If you are interested in experiencing one of the District’s most popular winter walking trails this holiday season, then you are going to want to make your way to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, where you can stroll through their half-mile-long garden trail to be enchanted by the thousands of sparkling lights!
Then, once you’ve enjoyed your walk through the garden, you can warm up with some hot cocoa and enjoy some s’mores by the fire pit, and if you’re a member of the 21+ crowd, you can opt to add some Baileys or peppermint schnapps to level up the seasonal fun.
What is the Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights
An annual event that is now celebrating its 14th year, the Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia, is a half-mile-long walking trail through the Botanical Garden’s outdoor gardens, lit up with thousands of holiday-themed light displays that turn the area into a winter wonderland.
The trail, which is both stroller and wheelchair accessible, has become one of the most popular holiday events in the DMV area, receiving over 100,000 visitors each year to enjoy the scenes and tap into their seasonal spirit.
The attraction has become a well-known destination for both date nights with young couples seeking a romantic seasonal activity and for families who want to get everyone out of the house for some seasonal fun without the chaos or crowds of the holiday markets.
How much does the Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights cost?
Tickets to the Winter Walk of Lights are currently around $25 per person (all guests ages 2+ require a ticket) and must be purchased online in advance.
Once you arrive, you can swing by the “SIPS & SPARKLES” shop for a hot (or cold) beverage of your choice, seasonal snacks, or even snag some light-up wearable items and handheld toys for little ones to enjoy during the Winter Walk.
Here are a few of the hit items available for order:
- Hot Chocolate
- Coffee
- Baileys add-on (21+)
- Peppermint Schnapps add-on (21+)
- ‘Amaretto Snow Globe’ cocktail (21+)
- Donut Holes
- Hot Pretzels
- Funnel Cakes
- S’mores
When can you go?
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights will be open from November 7, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
- November 7-December 4, 2025: 5:30-10:00 pm
- December 5th, 2025 to January 4th, 2026: 5:00-10:00 pm
While the Winter Walk will be open daily, it’s recommended that you try to go during the week; the weekends tend to be busier and, as a result, more crowded.