Dome for the Holidays
There’s no place like Dome for the Holidays
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden invites you to take off your coat, unwrap your scarf, and immerse yourself in the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s NEW dazzling family holiday tradition—Dome for the Holidays!
Stroll through our transformed tropical oasis as you enjoy a dynamic display of thousands of twinkling lights, an incredible collection of blown glass sculptures, festive music, train display, gnome hunt, refreshments, and more. This enchanting holiday display is sure to be a sought-after, unforgettable family tradition, as it’s the perfect way to experience all the magic of the season.
Dome for the Holidays’ new evening format showcases an indoor illuminated light show throughout the tropical conservatory and Gardeners Show House. All ages will enjoy the wonderful and artful displays, boasting thousands of lights, from butterflies to trees, from swirling and sparkling to interactives! Incorporated throughout is a stunning collection of blown glass pieces created by Hot Glass out of the Quad Cities. Don’t miss our beloved holiday Train Display – featuring a new look and theme, and our family of holiday gnomes to find!
Event Details
Wednesdays – Sundays, November 16 – December 31* 5-9 pm
*Some dates excluded: Closed on Nov 22 and on Holidays (Thanksgiving- Nov 28, Christmas Eve – Dec 24, and Christmas – Dec 25.)
*Some additional dates included: Tickets available Monday, Dec 23, Monday, Dec 30, and Tuesday, Dec 31.
Tickets
Adults $15, Children (13 & under) $9, Children (under 1) FREE
Botanical Garden members receive a $3 discount on each ticket price.
Timed tickets must be purchased in advance, please select a 30-minute entry window to reduce crowding. Visitors spend approximately 45-70 minutes at this event. The last entry time available is 8 pm. The Garden closes at 9 pm.
Get your TICKETS EARLY to get the dates and times that you want!
Supported by
Food and Drink
Flora will be offering for purchase:
- Rotating house-made cookies
- Rotating savory snacks
- Hot and cold beverages
- Seasonal signature cocktails
- Coke products
- Local and domestic beer
- Wine
How timed ticketing works:
Timed tickets must be purchased in advance, please select a 30-minute window to reduce crowding. The specified date and time on your ticket is your entry time for Dome for the Holidays. You may arrive anytime during this 30-minute window and can stay as long as you like until the Garden closes at 9 pm.
After purchasing tickets online, an email will be sent to the email address you provide during purchase. This email will contain your tickets, which you can print or have them available to scan on a mobile device. Please ensure that tickets to be scanned on your device have the barcodes visible and turn your screen brightness all the way up.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, unless your selected date & time is cancelled by the Garden.
What to expect:
Dome for the Holidays is an indoor walking event that most guests spend approximately 45-70-minutes enjoying. Free parking is available onsite, and you are encouraged to carpool to this event to ease congestion. Overflow parking is available along Robert D. Ray drive. There will be some lighting sequences that have some flashing lights contained within them; however, there is no strobe lighting. The Garden Shop will be open during the event to purchase gifts for all the loved ones in your life!
What to bring:
- Have your pre-purchased timed-tickets printed or easily accessible on your mobile device – ready to scan!
- Be sure to dress for OUR weather – while it may be cold and snowy outside, once you step inside, be prepared to shed some layers and warm up in the tropical oasis.
- Coat racks are available onsite. The Garden is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Strollers, wheelchairs, and motorized mobility scooters are welcome.
- Service animals are welcome, but leave your pets, companion animals, or emotional support animals at home.
What not to bring:
The following items are not permitted:
- Outside food or drink (refillable water bottles welcome). Refreshments are available for purchase.
- Portrait and professional photography – including tripods or monopods. Guests are invited to take candid, casual photography.
- Pets, companion animals, or emotional support animals. Service animals are welcome.
- Smoking, tobacco products and devices or electronic smoking devices.
- Weapons and firearms, or fireworks of any kind.
- Guests without shoes or shirt. Clothing that may be taken as profane, vulgar, racist, sexist, or sexually suggestive.
Accessibility:
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is proud to be an ADA-compliant facility. The Garden features wide paths and sidewalks, accessible doors and restrooms, and an elevator to provide all guests access to the conservatory balcony. You are welcome to bring your own strollers, wheelchairs, and motorized mobility scooters. There is a limited number of wheelchairs and strollers available on a first-come first-served basis. They are free to borrow and located just inside the entryway. If you need special accommodations or have additional questions, please contact us at 515.323.6290 or email [email protected].
What if a night of Dome for the Holidays is cancelled?
Dome for the Holidays features our indoor tropical conservatory and Gardeners Show House spaces, where it is always warm. However, if the Garden closes due to extreme weather and/or poor driving conditions you will be notified via email at the email address used during checkout as soon as possible. The Garden is not responsible for lack of notification if not provided with accurate contact details. Event dates and times cancelled by the Garden will be offered to transfer to another date/time based on availability or a full refund.
Member FAQs:
Do members need to purchase tickets?
Yes, Botanical Garden members must purchase timed-tickets in advance. Botanical Garden members receive a $3 discount on each ticket price.
How do I receive my member discount?
Members and Garden Giving Club donors must sign in online during check out to apply their discount. To do this, click “sign in” at the top of the page to apply your discount. If you have not created an account with your email address, please click “Create Account.” If you have forgotten your password, please click reset. Your discount will appear after you click “add to cart.”
How many member-priced tickets can I purchase?
The number of member-priced tickets available is based on your membership level. Memberships are nontransferable and are valid only for named individuals on the membership card. Named members must be present with all guests.
Do I qualify for free access with Museums for All, Adventure Pass, Community or Reciprocal membership, SNAP or WIC EBT card + ID, or free/BOGO pass?
Dome for the Holidays is a special event outside of the Garden’s regular admission hours that requires a pre-purchased timed ticket for entry. Therefore, the above regular admission-based programs do not apply for free access to Dome for the Holidays.