Enchanted: Forest of Light returns to Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California, for its tenth season, running November 22, 2026 through January 9, 2027. The nightly walk through the gardens’ oak woodland and camellia forest runs from 5:30 pm to 10 pm, with the event closed on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25). New for 2026 is a laser light show on the Main Lawn that closes each night with a ‘snowfall’ finale, plus a Giant Koi installation marking the Japanese Garden’s 60th anniversary and Tom Fruin’s stained-glass house sculptures relocated to the Oak Grove.
The roughly one-mile route suits families with strollers, grandparents and date nights alike, and most visitors spend 60 to 90 minutes walking it at an easy pace. Tickets are timed entry by default, meaning you pick a specific date and arrival window when you buy online, though Descanso also sells a higher-priced Anytime ticket for visitors who want to show up whenever they like. Because capacity is limited on busy nights, advance purchase is strongly recommended over hoping to walk up at the gate.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Descanso Gardens
- City: La Cañada Flintridge
- State: California
- Dates: November 22, 2026 to January 9, 2027 (closed Nov 26 and Dec 25)
- Hours: 5:30 pm to 10 pm nightly
- Tickets: Timed general admission $12 to $52 depending on date, age and membership (members: adults $22-$45, children $12-$30; non-members: adults $29-$52, children $19-$37); Anytime tickets $65 members / $85 non-members
- Timed entry: Yes, unless purchasing an Anytime ticket
- New for 2026: New laser light show on the Main Lawn with a ‘snowfall’ finale, Giant Koi for the Japanese Garden’s 60th anniversary, Tom Fruin’s house sculptures moved to the Oak Grove
What’s new for 2026
This is the tenth season of Enchanted at Descanso Gardens, and the garden has confirmed two headline additions. A new laser light show plays over the Main Lawn each evening and ends with a ‘snowfall’ finale, giving the night a clear closing moment rather than just winding down. The Japanese Garden marks its 60th anniversary with a temporary Giant Koi installation, and Tom Fruin’s glowing stained-glass house sculptures, a longtime fan favorite, have been relocated to the Oak Grove. A Holiday Market runs December 2 through 6 on the Main Lawn with local makers, in addition to the nightly light route.
The lights and displays
The self-guided route strings together roughly ten lit experiences across the garden’s paths, including the returning Flower Power walk and the Ancient Forest, along with large-scale illuminated sculptures. The stained-glass cottages now sit in the Oak Grove rather than their previous spot, and the new Main Lawn laser show caps the evening with its snowfall effect. Descanso’s camellia forest and oak woodland give the displays a different backdrop than a typical lights event staged in open lots, since the installations are tucked among mature trees.
Tickets, prices and member nights
General admission is timed entry, with prices that move by date and time slot: members pay $22 to $45 for adults and $12 to $30 for children, while non-members pay $29 to $52 for adults and $19 to $37 for children. Children under 2 get in free. Descanso also sells an Anytime ticket, good for any date or entry time during the run, for $65 (members) or $85 (non-members). Membership itself includes free general admission plus the discounted add-on rate, so frequent visitors come out ahead buying a membership first. Parking at the garden is free. Tickets are sold through descansogardens.org/enchanted.
Food, drinks and extras
Festive refreshments and treats are sold on-site, and payment is cashless only. The Store, Descanso’s gift shop, stays open during event hours for holiday shopping. Outside food is not permitted inside the gardens, so plan to eat beforehand if you want a full meal rather than a snack.
Tips for your visit
Enchanted runs rain or shine, so dress for the weather and wear comfortable, stable shoes since the route covers uneven garden paths over about a mile. The path accommodates strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Parking is free but assigned on a first-come basis by attendants, so arriving close to your entry time rather than much earlier can mean a shorter walk from the car. As with most holiday light events, nights closer to weekends and the week before Christmas tend to draw bigger crowds than weeknights earlier in the run.
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Enchanted: Forest of Light 2026 at Descanso Gardens FAQs
When is Enchanted Forest of Light 2026?
It runs November 22, 2026 through January 9, 2027 at Descanso Gardens, nightly from 5:30 pm to 10 pm, with the event closed on Thanksgiving (Nov 26) and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
How much are Enchanted Forest of Light tickets in 2026?
Timed general admission ranges from $22 to $45 for adult members and $29 to $52 for non-member adults, with lower child pricing, depending on the date and time you select. An Anytime ticket good for any date or time costs $65 for members and $85 for non-members.
Do you need to buy Enchanted Forest of Light tickets in advance?
Yes. Entry is timed and nightly capacity is limited, so Descanso Gardens recommends buying tickets online ahead of your visit rather than arriving without one.
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Photo: Alboychenko08 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.