despite the open air environment. Eventually the crowd eased up though and we could walk around with no crowding issues. Since it took us so long to find parking we only had maybe 30 minutes to look around before heading to Gertrude's for our dinner reservation. We did walk around more after dinner though since the event is open until 9:30. I'd say plan for at least 1.5-2 hours of walking around and admiring the luminarias. Plan for more time if you want to stop and enjoy some of the live music or indulge in a cocktail. Also plan for it being cold! I wore multiple layers, including a scarf which helped a lot. In addition to live music, there were a few areas where they were selling cocktails, and a dinner buffet setup. It was a chilly but fun night. 2016 prices: -Members: $25 per person (They also had a discount code for an additional $5 off for members this year if you bought tickets before Oct. 31) -Regular admission: $30 per person The event is open from 5:30 to 9:30 P.M. Enjoy! read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Luminaria lined walkway - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Now that this year's spectacular Botanical Gardens music and light festival is over, it is time to reflect on how fortunate Arizona residents are, especially those living in the Phoenix metro area, that outdoor events can be held at Christmas time while most of the country is digging out from the latest blizzard. This year's festival was another huge success for the Garden. The Luminarias is an event that everyone should experience. I really enjoyed the bell ringers as they truly embody the spirit of Christmas. The room in which they were performing was packed when we were there and there was SRO with a line outside. The Astronomical Society was there with telescopes to let you enjoy the night sky. When we were there we were able to see Venus, Mars and Neptune (and we are in the middle of a very large city!). Awesome opportunity. The added opportunity to enjoy the park while sipping on your favorite beverage adds the final touch to a perfect evening. Definitely a 5-star experience. read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Native American story-telling. - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Such a fabulous tradition for setting the holiday in Arizona. No wonder it's a seasonal sellout.

I wish I could rate everything separately The Desert Botanical Gardens is awesome The people there are awesome The food there is great But it was so not Holidays! It seems they have gone all out to kill Christmas! The feeling was dark and gloomy- No Joy to the World, No Merry Christmas. They even requested that the bell ringers not ring all holiday music. The whole idea of Luminaries is a holiday tradition. Please return the spirit of Christmas to your event or rename it. Gothic night of Gloom or something similar read more

We went to Zoolights two years ago and were severely disappointed by the lack of real animals, so I went into Las Noches de las Luminarias this year fully expecting to see a couple of sad-looking cacti dressed up as Christmas trees. Las Noches fully surpassed my expectations and really deserves 6/5 stars, if that's even possible. There's something special about wandering around the desert at night, following the sound of faint music until you stumble upon a group of people watching a musician or a band play, and then meandering down the path until you hear another completely different band playing in another area of the park. All of the musicians were professional-quality and extremely diverse, but my favorite by far was the group playing the bells. I'd never seen anything like it. Now add some alcoholic hot cocoa to this fun adventure and you've got an amazing winter night. Well worth the money. Can't wait to come back! read more

I'm a huge fan of Phoenix, Arizona's Desert Botanical Garden, and I try to get to every event that is featured. One of my favorite events was Las Noches de Las Luminarias. As I'm sorting through my reviews, I noticed that my review of Las Noches de Las Luminarias was not put in the right place, so here goes... LONG REVIEW The Desert Botanical Garden has Las Noches de las Luminarias for 24 nights. Las Noches de las Luminarias is 8,000 hand lit luminaria bags, white twinkle lights, live music & Bruce Munro's art. Bruce Munro is a British artist, who is best known for his large immersive light-based installations inspired mainly by his interest in shared human experience and connection. Munro's work has become the subject of unprecedented cultural collaboration titled Desert Radiance, allowing the artist solo experimentation in scales and environments, from land mass to water, and the domestic to the panoramic. At the Desert Botanical Garden, there are 8 large-scale, light-based installations hundreds of miles of glowing fiber optics. [see pics] CONCLUSION The Desert Botanical Garden always has A+ exhibits, helpful staff and amazing food; both high end and snacks. It's absolutely a MUST-SEE location. 5/5 RECOMMEND OF NOTE *Plenty of parking out front. *For more information: DBG.org read more

