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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
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Stephen Montoya
Fort Worth doesn’t wait for December to spark holiday cheer — and neither do its gardens. And this year, that spark of the season arrived for me the moment I stepped into the glow of “Christmas in the Garden” at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Although this entrance was intended to feel like a portal into someplace entirely new, the real surprise was how the magic trailed me home, lingering long after I’d kicked off my shoes and recovered from the miles of wandering paths.
The show opens with the kind of gusto Texans love — gingerbread families line the paths alongside towering Texas nutcrackers and the “12 Days of Christmas Cactuses,” each wrapped, stacked, and blinking as if competing for Best in Show at the State Fair. This is the Botanic Garden’s first season partnering with Sony Music, and the ambition is clear in every corner, with music carefully curated to match each display.
But the displays that stopped me in my tracks were the ones that leaned into the Lone Star identity with a little more heart. A massive illuminated Texas flag crowns a hilltop, shining so brightly it practically hums with patriotism. The 1,000+ Dancing Bluebonnets shimmered across the lawn in their signature blues and whites, nodding in unison like they were catching a breeze only they could feel. And the Magical Ribbon Tunnel — a streaming cascade of color that drapes overhead — reminded me of a carwash-like dream meets holiday cheer display.
Of course, Christmas lights only get you so far on an empty stomach. That’s where Westland Hospitality steps in. Their lineup reads like a Fort Worth roll call — JD’s Burgers, Magdelana’s, Pulido’s, Curly’s Custard, and Margie’s Italian Gardens — which is how we found ourselves, without regret, overordering. Two rounds of chicken tenders from JD’s and a tray of Margie’s meatball sliders turned into a little pre-Japanese Garden feast that revived the entire family after battling rush-hour traffic and the first half of the trail.
The Japanese Garden has long been my favorite corner of the Botanic Garden — the place I go when I need a break from the hustle nearby. Add lights, and the familiar koi ponds and stone paths shift into something dreamlike. Flames pulse gently from the surface of the ater, synchronized to tranquil music. Even the shadows seem choreographed. Its simplicity meets spectacle, and it works.
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Kat Gollock
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Stacey Brooks
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Stacey Brooks
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Geraint Lewis
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FWBG
Before we entered the Japanese Garden, we spotted Santa and the long line of kids waiting to see him before Christmas. Kids were starstruck, adults were amused, and the whole scene felt so quintessentially small-town-Texas-inside-a-big-city that it brought me back. I guess, since I’m in my forties now, these moments mean more when you can share them with the people you love and keep the holiday tradition alive.
For all its flash, “Christmas in the Garden” is ultimately about slowing down, walking together, and letting the glow soften the season’s edges. Fort Worth has no shortage of holiday events, but few feel this well matched to their setting — the Garden’s bones are beautiful year-round, but dressed in lights, they remind you why this city loves its green spaces as fiercely as it does its barbecue joints and football stadiums.
The event runs through Jan. 4, and if you go, plan ahead. Tickets sell out, parking can bottleneck, and you’re going to want time to linger, wander, and snack irresponsibly. And maybe — if you’re lucky — catch Santa on his rounds.
Ticket Pricing:
Off-Peak Night Pricing:
- Adult: $20 (FWBG Members: $20)
- Child: $13 (FWBG Members: $13)
Regular Pricing:
- Adult: $28 (FWBG Members: $20)
- Child: $18 (FWBG Members: $14)
Peak Night Pricing:
- Adult: $32 (FWBG Members: $24)
- Child: $22 (FWBG Members: $18)
Parking: Parking onsite is $25 per car, with Dickie’s remote parking available on certain nights. For tickets and complete event information, visit fwbg.org.
