Gardens Aglow has once again been voted one of the top ten holiday light displays in the country in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ choice contest. Selected as number four, Gardens Aglow competed against 19 other botanical gardens in the nation-wide contest, all of which were chosen by a panel of experts partnering with 10 Best editors. Winners were determined by popular vote.

Gardens Aglow, now in its seventh year, has been garnering passionate reactions from visitors of every age. Last month, the U.S. News & World Report named Gardens Aglow one of the 17 Best Christmas Light Displays in the U.S., reporting that, “Previous travelers said Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is thrilling at any time of year, but they saved their biggest praise for the facility's annual Gardens Aglow event.”

There is still plenty of time to enjoy the show. Gardens Aglow is open Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 22 and 23, and then nightly from Christmas through Jan/ 1. Download a map of the region from GardensAglow.org with entries in this year’s community lighting contest. The seasonal tour of the peninsula makes a great pre- or post-show activity, as does visiting the Gardens’ environmentally driven Gardenshop online, shipping locally-sourced, curated, and sustainable gifts from shop.mainegardens.org. To view the online calendar for available dates and times and to reserve your advance tickets, required, visit GardensAglow.org.

Between Gardens Aglow and Boothbay Lights, the Boothbay peninsula is the place to be for wintertime cheer. Experience the Gardens’ explosion of festive color, then enjoy a wide variety of the region’s seasonal activities. For more details and to order tickets, visit GardensAglow.org. To see what dining, shopping, and overnight accommodations are available for the season, visit Boothbaylights.com.

At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public garden in New England. Voted #1 on TripAdvisor, the nationally recognized public garden is located in Boothbay, Maine. With two miles of hiking trails, 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens featuring native plants of Maine, a children’s garden, a sensory garden, and so much more, there’s something for everyone. The mission of the Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through  horticulture, education, and research. To reserve tickets or learn more, visit MaineGardens.org