It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Nestled in the heart of Orange, the annual Christmas Strolls returns Tuesdays through Saturdays, Dec. 2-20, from 6-9:30 p.m. This year, Shangri La Gardens is implementing new changes to this event to ensure a more safe and magical experience for all guests. A new ticketed entry system with a small admission fee will be introduced to improve safety, reduce crowding and preserve the beauty of the gardens.
“Christmas Strolls have become a treasured holiday tradition for our community and grown in popularity during the past few years,” said Angie Mason, executive director at Shangri La Gardens. “We are continuously listening to valued community feedback, especially hearing your concerns about crowd control. This change has been thoughtfully made through our commitment to your safety and the quality of this beloved holiday event. By managing attendance each evening of Strolls, we can reduce crowding, provide guests with more space to enjoy the lights and better preserve the garden spaces that we all love.”
Each evening’s Stroll will be limited to 4,000 tickets, and all guests must have a ticket for entry. Tickets are available for pre-purchase online at shangrilagardens.org while limited tickets are available for each evening. Ticket pre-purchase is strongly recommended to guarantee your Stroll at the lowest price. Online prices are $3 for adults (ages 13+) and $1 for children. Walk-up ticket purchases are $5. Infants 2 and under are free.
“Even though there will be a small admission fee, it is our priority for Strolls to remain affordable, inclusive and family friendly,” sad Mason. “We are deeply grateful for the community’s support as we implement this change. The new ticketed entry system allows us to make this cherished holiday event a sustainable tradition that is kind to our neighbors, community and gardens for the years to come.”
While there are admission changes for this year’s Strolls, visitors can still expect to experience their favorite aspects about Christmas at Shangri La Gardens, including the vibrant light displays and festive decorations throughout the garden.
“We have also changed some of the decorations, I can’t wait for everyone to see Pond of the Blue Moon,” said Mason. ”We also partnered with Grupo Cultural Amarilis to install a cornhusk nativity scene. We are honored they chose Shangri La as a place to display their art. It was a generous gift, and we are grateful.”
According to Mason, the Shangri La staff have been busy on all the seasonal plant displays and renovating some of the garden spaces. So, during the day, patrons will see all sorts of new plants.
“For our evening event, we have moved all of the concessions to one area and created a little space for people to gather before heading out to see the lights,” she said. ”This space will be wheelchair and stroller friendly. The light displays are just as magical as last year and with the reduced crowds, you will be able to experience it in a more enjoyable way. We also have some very creative trees from our Community Decorate a Tree, sponsored by Chevron Phillips Chemical.”
Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will also be collected for their annual Community Food Drive that benefits Orange Christian Services. Also returning to each night of Strolls is the Senior, Mobility Friendly and Sensory Sensitivity Hour. This experience is offered from 5-6 p.m. for guests with sensory sensitivities or mobility challenges and their families.
“Strolls has has become a family tradition for the community,” said Mason. ”I love to see families come out and enjoy the garden. I also love that this supports Orange Christian Services. They provide support for a lot of people in the Orange Community. Please consider bringing canned goods for donation. Orange Lions Club is also here selling hot cocoa and other treats. Free State Cellars will also be here selling wine and other goodies.”
For detailed information, view shangrilagardens.org/know-before-you-stroll.