Nov. 17, 2023 – Feb. 25, 2024
PRESENTED BY
New at the Garden, more than 50 larger-than-life Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the promise of the Lunar New Year in a spectacular way.
Radiant Nature, presented by Reliant, is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. See a majestic 200-foot-long dragon, a soaring 12-foot-tall peacock with a fan that gracefully unfurls, and much more. Explore an interactive zone buzzing with illuminated swings, whimsical seesaws, a digital kaleidoscope you can step inside, and other immersive, Instagram-worthy features.
Events
Host your winter event at the Garden, and share the magic of Radiant Nature with your attendees. The Garden can create custom party packages that include use of a climate-controlled space with views of the Chinese lanterns, plus tickets for guests to walk the Radiant Nature trail during or after your event. You host the party, the Garden takes care of the entertainment!
To learn more about winter party rental options at the Garden, download the Holiday Rental Guide. To get started with the party planning, complete our online venue rental inquiry form.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Event
What are the dates for Radiant Nature?
From Nov. 17, 2023-February 25, 2024, Radiant Nature is open for 15 three-day weekends, Fridays-Sundays.
Radiant Nature is also open for the following 14 weeknights around the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays:
- Monday, Nov. 20-Wednesday, Nov. 22
Thanksgiving Week - Monday, Dec. 18-Thursday, Dec. 21
Winter Break - Tuesday, Dec. 26-Thursday, Dec. 28
Winter Break - Monday, Jan. 1-Thursday, Jan. 4
Winter Break - Monday, Jan. 15
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Tuesday, Feb. 13-Wednesday, Feb. 14
Galentine’s & Valentine’s Days - Monday, Feb. 19
President’s Day
NOTE: Radiant Nature is NOT open on Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) or Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
What are the times for Radiant Nature?
Timed entries to Radiant Nature are offered at 15-minute intervals from 6-8:30 p.m. each night the show is open.
Last entry to Radiant Nature is 9 p.m.
Radiant Nature closes at 10 p.m., when all guests will be asked to leave, regardless of the time of entry.
Where is Radiant Nature located?
Radiant Nature is held at the Houston Botanic Garden, the city’s living museum for plants, which is located east of I-45 South on Park Place Blvd., at 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017.
What is Radiant Nature?
Radiant Nature is a Chinese lantern festival with more than 50 larger-than life installations and interactive activities set among the display gardens and rolling topography of the natural ecosystems of the Houston Botanic Garden. The event celebrates the art, skill, and beauty of traditional Chinese lantern festivals, which have been celebrated across Asia for hundreds of years. Radiant Nature – which was constructed on-site at the Garden by Chinese artisans using more than 1,000 components, including hand-painted fabric – is a partnership between the Garden and Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., the largest Chinese lantern festival producer in North America. More than 4.5 million visitors have experience Tianyu light festivals at zoos, parks, and other outdoor venues in more than 30 U.S. cities.
What to Expect
Who is Radiant Nature suitable for?
Radiant Nature is suitable for all ages, ethnicities, and cultures, and designed to be enjoyed by everyone.
How long is the walk? What is the pathway like?
The Radiant Nature trail is less than one-mile long and includes paved surfaces and decomposed granite areas (firmly, smoothly compacted particles of crushed granitic rock). This is a self-guided walking event; there are no mobility devices, shuttles, or tours offered within the Garden.
In some areas, the pathway lighting will be low as part of the experience. We encourage visitors to bring along a flashlight or use the built-in flashlight capability of their mobile devices, in case of an emergency. Please do not use an emergency flashlight unless it is necessary.
Is the trail open to wheelchair users and others needing ADA access?
Radiant Nature is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and mobility assistant devices. Wheelchairs are not provided and cannot be rented on-site, so guests should bring any mobility assistant devices with them from home.
Radiant Nature is designed so that it can be viewed from even, ADA-compliant paths, although some interactive elements may invite the audience on to grass or other softer surfaces, where additional pedestrian matting or similar considerations may be provided.
If weather conditions mean that the path is not fully accessible for people using wheeled mobility aids, consideration will be made on a case-by-case basis to allow tickets to be transferred to an alternative date when the ground conditions are more appropriate.
How does weather impact the Radiant Nature experience?
Radiant Nature is an outdoor event that is open rain or shine (moonlit, technically). Visitors should check weather conditions forecasted for the date of their visit and come prepared accordingly. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter in Houston.
We do reserve the right to shut down or cancel the event if/when weather conditions – such as lightning, flooding rains, etc. – pose a risk to visitor safety. In the unlikely event we have to cancel due to hazardous weather conditions, the decision for an evening will be made by 10 a.m. the same day, and we will notify ticketholders by the email address provided at time of purchase, with details on the re-booking process.
We also encourage you to check the Garden’s website and/or social media accounts for the latest updates before you head out to attend the show.
Can I purchase food & drink on-site?
Yes. A variety of vendors will offer a selection of festive food and drink options – including alcoholic beverages — for purchase by credit card. No cash accepted.
Outside food and drink are prohibited.
NOTE: Specific menu items are subject to change, based on the vendors on-site on a particular evening.
Will there be merchandise for sale?
Yes, the Radiant Nature Marketplace will offer a curated selection of Chinese handicrafts for purchase, and the Garden will also have light-up, branded, and other gardening-and-nature-themed items available for purchase in the Garden Shop located inside the Welcome Pavilion, or via a kiosk adjacent to the start of the trail. Credit cards only; cash is not accepted.
Tickets & Timed Entry
How much are tickets?
Admission to Radiant Nature in $28.50 per person, ages 4 and up. Children age 3 and under attend for free.
Every ticket purchased helps support the Garden’s mission to enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.