This time of the year, this event can be a great experience, it can be an "ok" experience, or it can be a bad experience. I've had all three! You just have to really think it through before you decide to go... Who are you going with and is it appropriate in your relationship(s) to go? Is it going to be cold and will I be dressed for the occasion? Do I have the right shoes? If needed, will it be ok to snuggle with the person you go with? The bad: So, let's talk about my first time a few years ago - I decided to setup a blind first date with dinner and heading to the garden after. What could go wrong? We could talk for hours on the phone and so I thought it would be a great first date! I was dead wrong! Meeting someone face to face is very different than talking on the phone and when the chemistry isn't there during dinner, how could you possibly have fun walking in a dark lit garden that screams "hold her hand and kiss her, you fool" all over it?! The thought frightened me. I loved the garden - but I wasn't thrilled with who I was with so we ended the date short. The great: The next time I decided to go was on a date with a boyfriend I dated for several weeks. This time, everything was perfect! The garden was romantic and picturesque. Chihuly was featured at the time and it was beautiful! I swear - it was one of the best first dates with someone that already gave me butterflies. Maybe even "I love yous" were exchanged. The okay: So...a few years later, this boyfriend I speak of above is now my husband and I thought it would be a great idea to celebrate our marriage by going to the luminarias again to reminisce. Let me tell you...This time was nothing like the first time! Learn from us: don't ruin a great memory by trying to do it over again because this time, it was cold and windy, most of the luminarias were blown out and it was so dark, you couldn't see anything! My husband tried to navigate and here's me: "We went this way already! You're walking in circles!" Him: "No, I'm not!" Me: "Yes, you are!" Once we realized we were bantering over something silly, we laughed and decided to just go home to get warm. I guess that's what marriage does to a relationship. read more

How do you describe magic? That's what Las Noches de Las Luminarias is to me...magical. There's something about the cool desert air, spiked hot chocolate, luminaries, lights, and music that set my soul on fire. The desert bells had me in awe. I've never seen anyone play the bells and had no idea it could be so beautiful. Simply Three String Trio made me feel like they were playing just for us. And I'm trying to figure out how to get Traveler to play at our wedding (They were that good!) I liked the luminaries so much that I brought my kids back two weeks later. I plan to be back every winter to see the different light displays and to feel the magic of the desert. read more

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Luminarias de las Noches meets Chihuly glass exhibit. Add in a full moon at the Desert Botanical Garden, and it's magic! I'll pay that $30 price tag, no problem. This was a fantastic exhibit because it included the Chihuly glass and I am a big fan, so fair warning, there was no way I wasn't going to love it. Without the Chihuly exhibit, yes, it would still have been lovely, but if they charge $30 for it in that case, I would have considered that overpriced. Real candles, albeit in plastic luminaries, lined the roughly 3 miles of pathways all around the Desert Botanical Gardens. It is a perfect romantic date, or a fun outing for the family or friends. Just lovely. They even have several locations at the end of paths with performers and chairs so you can take a load off. I saw a violinist and guitarist who also sang, as well as Native American drum and flute players. It was awesome. It's such a great setting, bumped up with elevated performances. There are a million ways to take a photograph here, whether just of the artfully lit Chihuly glass exhibits (of so many shapes and sizes) nestled amongst the landscape, or as a spectacular backdrop for a photo op with friends. Go long, go macro, whatever; you'll have prime pickings of spectacular photographs that will certainly make an impression, whether that is on Facebook or as a print on one of your walls at home. Seriously, IMO, it's worth every penny. If you don't want to miss this, make sure that you make your reservation in advance and not just at the door, as they do sell out, but I was able to reserve my ticket within a week of my intended date. You might be able to score cheaper tickets if you watch their Twitter feed, as they occasionally offer last minute tickets at a major discount on days they are undersold. That's a pro tip right there, but it certainly isn't a guarantee, so choose wisely. I believe the Luminarias extends sometime into January, so you still have time to visit if you're interested, but the Chihuly exhibits are only here til May 2014, so don't miss out! It's a great experience either way, but it was so stunning coupling the Chihuly with the Luminarias. Well done, DBG! Thanks for a memorable evening. :)) read more

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This is a must for anyone in the valley during the holidays. This is my second year attending and once again I felt the Christmas Holiday as soon as I stepped into the gardens. Never feel like I have enough time hustling from band to band. DBG did another amazing job with a great selection of music, service and of course the beauty of the luminarias thru out the gardens. We had the set meal again this time and it was well worth the additional cost. Whether you want to relax by the fire listening to Spanish guitar, or get energized by the Travelers band the DBG Luminarias is one of the most memorable yearly events in Phoenix. This event is great for families, couples or friends. read more

