Longwood’s new West Conservatory rises above Main Fountain floor at Longwood Gardens; the new work will be unveiled Nov. 22.
The holidays may be a time for feasting, but in 2024 Longwood Gardens is going to be offering a feast for the eyes.,
It will unveil the massive Longwood Reimagining that’s been underway since 2021 on Nov. 22, and A Longwood Christmas will open the same day.
Tickets are on sale now for both, and the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, attraction is offering a special buffet dinner option as well as an an exquisite new space for its 1906 Restaurant.
The Christmas display will be open daily through Jan. 12, 2025, and a ticket to it will include all the new display spaces created by the
$250 million Longwood Reimagined: a New Garden Experience program.
Timed tickets are required and the Christmas displays sell out quickly for weekends. Tickets are $42 for adults, $24 for ages 5 to 18; and $8 for Museums for All and PA ACCESS Cardholders. Buy them here .
The revitalization is designed to enhance the customer experience as well as expand opportunities for exhibitions, programs and events.
“As we stand on the brink of an exciting new chapter in Longwood Gardens’ illustrious history, I am thrilled to welcome guests to experience Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience during our holiday season,” said Paul Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens for 16 years.
Redman has overseen a massive transformation at the former du Pont estate, adding a meadow garden, a $90 million redo of its main fountain complex that permits shows of colored fountains dancing to music and now the Longwood Reimagined experience.\
“A Longwood Christmas is always a magical time of year, and this year promises to be even more special as we invite visitors to explore new areas and 17 acres of revitalized beauty, including two new glasshouses and stunning gardens and water features,” Redman said in a press release.
Guests can explore three acres under glass that’s been decorated for the holiday season with unique horticultural highlights.
The East Conservatory will be transformed into a snow globe with delicate decorations forming a vision of snowy winter magic.
Fantastical holiday trees will seemingly float in mid-air above the lush lawn in the historic Main Conservatory.
The Music Room will feature a sweet holiday gathering, adorned in peppermint-themed finery, while the Fern Floor features a shimmering 30-foot tall tree created by Studio Roso of Denmark designed to evoke the crystalline beauty of the new West Conservatory.
Outside, the more than half a million twinkling lights will be spread across hundreds of acres and festive fountain shows.
Longwood Reimagined
Longwood Reimagined aims to augment the public spaces of the iconic central grounds to create a seamless connection from east to west. It will transition from lush formal gardens to expansive views over the open meadows of Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley.
The largest component is the new 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory. Designed by WEISS/MANFREDI, with gardens and water features by Reed Hilderbrand, the conservatory will feature asymmetrical peaks rising from a pool, giving the illusion that the building floats on water.
Its interior features Mediterranean-inspired gardens set amid canals and fountains, creating an exquisite tapestry-like design that seamlessly integrates the old with the new.
Longwood’s Cascade Garden, the only extant design in North America by the great Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, is being relocated to an all-new, 3,800-square-foot glass house of its own. It’s meant to be a jewel box where the tropical plantings will thrive at the heart of the conservatory ensemble.
A new outdoor Bonsai Courtyard, built alongside the West Conservatory, will exhibit one of the most outstanding collections of bonsai in the country.
Other elements of Longwood Reimagined include the construction of a new education and administration building, called The Grove, with a state-of-the-art library and classrooms; and the renewal of the beloved Waterlily Court designed by Sir Peter Shepheard (1913-2002).
Longwood’s beloved Waterlily Court designed by the last Sir Peter Shepheard will be part of Longwood Reimagined.
Taste of Christmas
New for 2024, Longwood is also launching Taste of Christmas at The Fountain Room—the perfect place to warm up, relax, and recharge.
Nestled in the heart of the Gardens, The Fountain Room—newly opened as part of Longwood Reimagined—is an airy, inviting space that offers spectacular views of the Main Fountain Garden.
Guests will have exclusive access to stations featuring a mix of sweet, savory and carved-to-order selections; non-alcoholic beverages; decadent hot chocolate; and more.
They will be allowed to come and go so they can warm up or rest.
Special tickets, which include gardens admission, are required. They are $178.74 for adults (ages 21+), $117.34 (ages 13-20); and $74.94 (ages 5-12); Members are $136.74 (21+), $94.34 (ages 13-20), $51.94 (ages 5-12). Kids 4 and under are free
1906 Restaurant
Longwood’s restaurant will feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the iconic Main Fountain Garden. New selections will be crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients for an unparalleled dining experience. Advance reservations for 1906 are open and strongly recommended.
The 1906 Bar & Lounge will offer light bites served alongside award-winning local and international wines and beers, and complemented by timeless cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages with a garden twist.
Private dining is also available for groups of up to 18 guests.
The private space is nestled within the main dining room and offers an exclusive view of the 1906 culinary team at work.
For more information about hours, please visit the 1906 page on the Longwood website.
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