PA Fairs and Festivals

Exploring Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show

A collage showcasing the holiday splendor of Phipps Conservatory's Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, featuring a radiant indoor Christmas tree, the conservatory's glowing facade at night, oversized colorful light bulbs in the outdoor garden, and a beautifully lit pathway leading through a winter landscape.

If you’re looking for information about Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show, you’re in the right place!

Visitors enjoy the vibrant and festive atmosphere inside the Phipps Conservatory, where an elegant dining table is set amidst a display of white and red poinsettias, with hanging chandeliers and flower baskets under the glasshouse's radiant purple-lit ceiling, creating a luxurious setting for the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh. — 21 varieties of poinsettias are features at the Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show.

The Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show is a Pittsburgh Christmastime tradition that transforms the already stunning botanical gardens into a winter fairy tale.

An outdoor night scene at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden featuring an array of glowing, color-changing orbs scattered on the ground, a creatively constructed Christmas tree made from stacked rainbow-colored glass panes, and trees festively illuminated with white and blue lights against the dark evening sky. — The Light Garden in December 2023.

The 15-acre conservatory was founded in 1893 by steel and real-estate magnate Henry Phipps Jr. as a gift to the City of Pittsburgh, with a mission to inspire and educate its citizens about the beauty and importance of plants.

Nighttime view of the illuminated entrance to the Phipps Conservatory during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, with the grand glasshouse structure lit in festive red, green, and blue lights, and visitors walking along the pathway adorned with Christmas decorations and sparkling trees. — Phipp’s Conservatory was a gift to the City of Pittsburgh.

Hours | Directions | Tickets

The 2023 Holiday Flower and Light Show at Phipps Conservatory runs through January 7th, 2024.

A stunning indoor Christmas tree composed of blue lights cascading down in tiered chandelier-like formations, set against the backdrop of the Phipps Conservatory's glass roof. The tree is surrounded by lush hanging plants and the reflective surface of water below, creating a serene and enchanting scene at the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. — The Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show runs through the first week of January.

The conservatory is open from 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., with the outdoor Light Garden opening at 5 p.m.

A captivating outdoor light display at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, featuring cone-shaped LED Christmas trees in various colors that illuminate the night, complemented by a blanket of twinkling lights spread across the garden floor and the silhouettes of bare trees against the dark sky. — The Light Garden opens at 5 p.m.

Timed tickets are required for entry, which you can buy through the conservatory’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

A couple walks towards the main entrance of the Phipps Conservatory at night, beautifully lit up with multicolored lights for the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, with the iconic glass dome structure radiantly illuminated in the background, showcasing the festive spirit and inviting ambiance. — Timed tickets are required for entrance.

Ticket prices run around $15.00 for kids 2-18 and $25.00 for adults, with prices slightly higher on the weekends.

Visitors at night time standing on a traditional wooden bridge in the Japanese Garden section of the Phipps Conservatory, with the illuminated glasshouse and its colorful reflections in the background, creating a peaceful and picturesque scene during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh. — Kids under 2 are admitted free.

Free parking for visitors is available in the center island on Schenley Drive, directly in front of the conservatory.

Metered street parking available on either side of Schenley Drive is also free after 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday and all day on Sundays.

An enchanting evening view at the Phipps Conservatory with oversized, tulip-shaped light installations in a gradient of colors leading up to the conservatory's glowing red dome, complemented by a gazebo and the glasshouse structure, all beautifully illuminated against the night sky during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. — Parking after 6 p.m.is free all along Schenley Drive.

Indoor Attractions

As you step into the conservatory, you’re greeted by the warm aroma of thousands of flowers that make up the indoor displays.

A stunning indoor garden at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, featuring symmetrical patterns of vibrant red poinsettias surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges, with hanging sparkling chandeliers and a decorative trellis pathway leading to a statue, all beneath the conservatory's elegant glass and metal roof structure. — Some of the amazing floral arrangements at Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show.

Every corner and corridor is meticulously decorated with vibrant poinsettias, delicate winter blooms, and lush greenery.

A festive Christmas tree surrounded by poinsettias takes center stage at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, set inside a glass greenhouse with vibrant blue and green lighting illuminating the structure and a serene water feature flowing amidst the floral display. — A sunken garden display inside the conservatory.

Each room within the conservatory offers a different theme, where the floral arrangements complement the festive decorations.

