Going to Longwood Gardens in Brandywine Valley in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania has been a long-standing tradition in my family for many years. Every year I visit, I am captivated by the different decoration themes and this year is no exception with “A Very Retro Christmas.” Reminisce and imagine the Christmas of years past with dazzling light displays exuding a mid-century vibe of years gone by, and you’ll delight in the retro feel and decorations found around every corner!
You’ll experience an old-fashioned Christmas street, a Christmas party scene, new outdoor facilities, and plenty of classic decorations. The Conservatory becomes a 1940s and 1950s Christmas street scene, complete with decorated streetlights, sparkling tinsel garlands, and retro vignettes—even a Bundt cake!
More than a year in advance, more than 200 people work to craft unique ornaments and create each display. Beginning the tradition in 1921, the DuPont family hosted lavish gatherings to share the Christmas spirit with friends and family.
A combination of outdoor and indoor displays, there is something to interest any member of your family. The exhibits change every year, so it becomes a new experience every time you visit.
Starting in late August, arborists install the outdoor lights and add more than 50 miles of lights, snowflakes, orbs, and illuminate more than 150 outdoor trees.
As soon as I enter the Conservatory, I usually head straight to the Music Room. As a floral designer, I always find the design of this room exciting, showcasing exceptional original vignettes, and this year it did not disappoint.
Here are some tips for visiting Longwood and making the most of your time:
- Buy your time tickets in advance online. At popular times, such as Saturday nights, tickets may sell out early. Try to go earlier in the season so it is less crowded.
- A good arrival time is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. I like to see the gardens both during the day and at night. It may look totally different.
- Visit the Conservatory first. Especially if you have young children, they will spend a lot of time in the children’s garden, filled with water fountains. Bring a clean change of clothes for the flooded children!
- Dress warmly and bring hats and gloves. When I arrived around 4pm, the weather was nice, but once the sun went down, it got really cold! Dress in layers, so you can remove the layers when you enter the warm greenhouse.
- Eat in the cafeteria. They have delicious food at reasonable prices. Be sure to eat mushroom soup as Kennett Square is the mushroom capital of the world! There’s also an outdoor bar with pizza and quick bites outside with indoor seating. For a special experience, eat at the on-site 1906 restaurant.
- Be sure to visit one of the best public toilets located in Longwood Gardens with an “eco-friendly” design and a stunning green wall.
- Visit the gift shop sooner rather than later. Filled with carefully selected garden-related products, the gift shop is usually empty when people arrive, but can become hectic when people leave. Be sure to look at the plants as they have some unusual selections.
You don’t have to be a dedicated gardener to appreciate all the spectacular Christmas displays, just someone who treasures and enjoys the sights and sounds of the holidays. Sing Christmas carols on the 10,010 wind pipe organ, the largest ever built in a residential setting. Children of all ages will appreciate the huge outdoor Garden Railway with Thomas the Tank Engine and many interesting miniature replicas. This year I noticed the Italian Longwood water garden created in miniature in the train garden.
Or climb a treehouse with the kids for a good view of the garden lights. My little niece spent at least an hour and a half in the greenhouse’s interactive kindergarten. What better way to introduce children to the enjoyment of a garden? Memories were made on this visit. For car and truck fans, check out this video on how to transform an old farm truck into the Retro Red Truck that livened up the front of the Du Pont house. What a dream project!
To see another great video from opening night at Longwood, visit:
Now through January 7, 2024, make your timed reservations online at A Longwood Christmas. Open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, if the weather is inclement, there is plenty to do inside and enjoy the outside lights.
