Display open through Dec. 31

You can take a trip to the North Pole at this year’s Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. The new scene is located at the Summer House just after the Underwater Garden and will feature polar bears playing in the snow and an igloo. Like all of the scenes in Magic Christmas in Lights, this scene was designed “in-house” and all of the set pieces have been fabricated and lit by the Garden’s staff.

The 2012 edition of Magic Christmas in Lights will opened Nov. 23 and will run through Dec. 31. The show will be closed on Dec. 25. Guests may visit the Gardens during the day from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Each evening from 5 – 9 p.m. guests may stroll through the Gardens to see more than 3 million sparkling lights in nearly 1,000 displays throughout the 65 acre estate.

You will not want to miss seeing the Bellingrath Museum Home decorated in its holiday finery. The Magnolia Café will be serving lunch and dinner throughout the show. The Bellingrath Gift Shop will be loaded with fantastic holiday decorations, ornaments and gifts. Holiday music will be provided by local performing groups during the week.

Magic Christmas in Lights Event Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for children 5 -12 and free to children 4 and under. For the tour of the lights and the Bellingrath Home, admission is $24 for adults, $13 for children 5 -12. Discounted tickets are available on-line at bellingrath.org, at participating Regions Banks and at the Urban Emporium in downtown Mobile. Pre-purchased tickets must be purchased at least one day before your visit and are good for the entire show. During our busiest nights, we will have a special entrance for members and those that have pre-purchased tickets.

Magic Christmas in Lights Facts

The light show opened for the first time in 1995.

The Holiday Light display features more than 3 million lights over 1,000 set pieces in 13 scenes throughout Bellingrath Gardens and Home’s 65 acre estate garden.

Major scenes include: Butterflies in Flight, Snowflake Lane, Peace on Earth, Emerald Forest, Toyland, Candyland, Critter Cove, Flower Walk, Nativity, Lotus Land,Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Underwater Garden and the new Polar Bear Square.

All set pieces and scenes are designed specifically for Bellingrath Gardens and Home. All set pieces are constructed and installed by Bellingrath’s staff.

Nearly every light in the show is replaced each year. Approximately one-third of the show is repainted, restored and re-lamped each year.

The 2012 show will use more than 14,000 light strands, 7,700 extension cords; 377,000 replacement bulbs; 100,000 twist ties and almost 5 miles of steel.

The Bellingrath staff works on the show throughout the year building and lamping set pieces in our own “Santa’s Workshop”. Greg Hill & Shawn Smith fabricate steel frame pieces. Sharon Whatley, Paula Covington and MCIL staff add lights secured with twist ties to each piece and hang the lights throughout the Gardens.

Show installation begins after Labor Day weekend lighting walkways and shrubs throughout the Gardens. Set pieces are moved into the Gardens from mid-October through mid-November.

Children may have their pictures taken with Santa from 5 – 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and during the week of Christmas.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is located at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore. For more, call 251-973-2217.