November 6th, 2025
Winter Lights Powered by MidAmerican Energy Foundation Opens November 21
The Quad City Botanical Center is proud to present the ninth annual Winter Lights Powered by MidAmerican Energy Foundation, opening November 21.
Step into a dazzling scene of over 315,000 glowing lights adorning over five acres of garden grounds.
Explore the Crawford Company Tropical Sun Garden, Children’s Garden, the glistening pond, lawns, and pocket gardens of our light exhibit as you experience our largest fundraiser of the year. New additions include the Culture Bright Neon Forest, an immersive neon installation, newly themed areas of the garden, more lighted nature motifs, and outdoor fire tables with s’mores stations.
Visit the new indoor cocoa room for hot drinks, cocoa and treats for purchase. Enjoy the new indoor decor as you warm up inside. Kids can enjoy making scratcher art and winter coloring sheets.
Botanical Center members and FunBundle members will enjoy free admission Wednesday nights during the exhibit. Memberships can be purchased on qcgardens.com.
EXHIBIT DATES AND TIMES
Nov 21 – Dec 14, Wed – Sun, 5-9PM
Dec 17 – Dec 31, Daily*, 5-9PM
Last Entry 8:30PM
*HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Open New Year’s Eve.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
EXHIBIT ADMISSION
$11 Adults, $7 Youth 2-15, Free Under 2
Botanical Center members and FunBundle members receive $2 off admission. Both member types also enjoy free admission Wednesday nights throughout the exhibit duration. Members must show membership card upon entry.
Tickets available on qcgardens.com
MEDIA TOURS / PHOTOGRAPHY
Contact Paige Underwood at marketing@qcgardens.com or 309.794.0991 ext. 202.
Photos from Winter Lights are available for promotional use https://bit.ly/46ZV849
SPECIAL EVENTS
OPENING NIGHT: EXHIBIT LIGHTING
11/21 FRI, 6PM LIGHTING, 5:45-9PM EXHIBIT
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Be amongst the first to experience this year’s light display. Guests will gather around the pond for the first lighting of the season after a short introduction of our presenting sponsors, MidAmerican Energy Foundation. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended.
MEMBERS FREE ADMISSION NIGHTS
WEDNESDAYS, 11/21-12/31, 5-9PM
Cost: Free for Botanical Center Members and FunBundle Members
Members must show membership card upon entry. Advanced tickets not required.
LIGHTS & LEASHES
SUNDAYS, 11/21-12/31, 5-9PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Experience the decorated gardens with your furry friends by your side. Bring your pups for a nighttime stroll every Sunday night. To ensure safety for all visitors and pets, all dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times.
IMPACTLIFE BLOOD DRIVE
11/23, SUN, 3-6PM
You have the power to help. By giving blood you’ll provide a lifesaving resource used by patients in the Quad Cities. Donate blood at the donor bus in our parking lot on November 23 to receive four free tickets to the light exhibit plus a pair of light glasses. Schedule and appointment at bloodcenter.org or call 800-747-5401. Hosted in collaboration with Visit Quad Cities.
LIGHTS & FLIGHTS
12/4 and 12/18 THURSDAYS
Cost: $35 per person, $21 non-drinking
Experience the light display and sample beer and pizza from three local businesses, featuring Bent River Brewing Company, Wake Brewing, and Huckleberry’s Pizza. Bent River and Wake Brewing will be serving up sample flights of their locally brewed beer, and Huckleberry’s will dish out an artisanal pizza sampler. Each ticket includes one beer flight from each brewery, one flight of food, admission to the display, and access to the Lights & Flights room. Enjoy a vinyl dj set by Just Let Go.
Must be 21+ to enter the Lights & Flights room. Must show valid ID. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended. The non-drinking ticket includes a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage, Huckleberry’s flight, admission to the light display and access to the Lights & Flights room.
KRAMPUS NIGHTS
12/5 FRI, 12/6 SAT, 6-8PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Meet the infamous Krampus and take your own photos. Visit with the German American Heritage Center & Museum to make Krampus masks and learn the folklore of Krampus. Krampus will be stationed in a designated area and will not be roaming the gardens.
SANTA AND THE MRS. VISIT
12/12 FRI, 12/13 SAT, 5-8PM
Cost: Exhibit Admission
Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and take your own photos. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended. Early time slots may sell out.
SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors: MidAmerican Energy Foundation, The Cultural Trust, Valley Construction, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron, Family Credit Union, Crawford Company, Sunbelt Rentals, BankOrion
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