Today, York Street switches to holiday hours. Daytime admission at Denver Botanic Gardens now ends at 2:30 p.m., and it stays that way through Dec. 31, except for noon closings on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Tomorrow evening, Friday, Nov. 20, Blossoms of Light opens at 4:30 p.m. and runs nightly until 9 p.m. through Jan. 10. It's closed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, and on Christmas Day.
What changed this year is the ticket. This season the Gardens introduced what it calls plan-ahead pricing, and it labels the change "New this year!" General admission runs from $19 to $45, and members pay $16 to $38. Prices vary by date and time, based on how much demand the Gardens expects. The Gardens says Saturdays and dates around the holidays are typically in high demand, and that popular dates and times may cost more while less busy evenings may cost less.
That makes the price of each night a published forecast of how busy that night will be. For anyone living within a few blocks of York Street and 11th Avenue, the forecast covers more than the paths inside the Gardens. It also tells you how full the garage will be and which side streets will see the most circling cars.
How the Pricing Works
The Gardens' own explanation is short: "The further ahead you plan, the more you save. Ticket prices vary day-to-day, based on demand." Two variables set the price, the calendar date and the entry time. Waiting costs you as well, since the Gardens recommends buying in advance to lock in the lowest price for the date and time you choose.
Most of the run is already on sale. Members bought in tiers starting Nov. 4, and public tickets went on sale Monday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. On that morning the online queue opened at 9:30. At 10 a.m. everyone already waiting got a random place in line, and anyone who arrived later was served in order. A membership lowers the price, but it doesn't guarantee a ticket. Children 2 and younger get in free.
The Gardens' website is the only official place to buy Blossoms of Light tickets, and the Gardens won't support tickets bought from third parties.
The Season's Calendar
Since price follows expected demand, the calendar is the best guide to where prices will land. Here are the dates the Gardens has published for York Street and its other holiday light show.
| Date | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 19 | Daytime holiday hours begin, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Blossoms of Light opens, 4:30 to 9 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Trail of Lights opens at Chatfield Farms |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Blossoms closed for Thanksgiving |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Sensory-Friendly Night, 5 to 8 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 20 | Holiday Bar begins on select evenings |
| Thu., Dec. 24 | Daytime admission closes at noon |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | Blossoms closed |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | Daytime admission closes at noon |
| Mon., Jan. 4 | Last Holiday Bar date |
| Sun., Jan. 10 | Final night of Blossoms |
The Holiday Bar puts specialty cocktails, beer, wine and mocktails at bars along the path, with alcohol provided by partner Alliance Française. It runs from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4, which overlaps almost exactly with the "dates around the holidays" the Gardens names as high demand. If the bar is part of your plan, you're shopping in the season's most expensive stretch.
The Sensory-Friendly Night on Tuesday, Dec. 1, has its own fixed range of $22 to $27, or $18 to $23 for members. The Gardens adjusts light and sound to soften the most intense effects, and it reduces capacity. Grounds clear at 9 p.m. that night, not 9:45.
Late November weeknights and early December weeknights fall outside both high-demand categories the Gardens names. Opening weekend falls partly inside, since Nov. 21 is a Saturday.
The Price Forecasts the Curb, Too
The ticket price tracks how many people the Gardens expects, and those people need somewhere to park. The Gardens says its free parking structure is limited and fills quickly, and that street parking is restricted on some nearby streets. On streets where restrictions are posted for the listed dates, every parked vehicle needs a current residential parking permit. The posted dates and streets are on the 2026 Blossoms of Light parking map, which marks Josephine and the blocks around York. The Gardens also says it isn't responsible for parking tickets or towing fees.
The Gardens links to the City and County of Denver's Curbside Area Management parking permit plan for the area around the Gardens. It describes the plan as changing permit eligibility for nearby addresses based on feedback from residents and city council. If you live on a block near the map's edges, the city's page is the place to confirm where your address stands.
For neighbors, the simplest way around the parking question is not to drive. RTD route #24 runs on York and Josephine streets, route #10 runs on 12th Avenue, and there are bike racks at the York Street main entrance. If you live in Congress Park, you may be able to walk to the gate. On a high-priced Saturday you can expect a full garage, and on those nights walking matters most.
The Gap Between 2:30 and 4:30
The holiday schedule leaves a gap every day. Daytime general admission ends at 2:30 p.m., and the Gardens clears the grounds one hour after the last entry time. Blossoms entry starts at 4:30. So daytime visitors leave the property before evening ticket holders arrive.
Your entry time controls the rest of your evening. The Gardens asks guests to arrive within 30 minutes after the time on their ticket, and you don't need to change your ticket if you're running late. Inside, Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro sell holiday treats and warm drinks during Blossoms.
For dinner nearby, the Madison Street restaurant cluster in Congress Park has changed since last season. Westword reported on Sept. 17, 2026 that The Briar Patch had closed after 14 months at its Congress Park location. The same Westword article lists the corner's neighbors as Blue Pan Pizza next door, Sienna Wine, Bamboo Sushi, The French Press coffee shop and a Little Man Ice Cream location. Bamboo Sushi is at 1160 Madison St. and takes reservations on its own site. The Denver Post reported in January 2025 that it was Bamboo Sushi's second Denver location.
An early entry time lets you see the lights first and eat on Madison afterward. A later slot works the other way around. Either way, you can plan around a time that matches the price you paid.
Changing Your Mind Costs Less Than Waiting
Under demand pricing, the exchange policy matters as much as the original purchase, especially in a city where the weather changes fast. Here is how exchanges work:
- You can exchange tickets for another date or time at least 72 hours before your scheduled entry, as long as the new slot isn't sold out.
- Each exchange costs $5. Members don't pay the fee.
- If the new slot costs more, you pay the fee plus the price difference.
- If the new slot costs less, you still pay the fee, and the Gardens doesn't refund or credit the difference.
Exchanges go through the Gardens at 720-865-3500. Because moving to a cheaper night doesn't earn money back, the safest strategy is to buy the low-priced night you actually want early. If you move to a pricier slot later, you pay the price difference plus the $5 fee, which members skip. The Gardens' FAQ adds one reason to stay flexible: it recommends "braving the cold to see the lights under a fresh layer of snow for a truly magical experience and great photos." Since exchanges require 72 hours' notice, you can only chase snow if a storm is in the forecast at least three days out.
When the Answer Is Chatfield
The Gardens' other holiday light show, Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms, runs on a different schedule. It goes from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, 5 to 8:30 p.m., and it's closed Nov. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7, Dec. 8 and Dec. 25. The same official-site-only ticket rule applies to both events. For Congress Park households, Trail of Lights means a drive to the southwest metro instead of a walk to York Street. It also means a separate set of dates to compare when York Street's prices peak around the holidays.
At The Tack Group, we pay attention to the calendars that shape daily life in the neighborhoods we serve, and in Congress Park that includes the season the Gardens publishes every November. If you have questions about life near York Street, or about the blocks inside that parking map, Eric and Karla are glad to talk it through. Work with The Tack Group.
