Holiday Stroll at The Gardens at Texas A&M University set for Dec. 3

Light display and music make the season bright

November 20, 2023 - by Helen White

Holiday lights will grace the Leach Teaching Gardens in The Gardens at Texas A&M University at the annual Holiday Stroll on Dec. 3.

Holiday lights at the entrance to the Leach Teaching Gardens. — Holiday decorations will light the way at the Holiday Stroll in the Leach Teaching Gardens on Dec. 3. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

The free festivities will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in The Gardens at 556 John Kimbrough Blvd., College Station.

The Holiday Stroll is part of the Merry & Bright, Maroon & White holiday season in The Gardens, which begins with festive lights the day after Thanksgiving.

Gather among the lights

During the Holiday Stroll event, visitors can enjoy cookies and cocoa while strolling through The Gardens, accompanied by the sparkling lights and jazz music. Two hands-on craft projects will provide fun for all ages, and a very jolly guest will join the fun.

Two female adults and a male child work on a craft project at the Holiday Stroll in The Gardens at Texas A&M University. — Hands-on crafts, cookies and cocoa, holiday lights and jazz music lend a festive ambience to the Holiday Stroll. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller)

“The Holiday Stroll has become a much-anticipated tradition each year,” said Michael Arnold, Ph.D., director of The Gardens and professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences. “We’re excited for families to experience the beauty of The Gardens on a winter’s night and take a break from hectic holiday activities.”

For the last five years, ABC Home and Commercial Services has partnered with The Gardens to install the light displays that now feature more than six thousand lights through the Leach Teaching Gardens area.

Bring your camera or smartphone for holiday photos among the lights and share the fun by tagging #TAMUGardens.

The Pavilion in The Gardens lit up with holiday lights and a crowd of people standing inside and outside of the building at night. — An iconic landmark in The Gardens, the Pavilion can be the centerpiece for a nighttime stroll. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller)

A Sensory-Free/Quiet Zone will be available during the event for anyone who may want or need a quieter environment at any point during the event.

Free event parking is available in lot 100c or lot 97. Directions and related information are available online at The Gardens transportation page.

Celebrate while helping others

For visitors interested in giving opportunities, The Gardens will collect donations of nonperishable food items for the Brazos Valley Food Bank during the event near The Gardens entrance.

Be merry and bright all season

If you are unable to attend on the Holiday Stroll evening, here are suggestions for celebrating the Merry & Bright, Maroon & White season with The Gardens:

Middle-age couple stroll down sidewalk with lights in the foreground. — Enjoy a stroll in the Leach Teaching Gardens throughout The Merry & Bright, Maroon & White season. The Gardens is open to visitors daily, from dawn to dusk. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller)

Enjoy a walk among the holiday lights Nov. 24 through Jan. 1.
Create and enjoy one of these delicious “garden-oriented” holiday recipes from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Dinner Tonight program.

For more information and seasonal inspiration, visit https://gardens.tamu.edu/merry-bright-maroon-white/ and follow The Gardens on Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

— 30 —