Select Evenings December 4th - February 15th

Experience the Garden as a winter wonderland! Featuring botanical themed light displays, ice luminarias, cozy firepits, a kicksled trail, and model train!

This year, we’re offering OFF-PEAK (FLEX) tickets which can be redeemed on any OFF-PEAK night! See the full schedule through the button below:

Register to participate by December 19th!

Novice and expert carvers are welcome, as well as teams! Register for the Large Block (350lb) or Small Block (10lb) category.

The competition will take place December 27th - January 4th. Public voting will occur two nights: Saturday, January 3rd and Sunday January 4th

Saturday, December 20th | 4:30 - 8:30pm

Celebrate the solstice at the Garden! All the Brighter Winter Nights content PLUS a beer garden (21+), Yet Dogs, outdoor movie, and a lantern walk at 5pm and 7pm! Wear your brightest lights and carry lanterns for this community lantern walk around the Garden!

Guests may exit and re-enter the 21+ only beer garden (IDs will be checked)! Drink tickets are $6 each and available for purchase at Admissions.

Saturday, December 13th | 1:00 - 2:30pm

Create a winter themed village of gingerbread houses with paint pens and recyclable cardboard. Practice drawing and cutting out trees, light posts, moose, windows, roof lines, and doors to create a charming holiday scene for your mantel, window, tabletop or staircase.

Saturday, December 13th
Kids at 1:00pm | Adults at 3:30pm

Join us for beginner ice carving workshops! Participants will learn about the basics of ice carving and how to safely use hand tools while creating a fun seasonal ice sculpture to take home.

Kids Ice Carving Basics: 1:00-3:00pm (recommended for ages 8-15)
Beginner Adult Ice Carving Basics: 3:30-5:30pm (ages 16+)

Saturday, December 13th | 5:00 - 8:00pm

Stars have fallen from the night sky and into the Garden! Use your blacklight flashlight or borrow one of ours to shed some light on their secrets during Brighter Winter Nights on December 13th!

Scavenger hunt is included with Admission to Brighter Winter Nights on December 13th! High Five Hand Pies food truck will be available for purchase.

Monday, December 15th | 10:30 - 11:30am

Join us in the Garden for a different story every week! This December we are celebrating winter and all of the joys of the coming season. Come dance, sing and listen to new stories with us. December 15th’s story is “Hanukkah in Alaska” by Barbara Brown.

Tuesday, December 16th | 4:30 - 8:00pm

Create a holiday treat basket with Soul Sisters Basketree. All materials are supplied to make this perfect gift or display for the holiday season. There are three colors to choose from with different embellishments so everyone leaves with their own unique creation!

Friday, December 19th | 12:00 - 3:00pm

Join us in the Garden for a hands-on, holiday crafting experience that will be fun for the whole family! Craft tables will be available in the greenhouse and outside in our nursery. Come and make a bird feeder, recycled tin lantern or a tree cookie ornament!

Wednesday, December 10th | 5:30 - 8:00pm
WORKSHOP FULL
Capture the glow and movement of Alaska’s Northern Lights in a one-of-a-kind wool painting! In this hands-on needle felting workshop, you’ll explore the art of “painting with wool” as you blend colorful fibers to create your own aurora-inspired landscape.

Monday, December 8th & 15th | 7:00 - 9:00pm

Join local artist, Nathan Perry, for a fun two-day workshop creating your own scratchboard art piece. Students will learn line techniques, development of drawing skills, composition, and creativity.

The Garden is here to help you with all your field trip needs, whether you need us to come to you, or you wish to get away from the classroom and come to us! Programs offered year-round, Monday - Friday.

Teachers and parents can schedule with the Garden directly by calling (907) 770-3692 or emailing the Garden at education@alaskabg.org.

Memberships include:
FREE year-round, general admission to the Garden (excludes ticketed events).
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Discounts on workshops, summer camps, and Garden retail.
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Early access to the Plant Sales Kickoff in mid-May and 10% discount on all nursery purchases.

The Alaska Botanical Garden only grows with the sun, the soil, and the ongoing support of our generous community. Consider a lasting gift by purchasing a leaf from the ABG donor wall sculpture. Contributions will be honored with a personalized, engraved metal leaf and make a great gift for friends or family to celebrate an important milestone or to honor the memory of a loved one.

Commonly referred to as Himalayan poppies, the genus Meconopsis is composed of fuzzy, flowering plants native to the Tibetan Plateau.