Trade Frost for Foliage This Christmas at Naples Botanical Garden

The holidays bloom a bit differently in Southwest Florida. At Naples Botanical Garden, pines are traded for palms and frost for foliage, ushering in the holiday season in true tropical style.

The annual Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden is a Naples tradition that has become a staple for both locals and holiday travelers seeking a taste of the North Pole—only with the perks of more pleasurable winter weather.

When the sun sets, the garden begins to glow, as its 170 acres of lush grounds are washed in vibrant hues and laced with twinkling light displays, reflecting in the Water Garden. Guests can sip on spiked apple cider and enjoy holiday treats and grilled fare like Johnsonville brats and hot dogs as they meander through the brightly illuminated pathways. 

But the magic of the night doesn’t end with what you can see—it’s found in what you can smell. Flowers known as angel’s trumpets release their unique fragrance after sundown, filling the garden with a sweet perfume.

At the center of it all sits a 15-foot-tall tree, made of native bromeliads and accented with tillandsia rather than tinsel, making a convincing case for swapping evergreens with a native alternative. Bask in its glow while carolers harmonize to nostalgic tunes.

Even Santa Claus gets a Southwest Florida makeover. His changes in latitude sure have an effect on his attitude—and his attire. At Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden, visitors get to share their holiday wishes with a laid-back Santa on select nights before posing for a Christmas-card worthy photo. Stroll the garden’s grounds to discover all the carefully curated photo spots sure to inspire a little envy from friends and family in colder climes.

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