Nights of a Thousand Candles 2018 Kicks off at Brookgreen Gardens

MURRELLS INLET, S.C., Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookgreen Gardens' Nights of a Thousand Candles kicked off on Thursday, December 6, with a record opening night crowd. This annual holiday tradition welcomes local residents and visitors to see this historic landmark come to life amid the soft glow of more than 4,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. Guests can enjoy a warm cup of cider, hear the sounds of holiday music and celebrate the season with family and friends while walking the lighted paths running throughout the Gardens' more than 9,000 acres.

In 2018, the event includes delicious local dishes and holiday entertainment for all ages. The food tent features a variety of Lowcountry delights including she crab soup, shrimp & grits and oysters on the half shell from Inlet Affairs. Guests can enjoy favorites such as Bill Oberst, Jr and his one-man rendition of Dicken's A Christmas Carol, the delightful harmonies of choral group Vocal Edition, the soulful sounds of the Tru Sol Band, and pianist Rocky Fretz. The full entertainment schedule can be found at https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2018. 

This year, Nights of a Thousand Candles features a number of new experiences that showcase the history of Brookgreen Gardens and provide even more ways to enjoy the holiday season. Guests are able to meet Angus, Brookgreen's Scottish Deerhound mascot, and learn the history of the Huntington's, the founders of Brookgreen, and their love of this amazing dog breed. Each evening A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore ('Twas the night before Christmas) will be read aloud by a special guest reader. This year's event also has new displays, a new addition to the train exhibit, and other surprises for our guests. (Hint – if you are a Harry Potter fan, you're going to love it.) Of course, the lighting of the Holiday Tree each evening continues to be a spectacle that delights everyone.

Nights of a Thousand Candles Fun Facts:

• Over 4,500 candles are lit by hand every evening.
• Approximately 150 volunteers and staff work each night of the event
• Almost two million sparkling lights are used in addition to candles.
• The Holiday Tree alone has over 130,000 lights, and at 80 feet, is taller than the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
• Staff and volunteers begin decorating in late August.
• It takes a little over two months to take everything down after New Year's.
• Except for the path luminaries, which burn down each evening, all the candles must be blown out at the end of each night!

Remaining dates are December 13 – 16 and 20 - 22. General public tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets for Brookgreen members are $20 for adults and $12 for children. Children 3 and under are always free. 

Tickets must be purchased in advance on our website. www.brookgreen.org.  Groups of 15 or more may contact Brookgreen's group sales department for special rates. Nights of a Thousand Candles goes on rain or shine.

About Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and is open to the public daily. Founded in 1931 by Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington, Brookgreen is home to the largest and most significant collection of American Figurative Sculpture in the county, and continues as a leader in sculpture conservation, environmental conservation, and protection of the plants, animals, and history of the South Carolina Lowcountry.  For more information, visit our web site at www.brookgreen.org or call 843-235-6000.

Photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w5l5up836klr3pe/AAA8NPOcjF0KJ4RbkYx2EV0za?dl=0
Credit: WaynesView Photography

SOURCE Brookgreen Gardens

Related Links

http://www.brookgreen.org