This is one of my favorite holiday traditions. This year with COVID the DBG got creative and modified some of the attractions BUT overall still a fun and enjoyable experience. read more

What a lovely experience!! Can't wait to do it again next year! The candles are all hand-lit and it's lovely to walk among lights and trees at night, clutching a hot cocoa or a glass of wine (yay, they serve refreshments)! There are tons of lovely little nooks to sit in - a romantic bench below a lighted tree here, a lighted bridge there. And the Chihuly exhibit at night is stunning! It's perfect for couples (it practically begs for hand-holding), but is also lovely for groups and such, especially if you can snag some seats at one of multiple live band locations. It's a little spendy (about $30/person), but totally worth it. The tickets sell out fast, so book early, and if you can get there right when it opens and catch the sunset, do! If the weather cooperates (dress warmly, wear layers!), you'll want to spend a lot of time wandering around. We were there just under two hours and were sorry to leave, so give yourself plenty of time. I gave it 4 stars (rather than 5) only because (I know this isn't a popular opinion but) I'm not the biggest fan of the Botanical Gardens in general (it's a little bland for me) so the dramatic glass art exhibit really made a big difference, and I know those vary from year to year. Also, it was incredibly crowded, and it seemed like the bands were playing for short periods of time. Overall, such a wonderful, festive holiday experience! read more

Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Chihuly by night - wow! - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Have to say that I was very disappounted in the presentation for the holidays. Given the price of admission, I was expecting much more. First of all the botanical garden was likely very nice if I could see anything and I'll likely go back during the day. As for the light presentation, trees were wrapped in white lights (not a lot of them) and of course there were luminaries all over the place which gave a nice glow. It was very under whelming. I think their plan was to sell copious amounts of food and drink as there were several eating places and bars set up everywhere. As for holidays in the futuee, won't go back here and instead will drive and see lights in various neighborhoods. read more

Our first luminaria night at The Desert Botanical Gardens. Installations of Bruce Monroe's conceptual light and fiber optic art enhanced the evening. What we didn't know is that you should really go for the music. A night desert stroll, candlelit by thousands of luminarias and different musical groups interspersed throughout with coffee and wine bars (hot drinks are not hot enough) with heaters and seating make a relaxed and enjoyable event. Plan to spend several hours, wear walking shoes and bring gloves and a hat to go with your scarf...it gets cold out on those trails! We got there at 5:30 and took in a sunset over the Papago mountains and cactus spiring into the night sky. Dinner at Gertrude's was good but not as good as the beauty of the desert. I'll go again, especially if there's garden art too! read more

I have been to the Luminarias several times over the years. This year the most notable difference was the lack of musicians. And on top of that was a lack of Christmas themed music. I'm guessing it's an effort to get away from labeling it as a "Christmas" event. It's a light show with candles in fake bags. Very disappointing. And expensive. read more

I love Christmas-time and I especially love it because I know that Luminarias is back and this year it's better than ever! The staff and volunteers at the DBG do an excellent job of directing guests through the garden. Between the well-lit paths (with Luminarias of course), helpful staff and amazing acts, this is an event not to be missed! I consider this to be the ultimate activity for adults. It's romantic if you're on a date, it's festive if you're with your family and it's just pure fun if you're with friends. You enter the park to be immediately greeted by hundreds of meowganificant Luminarias lighting up the entire garden. Cocktail stations lie in every knook and cranny and they serve delicious festive drinks like my favorite, hot cocoa and raspberry vodka! If you're hungry, they sell food throughout the garden at two locations. Then there are the performers. The DBG does an amazing job of bringing in musicians of every shape and size. Whether it's a trio of Christmas carolers, a mariachi band or a lively Jazz band, they have bands in every corner lighting up the night! I am also continuously impressed with the acoustics of the garden. With so many live acts in one area, you can barely hear a specific act until you are in that area. Their event planners did an amazing job! Luminarias is my favorite Arizona activity during the holidays and I can't wait to go back next year!! read more

This is a review of our annual return to the Luminarias. Our group of 5 noticed a total lack of live music. We did not realize ahead of time or we would have spent more time with Travelers, our first stop. The synchronized cactus light show with canned music was mesmerizing but not enough of a draw. We wanted our progression through the live music we have grown to love. We ended our evening with Sugar Thieves. They are phenomenal. I would have loved to buy a CD but they had none but the website does. Don't fix what ain't broke. read more