Garden d'Lights fills Bellevue Botanical Garden with over half a million lights each winter. On Sensory Friendly Night, Tuesday, December 8, 2026, all the lights are on as usual, but there's no live music and attendance is limited to half capacity, 200 guests per half-hour.
Sensory supports. Dec 8 sensory friendly night, no live music, half capacity.
Hours
Garden d'Lights runs Saturday, November 28, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027, including Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and is closed on Christmas Day. General admission nights (Nov 28 and 29, Dec 4 to 6, and Dec 11 2026 to Jan 3 2027): first entry 4:30 pm, last entry 9 pm, lights out 9:30 pm. $5 nights (Nov 30 to Dec 3 and Dec 7 to 10 2026, including Sensory Friendly Night): first entry 4:30 pm, last entry 8 pm, lights out 8:30 pm.
“All lights will be on as usual, but there will be no live music, and attendance is limited to half capacity (200 guests per half-hour) to create a calmer experience.”
“The display is outdoors on a well-lit pathway and is accessible on foot only.”
Sensory Friendly Night is one of the $5 nights, so it ends earlier than the general admission nights: last entry is 8 pm.
Arrive inside your half-hour window, with time to park and get in the ticket scanning line; the garden asks you not to come before or after it. Everyone on one QR code has to arrive together.
The paved paths around the buildings, the Shorts House patio and the ramp up to it are about a 1/8 mile walk, and many lights can be seen from there, if the full gravel loop is too much.
For a full-size copy your child can use, open this page at squaredsteps.com, tap Make it yours, then print.
Ask before you go
a quiet space or headphones to borrow
whether you can leave and come back in
whether strollers can go on the light route
where first aid is
Call 425-600-3839More about Garden d'Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Tickets: online only, for a date and a half-hour entry window, delivered by email and by text if you give a cell number; print the QR code or show it on your phone. Other nights are $10 for ages 11 and older; kids 10 and under are always free. The garden offers no military, senior, group or other discounts. Limit of 10 adult tickets per transaction.
Refunds: tickets are not refundable unless the garden cancels the event. You can reschedule your own tickets through the link in your confirmation email, or give them to a friend.
Parking: the garden's lot is $5 per vehicle, cash or card, first come, first served, and it's busy and often fills. It's free for vehicles with a disability parking permit or plate; show it to the parking attendant. Free parking is at Wilburton Hill Park, 1/4 mile east on the south side of Main Street. Rideshares can drop off and pick up in the garden's loading zone. BellHop is Bellevue's free on-demand electric shuttle, booked in the Ride Circuit app.
Food: each guest may bring one individual beverage and a small snack; larger food isn't allowed. The Trillium Store is open evenings during Garden d'Lights, 4:30 to 8:30 pm.
Paths: most of the route is 3/8 minus gravel, which packs down and is ADA-compliant; some paths are slightly sloped, and you may meet puddles and uneven ground. Non-skid shoes are recommended. Wheelchairs aren't available at the event. Accessible restrooms are near the Trillium Store.
For assisted groups, the garden asks for a caregiver-to-guest ratio of 1:5 and that you stay with your group.
Weather: open even if it rains. The garden may cancel for snow, ice, high winds or other bad weather and posts alerts on its website, Facebook and Instagram.
No pets; service animals only.
Questions: gardendlights@bellevuebotanical.org or 425-600-3839. Lost items: leave a voicemail at the Garden office, 425-452-2750.
