'Glow' Brings a Bright, Magical Wonderland to Cleveland Botanical Garden

New surprises join holiday favorites Nov. 23 to Dec. 31; special evening hours added Wednesdays and Fridays

CLEVELAND, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The holiday festivities at Cleveland Botanical Garden will be brighter and merrier than ever with the arrival of "Glow," the Garden's reimagined WinterShow experience.

As part of the wintertime fun, you can hop aboard the all-new Garden Express train ride. Decorate your own gingerbread house. Take in the fresh scent of evergreens and the joyous sounds of favorite seasonal songs. Along the way, enjoy scores of twinkling lights and the bright colors of 3,000 holiday plantings from red and white poinsettias to Christmas cactus and winterberry holly.

Glow at the Garden runs Friday, November 23, through Monday, December 31. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 pm Sundays. Special evening hours are offered until 9 pm Wednesdays and Fridays.

The cherished holiday traditions you've grown to love at the Garden — delightful gingerbread displays and splendidly decorated trees — return. New additions for Glow include the kid-sized Treetop Shop where little ones can pick out presents for Mom and Dad, an Alpine-village experience of unique shopping and delectable treats and a magnificent 25-foot-tall evergreen decked with more than 40 live poinsettias.

Glow also features live music and carolers, more than 30 trees decorated by affiliate garden clubs, a Wishing Tree where you can hang your hopes and dreams for the new year and dozens of gingerbread houses dressed up for the holidays.

That's right — the Garden's popular Gingerbread Competition is back for its 9th year. Everyone's invited to decorate a gingerbread house for the contest. Entry forms are available at cbgarden.org and are due by Friday, November 9. Categories include family and children, adults, businesses and not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations.

The Garden is closed on Christmas, New Year's Day and Mondays, except Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when special Glow hours of 10 am to 3 pm are offered.

Glow is free for Garden members. Glow admission is $12 per non-member adult, $6.50 for non-member child age 3 to 12 and free for kids 2 and under. Heated indoor parking and valet is available.

Cleveland Botanical Garden is located at 11030 East Boulevard in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood.

For complete and up-to-the-minute Glow details, visit cbgarden.org or call 216.721.1600.

Glow is sponsored by Huntington and InterContinental Suites Cleveland. Cleveland Botanical Garden receives public support through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

SOURCE Cleveland Botanical Garden