HUNTSVILLE – Galaxy of Lights, an annual holiday light experience at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, kicked off its 26th season this weekend and will run through Jan. 1. With both walking and driving experiences, Galaxy has become a regional holiday tradition, and this year will offer a combination of familiar features and new surprises.

For the first time at Walking Nights, a special path will lead guests through the interior of the Garden, making this year’s Walking Nights experience distinct from Driving Nights. Along the path, guests will find familiar Galaxy features, such as traditional light displays and holiday music, combined with new lighting techniques and special effects.

The result, says the Garden, is an experience that blends tradition with novelty to create an immersive experience that guests of all ages can enjoy.

“Galaxy of Lights is a beloved tradition for our entire region, and as we look forward to the next 25 years of the event, we are inspired by the opportunity to blend familiar traditions with new surprises,” said Sue Wagner, chief executive officer of the Garden.

Rebecca Turk, director of learning and public engagement at the Garden, said, “We introduced some of these new lighting effects during last year’s 25th anniversary season, and they were very popular, so we could not wait to bring them back again this year with even more surprises. Walking Nights is going to be more immersive than ever before while maintaining the Galaxy holiday magic our community knows and loves.”

Other returning Galaxy favorites include Dog Walking Nights on Mondays and Tuesdays during Walking Nights (Nov. 15, 16, 22 and 23) and the Galaxy of Lights 5K Race and 3K Fun Run on Nov. 29 and 30.

Galaxy of Lights Walking Nights will take place through Sunday, Nov. 28, from 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (time of last admission). The event will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Ticket prices range from $13 to $25 for adults and $7 to $15 for children. Discounted tickets of $3 each are available to those who qualify through Museums for All (limit of four tickets). Guests are asked to pre-purchase timed tickets in advance to guarantee admission to Walking Nights, as gate tickets are not guaranteed.

Galaxy of Lights Driving Nights will take place Thursday, Dec. 2, through Saturday, Jan. 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (time of last admission). The event will be closed on Christmas Day. Ticket prices range from $20 to $35 per vehicle (limit of 10 passengers) with a $5 discount available at the gate on Mondays for active and retired military personnel with valid ID. Tickets for Driving Nights can be pre-purchased for any date or purchased upon arrival.

Galaxy of Lights tickets are available now at the Garden front desk during regular business hours or online at hsvbg.org/galaxy. Proceeds from Galaxy of Lights go directly to support the mission activities of the Garden, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Galaxy of Lights has been recognized regionally and nationally for its light displays. In 2020, Galaxy won second place in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. For more information about Galaxy of Lights, visit hsvbg.org/galaxy.

Galaxy of Lights is presented by Jerry Damson Automotive Group.