Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland is lovely any time of year, even during the cold winter months. For that is when they present what has been deemed their most beloved annual holiday tradition—A Ladew Christmas.
For over 40 years, families have been making the delightful trek to Ladew Topiary Gardens for this most sensational seasonal offering. Presented as a limited, ticketed engagement over a series of recurring days, the long-anticipated return takes place this week, beginning on Wednesday, December 11, and will run through Saturday, December 14. Operational hours on all four days are between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. A special Patron Preview will be available Tuesday, December 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for Members (on the same day). During the Member Preview, the first-ever tree-lighting ceremony of a 20-foot Christmas Tree will commence, officially kicking off the winter open house.
Throughout the four-day run, visitors to Ladew will enjoy a vast array of onsite delights and featured activities. The holiday lights adorning the gardens are the most obvious magical markers to highlight such an event. The accompaniment of live carolers only adds to the essence of jovial holiday cheer—a serenade to pair perfectly with a dazzling stroll through a timeless winter wonderland.
Even in the most alluring of illuminated landscapes, you may need a reason to come out of the cold a bit. Fortunately, admission to A Ladew Christmas grants visitors a unique opportunity to tour the historic 18th-century Manor House. As you’d expect, given the season, all the rooms are lavishly adorned with festive holiday décor and all the trimmings, including bountiful blooms and greenery provided by talented floral designers and garden clubs. Please note, however, given that this is a historic home, not all of the rooms are wheelchair accessible. For this reason, scannable QR codes are available, providing alternate virtual viewing options to those guests who cannot physically enter certain areas onsite.
Another always-jolly highlight to take comfort and joy in during A Ladew Christmas is their annual Holiday Greens Sale in the Barn Gallery. Here, you will find freshly made wreaths, garlands, and other live-woven works of greenery. You can also shop for potted plants, winter-hardy herbs, hand-crafted table-top arrangements, and much more.
New for the 2024 season, A Ladew Christmas is presenting a nice little Christmas Market setup. Discover dozens of delightful options in the way of seasonal food and drink specialties, as well as unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list! And don’t forget that the resident Ladew Shop Gift will be open throughout each day of A Ladew Christmas. Take note that all Members receive a 10% discount on all gift shop purchases.
The Ladew Café will also be open throughout the event as well and will even be featuring a special holiday festive menu in honor of the occasion. Click here to view the options.
A Ladew Christmas is a lovely wintertime garden experience. But do take note that tickets sell out fairly fast and are not sold at the gate. Neither are they refundable or able to be exchanged following purchase. While not timed, tickets are usable only for the date they are intended to be used on when you make your purchase. Therefore, it is always important to act fast when planning to attend or to take note of next year’s dates when they are made available.
Ladew Gardens is located at 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD 21111. Discover more about A Ladew Christmas on the website.