Getting ready forNew England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill: Night Lights Sensory Friendly Hours.
Two evenings of Night Lights in Boylston, designed with Autism Resource Center, with no flashing or strobing lights, music and sounds at a lower volume, a quiet room, and 500 tickets spread over three hours.
Sensory supports. Dec 3 and 8 sensory friendly hours, quiet room, no strobes.
Hours
Sensory Friendly Hours: Thursday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 4 to 7 pm. Once you're checked in, you may stay until the event ends at 10 pm.
“There will be no flashing or strobing lights, and any music or ambient sounds will be played at a lower volume during these hours.”
“The Reservoir Room will also be a designated quiet space during these hours. This space is a large, open, carpeted room and will be set up with tables, chairs, and sensory toys.”
“For Sensory Friendly Hours, we will offer 500 tickets spread out over three hours, which is less than 1/3 of our normal capacity for Night Lights.”
Beginning at 7 pm, ticketed entry goes back to regular capacity, with 840 tickets for the 7 to 8:30 pm arrival times.
Tickets are non-refundable. To reschedule, call the Night Lights Hotline at 508-869-6745 by 5 pm the day before your ticket date, while another evening has tickets. There's a $10 transaction fee for all rescheduled tickets.
Arrive as close to your arrival time as you can. The café, Garden Shop and restrooms aren't open to you before your arrival time, and entry isn't guaranteed if you arrive more than 30 minutes late.
whether you can leave and come back in during the evening
headphones to borrow
Call 508-869-6745More about New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Louder, in the garden's words
Fountains in some gardens (the fountains may be noisy)not stated
The Limonaia and Orangerie conservatories (sounds will echo because of the high ceilings)not stated
Quieter, in the garden's words
The Reservoir Room, the designated quiet space during Sensory Friendly Hoursquiet zone
Sensory Friendly Hours tickets: adults $26, seniors 65+ $23, non-member children 4 to 12 (member children 4 to 18) $16, children 3 and under free but a ticket is required. Garden members save 25%. Limited tickets are available; book online, or if you can't use the online system, call the Night Lights Hotline at 508-869-6745, daily 9 am to 5 pm.
Card to Culture: people with a Massachusetts-issued EBT, WIC or ConnectorCare card can reserve up to six Night Lights tickets at 50% off non-member prices by calling the Night Lights Hotline at 508-869-6745. It can't be combined with other discounts and isn't available at the door.
Parking is free in a large, well-lit lot. Accessible parking is closest to the building, in the first lot on the right. You can drop people off halfway up the entry path by following signs for the drop-off area. If you use a rideshare, the gate on French Drive closes to arriving vehicles at the end of the event, so plan to be picked up before 10 pm.
Outdoor paths are accessible in clear weather but may be challenging in rain, ice or snow; the indoor part is fully accessible. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, first come, first served. Small strollers with large wheels work best; large strollers and wagons aren't recommended. Scooters and other wheeled devices aren't allowed, except those used for mobility assistance.
Outside food is permitted, but seating is very limited, and the garden doesn't recommend a picnic dinner. Outside alcohol isn't allowed. The Farmer and the Fork café is open nightly until 9:30 pm. S'mores Kits are $4.75 including tax, and you can reserve them with your tickets. Fire pits and concessions are in The Ramble and the Winter Garden.
Night Lights takes place in all weather. If weather is a safety risk and the garden cancels an evening, you're told by email no later than 2 pm that day and your tickets are refunded.
No pets. Service dogs are allowed throughout the gardens and buildings at all times.
Questions: the Night Lights Hotline, 508-869-6745, or visit@nebg.org, daily 9 am to 5 pm.
