Virginia Tourism Corporation is debuting its giant “LOVE” artwork in Richmond in a kid-friendly event at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on November 22 at 10:30 a.m. This marks the first time the artwork has appeared in Richmond. It will be displayed throughout the holiday season as part of Lewis Ginter’s annual Dominion GardenFest of Lights.
The artwork is approximately 16 feet long and more than six feet tall. It has become a social media phenomenon at the Virginia Welcome Centers where visitors take their family pictures and upload them to Facebook.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens will be the first attraction in the state to display the LOVE artwork. To celebrate, Trip Heartmann, the loveable mascot of Virginia Is For Lovers, will be on hand at the garden to join with local children to officially unveil the LOVE artwork as a preview of GardenFest of Lights, which opens November 25.
Popular holiday light show
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s popular holiday light show Dominion GardenFest of Lights runs through January 9. This marks the 17th year for the annual display and the 14th year of Dominion sponsorship.
New this year is a dazzling laser light show opener from 5:30 – 6 p.m. on Nov. 25, the evening after Thanksgiving. With a theme of Nature’s DeLIGHTS, this year’s nightly features include lighting of the “Diamonds in the Rough” stick sculpture, the oversized L-O-V-E letters in the Rose Garden, and exciting new forms including a dragon and a 250-foot-long tunnel of lights.
GardenFest is comprised of 40 miles of light strands and approximately half a million bulbs. Approximately 80% of the show is now LEDs rather than traditional incandescent lights, thus conserving energy.
GardenFest runs 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. daily except for Dec. 24 and 25 at the non-profit Garden located at 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond. The event includes family-friendly activities, dining opportunities, music and more.
Admission for Dominion GardenFest is $11 adults; $10 seniors; $7 children ages 3 – 12 and free for children under age 3. Admission for Garden members is $5; for children on a membership it is $4 (ages 3 – 18).
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