Inside the Phipps Conservatory, an elegantly set dining area with red tablecloths and fine glassware, surrounded by a lush display of white poinsettias. Above, large decorative chandeliers hang from the glasshouse structure, which is adorned with festive garlands and illuminated with a warm glow, creating a luxurious holiday dining atmosphere. — A fairytale dining table display.

A favorite among visitors is the model railroad display, a delightful attraction that brings a touch of nostalgia as it winds its way across miniature bridges and through tiny tunnels.

A charming miniature train display at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, featuring a model train passing through a detailed landscape with a red barn, surrounded by lush plants and nestled under a large glass dome structure, capturing the enchanting essence of the holiday season. — The Garden Train.

The indoor show is a true testament to the beauty of nature, carefully curated to celebrate the holiday season.

A vibrant display at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, featuring a variety of cacti and desert plants under a glass roof, with a striking yellow glass sculpture hanging above, against a backdrop of a dark night sky visible through the transparent ceiling. — Cactus garden.

Outdoor Attractions

The outdoor Light Garden becomes a luminous wonderland as night falls.

An enchanting scene at night from the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, showcasing large glowing red and blue orbs on the ground, with a unique Christmas tree made of colorful illuminated glass panels in the background, all set against a backdrop of trees twinkling with white and blue lights. — Color-changing orbs.

From the glowing orbs that float like bubbles to the majestic light sculptures, the outdoor display is both enchanting and impressive.

A serene outdoor scene at the Phipps Conservatory, featuring an array of oversized, illuminated bulbs in varying shades from warm yellow to cool purple, arranged in a row against the backdrop of the conservatory's glass greenhouse, which is lit from within, adding a magical glow to the night during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden. — Illuminated pathways through the Light Garden.

Pathways are illuminated by a stunning array of lights, guiding visitors through the magical landscape.

A serene pathway at the Phipps Conservatory, illuminated by strands of white lights along its edges and surrounded by a variety of trees and shrubs adorned with colorful holiday lights, leading towards a gazebo in the distance, all set against the night sky during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh. — Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show is one of the best walk-thought Christmas light displays in western PA.

Towering trees adorned with lights sparkle against the night sky.

A captivating nighttime scene at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, with a path flanked by trees draped in cascading blue lights and shrubs twinkling with white lights, leading towards an archway, creating a dazzling display of festive lighting in Pittsburgh. — EVERY tree is a Christmas tree in the Light Garden.

The crisp winter air is filled with the sound of holiday music, and each step reveals a new surprise.

A night-time scene at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden with a tree dramatically lit in pink, standing beside sparkling starburst light sculptures and a winding blue neon stream, all set against the conservatory’s glass structure glowing with rainbow colors in the background. — A winter wonderland of lights.

Final Thoughts

Visiting the Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show is a mesmerizing experience where the Christmas spirit is brought to life through a brilliant indoor and outdoor display of flowers and lights.

Vivid blue lights and illuminated snowflake decorations enhance the wintry theme outside the Phipps Conservatory during the Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, with the glowing decorations contrasting beautifully against the conservatory's classic glass architecture in the evening. — Phipps Conservatory’s Holiday Flower and Light Show begins the Friday before Thanksgiving and runs until early January.

With displays that change every year, it’s a dazzling escape into a winter wonderland that captivates the senses.

Two whimsical gnome figures, created from natural materials with red and green foliage for their outfits and topped with festive Santa hats, stand before a brightly lit Christmas tree at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden in Pittsburgh, bringing a charming and creative touch to the holiday display. — Gnomes constructed from dried plant material, mushrooms and pinecones.

This seasonal spectacle is a must-visit for anyone in Pittsburgh during the holidays, offering a unique experience where the beauty of nature meets the magic of the Christmas season.

A festive walkway at the Phipps Conservatory Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden, adorned with a canopy of multicolored Christmas lights leading to a glowing 'Joy' sign set against a stone wall, creating a joyful and welcoming path for visitors during the holiday season in Pittsburgh. — Tunnel of lights.

The Best Christmas Light Displays Near Pittsburgh is a guide to even more exceptional Christmas light displays within an hour of Pittsburgh, complete with links to each attraction’s official website.

The Best Christmas Light Displays near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. — Some of the best Christmas light displays near Pittsburgh.

The 9 Most-Christmassy Places in PA Road Trip visits nine PA destinations where the Christmas spirit runs strong, year after year.

The 9 Most Christmassy Places in Pennsylvania Road Trip. — The 9 Most-Christmassy Places in PA Road Trip.

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