Do Garden members need to buy tickets?
Yes, current members of the Garden can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $25.
Does Radiant Nature offer group, or other, discounts?
Groups of 10 or more people ages 4 and up qualify for a discounted group rate of $22.50 per person, when tickets are purchased within a single transaction. To purchase group tickets, call the Garden ticket window at 713.715.9675 ext. 100.
*Garden member discount does not apply to group tickets.
What are the last entry times?
Last entry to Radiant Nature is 9 p.m. Guests are welcome to stay through closing once they have entered the Garden.
What time does Radiant Nature close?
Radiant Nature closes at 10 p.m., when all guests will be asked to leave, regardless of the time of entry.
Should I arrive in advance of my ticketed time slot?
Ticketholders should allow plenty of time for holiday traffic and parking when planning travel to the Garden for Radiant Nature.
On-site parking could be anywhere from a few steps away, from just beyond the closest accessible parking spots, to a short walk (perhaps several hundred feet) up to the entry gate.
Guests using the off-site parking lot and shuttle service should plan to arrive at METRO’s Monroe Park & Ride at least 30 minutes prior to their timed entry slot. Shuttles will depart for the Garden approximately every 30 minutes.
Can I buy tickets at the Garden on the day of?
We cannot guarantee day-of ticket availability, due to limited capacity and anticipated demand. If you do not purchase tickets in advance, you must arrive at the Monroe Park & Ride lot and use the shuttle to get to the Garden.
Does my daytime admission give me access to Radiant Nature after dark?
No. The illuminated Radiant Nature festival is a separately ticketed evening event with timed admissions at 30-minute intervals starting at 6 p.m.
You can see the Radiant Nature installations by daylight at regular, day-time general admission prices. Day-time guests with Radiant Nature tickets on the same date must exit the garden by 4:00 p.m. and return to enter Radiant Nature at your designated timed entry.
What do I do if I purchased a ticket but didn’t receive a confirmation email or mobile tickets?
Search your inbox for an emails from info@hbg.org with the subject “Thank you for your order” and “Your Tickets.” The “Thank you for your order” email will contain your confirmation and receipt. The “Your Tickets” email will contain your tickets for Radiant Nature as QR codes in the body of the email.
To view your order details and receipt on hbg.org, click “My Account” in the header at the top right of any web page. Your tickets will be under “Upcoming Events.” If you did not create an account upon checkout, email info@hbg.org, and we can resend your confirmation email and/or mobile tickets. You can also bring your order number to the ticket window upon arrival, and we will print your tickets for entry.
Parking
Is there on-site parking?
Yes, on-site parking is available via the Garden’s main entrance at 1 Botanic Lane off Park Place Blvd., for an additional $10 fee. Space is limited, so we suggest purchasing parking in advance, at the same time you purchase your admission tickets. If you do not purchase tickets in advance, you must arrive at the Monroe Park & Ride lot and use the shuttle to get to the Garden.
Do you have accessible parking?
On-site accessible parking is available for the same $10 on-site parking fee. To ensure availability, add the “Accessible” parking option to your cart when purchasing tickets online in advance.
Is there an off-site parking / shuttle service?
Yes, for $5 per vehicle, guests can park off-site at METRO’s Monroe Park & Ride lot and take advantage of shuttle service to / from the Garden. Please purchase off-site parking in advance, at the same time you purchase your admission tickets.
If you are coming to Radiant Nature without having purchased tickets online in advance, you should go directly to the park & ride lot, where you will have the opportunity to purchase day-of tickets and pay for off-site parking.
Guests using the off-site parking lot and shuttle service should plan to arrive at the park-and-ride lot at least 30 minutes prior to their timed entry slot. Shuttles will depart for the Garden approximately every 30 minutes.
Is there a drop-off area for rideshare?
Yes, Radiant Nature ticketholders are welcome to use their preferred rideshare provider to get to 1 Botanic Lane, instead of purchasing parking. There is not space at the Garden for rideshare drivers to queue; the designated area for rideshare is for immediate drop off and pick up only.
Dos & Don’ts
Are dogs allowed?
Pets are not allowed at the Garden at any time, day or night. Service animals trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities are allowed. As a courtesy, please alert staff at the ticket window before bringing an ADA-qualifying service animal into the Garden.
Are wagons allowed?
Strollers and other similar transporters for children that you push in front of you are acceptable. Wagons and items pulled behind you are not allowed.
Can I take photographs?
Yes, we want to see photos from your visit! Please tag @houstonbotanic and @tianyuartsculture when sharing photos on social media. While waiting for that perfect shot, please do not block pathways or the view of others.
NOTE: Tripods, drones, and commercial photography are not allowed during Radiant Nature, and photos and videos from the experience are not to be used for commercial purposes.
Can I bring my drone?
Drones are not allowed at the Garden at any time, day or night.
Exchanges & Refunds
If I cannot attend, can I get a refund?
Previously purchased tickets may be exchanged for a different date during the current Radiant Nature season, for a $10 transaction fee. To make an exchange request, click “My Account” in the header at the top right of any web page, or email info@hbg.org.
If Radiant Nature is cancelled due to severe weather or any other condition outside the control of ticketholders, and we are not able to find an alternative night that will work for the guest instead, we will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis via a phone call to the Garden’s ticket window (713.715.9675 ext. 100).
If I am delayed and miss my slot, can I join a later slot?
We will try and accommodate late arrivals within the next available slot during operating hours on that date, up to the 9 p.m. final entry time. Please ensure you leave enough travel time to allow for holiday traffic.
I have booked the wrong day—can I transfer over to another day?
Yes. A $10 transaction fee will be charged for the privilege.