Illuminate is a larger-than-life lighted exhibition, comprised of hundreds of handcrafted lanterns, produced by Tianyu, Arts & Culture.

Guests will go on an immersive journey with beautiful installations, glowing tunnels, and vibrant scenes celebrating the beauty of nature and cultural artistry.

Nov. 21, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026

Members receive 10% off ticket prices.

Member Monday Ticket Pricing: $23 for adults, $18 for children.  All sales final.

Please take note of the following details: Tickets are bought for 30-minute time slots, which serve as your entry time to the exhibition. A restricted number of walk-up tickets are offered at the front kiosk. On-site parking spaces are available for purchase ONLINE ONLY at a cost of $20. Limited overflow parking is available on Old Austin Rd. on a first-come, first-served basis.

This convenience fee helps ensure the Garden’s commitment to efficient online ticketing and contributes directly to the Garden’s non-profit mission to transform lives through plants and nature.

On-site parking spaces are available for purchase ONLINE ONLY at a cost of $20. Limited overflow parking is available on Old Austin Rd. on a first-come, first-served basis. 

We also recommend utilizing ride share services. 

Yes! Parking Lot A is the designated drop-off and pickup area for Uber and Lyft. The Garden highly encourages guests to use rideshare to enhance their Illuminate experience.

Illuminate is suitable for all ages – to be enjoyed by everyone. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Yes. Garden members must purchase tickets online and receive 10% off regular ticket prices. Only Garden members are eligible for this discount. Additional service fees apply.

Yes, you can become a member online or by visiting the admissions kiosk during normal business hours. 

Due to limited capacity, the Garden does not guarantee ticket availability at the door (day of). Due to high demand, guests are strongly recommended to purchase tickets online and in advance.

No. Admission to Illuminate and the Garden are separate. Illuminate is a ticketed evening event with admissions starting at 5:30 p.m. Regular Garden admission prices apply if you visit the Garden during the day. If you have both regular admission and Illuminate tickets, you must exit the garden by 4 p.m. and return to enter Illuminate at your designated timed entry.

We strongly advise arriving at the Garden 15 minutes before your entry time. Please allow time to park and check-in. To provide you with the best experience, entry is granted based on the time designated on your ticket.

Once you are admitted, you do not have a time limit to complete your visit.

The Garden will try and accommodate you on the next available slot within Illuminates’s operational hours on the day. Please ensure you leave enough time to arrive on time if you travel a long way.

Choose your date carefully! Please ensure that you have selected the correct date and time slot for your booking. Illuminate tickets are nonrefundable; however, the Garden can accommodate a change to your reservation for a $10 change fee (subject to availability).

Choose your date carefully! Please ensure that you have selected the correct date and time slot for your booking. Illuminate tickets are nonrefundable; however, the Garden can accommodate a change to your reservation for a $10 change fee (subject to availability).

The exhibition route is a little over a mile long. This is a self-guided walking event. There are no shuttles or tours.

In some areas, the lighting will be at a low level as part of the experience. You are encouraged to bring a flashlight in case of an emergency; this should not be used unless necessary.

The path is not covered, and all guests are reminded that this is an outdoor illuminated event, and the weather may be inclement. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter.

The last time slot is 8:30 p.m. and the event closes at 10 p.m.

All guests must exit the Garden no later than 10 p.m. 

Yes! Please use hashtag #sabotilluminate to share your experience. While waiting for that perfect shot, please do not block pathways or the view of others. No tripods allowed. Photographs and videos are not to be used for commercial purposes. No night commercial photography is allowed during Illuminate, permits will not be given.

Drones are not permitted. 

Pets are not allowed. Only ADA-designated service animals are permitted. 

Illuminate is a rain-or-shine event. The Garden reserves the right to shut down or cancel the event if weather conditions are assessed to pose a risk to our guests’ safety.

Yes. The event is accessible for wheelchairs, mobility assistant devices, and strollers and are encouraged in the Garden for those who need them.

Yes, accessible parking spaces are available. 

The illuminated path is approximately one mile in length. The exhibition route is a little over a mile long is designed so that it can be viewed solely from even paths.

We strongly recommend dressing warmly. The Garden may get cold during winter months. 

Yes, a selection of food and drink will be available to purchase. 

No. Only food and drinks purchased on-site are permitted to be consumed during the illuminated trail. 

The Garden Gift Shop will be open. 

Illuminate is an outdoor illuminated event. If the weather presents a hazard and a risk to safety, any decision to cancel will be taken by 2 p.m. on the day of the event. If Illuminate is cancelled, you will be notified by email and text message and you will be informed of the re-booking process. We advise you to check the website for the latest updates before you travel to the Botanical Garden. 

If Illuminate is canceled per the cancellation policy and ticket holders cannot attend an alternative night offered, a refund will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We can also offer a voucher for the following year. The transaction fee is not refundable under any circumstances.

If your tickets are lost or if you require your eTickets to be re-sent to you, please get in touch with ticketing@sabot.org or 210.536.1400.

Please email ticketing@sabot.org or call 210.536.1400.