There is no better place to unplug and experience nature during all four seasons than Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet... and it caters to kids of all ages.
Post updated on July 3, 2024
After years of visiting Brookgreen Gardens for the annual Nights of a Thousand Candles each holiday season and Summer Light: Art by Night each summer, we finally invested in an annual pass last year and it was one of the best decisions we've made.
When you attend these popular events, you primarily stick in the main gardens area... but Brookgreen has so much more to offer year-round.
nights of a thousand candles is 1,000% worth it
Seeing Brookgreen Gardens come to life as more than 2,800 candles are hand lit along with thousands of other sparkling lights is as magical as it sounds. It's perfect for a date night or a family outing. There's also live music and booths to purchase food along with cider, hot chocolate, and wine.
We always get there right when it opens so we can take a family photo in Live Oak Allee before it fills up. We do a lap around as the sun is setting and then get a whole new perspective on our second lap once it's fully dark.
The event sells out FAST. Even as annual passholders at the President's Council level which offers 8 tickets to this event, we almost missed the boat once and had to book tickets for the last day of the event after New Year's.
Some years it's warm enough to wear a T-shirt and some years requires double layering of coats, and that uncertainty is honestly part of the fun. Regardless of the weather, this is the most memorable event during the holiday season in the Myrtle Beach area.
summer light art by night is also pretty magical
“Summer Light: Art by Night” is the perfect way to introduce young ones to art in a place where they can interact with it and use their outside voices without the stifling hush of an indoor gallery.
There are 12 lighting installations throughout the sculpture garden, offering a totally different perspective than you get during daylight hours. Immerse yourself with sounds and lights in Live Oak Allee, check out the exquisite Conway Glass display, and check out the “blooming flora” and decorative beehives in the Children’s Garden.
In 2024, the event begins June 8 and continues Wednesdays and Saturdays until Aug. 24. Just like Nights of a Thousand Candles, there is live music and food/drinks available.
there are waaaay more seasonal events at brookgreen than these two signature events
Until we got a membership to Brookgreen, we didn't realize how many other events take place each year. There's an Earth Day celebration featuring fun and educational stations for all ages. During the Halloween season, they host an “Imagination Walk” where kids are encouraged to wear their costumes and visit stations with teats and crafting stations. The Annual Harvest Home Weekend Festival has crafts, a hay maze, pumpkin. patch, and - our favorite - scarecrow building.
There are also several events you can attend for an additional cost like “Celebrate Romance in the Gardens” where you can renew your wedding vows on Valentine's Day during a nondenominational ceremony held at the boat landing at Brookgreen Creek, followed by a reception.
the lowcountry zoo offers awesome daily programming
Every day from April 2 - November 12 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. you can check out Mother Nature's Cafe. A volunteer guide takes you through the Lowcountry Zoo, feeding the animals snacks and telling you fun facts about them on this one-hour tour. From watching the cute otters chowing down, to learning that the bay goats are named after Harry Potter house elves, to having all the varieties of birds gathered around us at the aviary - it was such a fun and informative experience.
On weekends at 2:30 p.m. you can Meet the Animals. During this 30-minute program at the Campbell Center Program Shed, a volunteer introduces you to a live animal. Our guide engaged the crowd in a conversation and answered every question we had. And we all fell in love with the cutest owl named Peek-a-boo.
You can also check out the alligator feeding every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1:45 p.m. The Whispering Wings Butterfly Exhibit is open daily from May – September, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., featuring a lush garden filled with tropical plants and hundreds of butterflies flitting around to say hello.
there are cool ways to explore lowcountry history
There are several programs at the Wall Lowcountry Center. You can walk the Lowcountry Trail or, for an additional ticketed cost, take a boat excursion or board an overland vehicle deep into the Preserve.
Beginning on March 5 and running through the week before Thanksgiving, the 45-minute Creek Excursion on a 48-foot pontoon boat takes you past historic rice fields where you can now spot gators and other creatures. During the 50-minute Trekker Excursion which runs from April - November, you can ride to a plantation cemetery, a Civil War earthen fort site, and a historic rice mill chimney. For the 1.3-hour Oaks Excursion from April - November, you can in a mini-bus to the site of the Oaks Plantation and see the natural beauty of a protected Long Leaf Pine forest.
brookgreen is an enchanting place for children
Our kids' favorite part of going to Brookgreen is the Storybook Forest, a collection of play areas and cute little houses themed around characters from fairy tales located right next to the Lowcountry Zoo.
Skyela and Holden's favorite part of the main garden area, both during big events like Nights of a Thousand Candles and on regular visits, is the Children's Garden. From lounging in a canopied area where you can grab a book from a little library, to running through tunnels and little structures, to saying hello to their favorite turtle, bear, and pig sculptures, it's an enchanting part of the Brookgreen experience. It's the perfect spot to let your imagination run free.
The Bottom Line
Whether you are coming for a day or invest in a membership, Brookgreen Gardens simply cannot be missed if you're in the Myrtle Beach area.
Admission to Brookgreen Gardens is good for seven consecutive days. Adults are $22, senior citizens 65+ are $20, children 4-12 are $12, and children under 3 are free. It's open every day except Christmas from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. with extended hours in the summer and for special events.
There are many benefits and perks to a Brookgreen membership.
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