Going to Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Valley at Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has been a long-standing tradition with my family for many years.  Each year that I visit, I am wowed by the different decorating themes and this year is no exception with “A Very Retro Christmas”. Reminisce and imagine Christmas of years past with dazzling light displays exuding a mid-century vibe from years gone past, and you will revel in the retro feel and decorations that are around every corner!

You will experience a vintage holiday street, a holiday party scene, brand new outdoor installations and a plethora of classic ornaments. The Conservatory becomes a 1940s- and 1950s-era holiday street scene, with decorated street lamps, shiny tinsel garland and retro vignettes – even a Bundt cake! 

Beginning more than a year in advance, over 200 individuals work to craft unique ornaments and create each display. Starting the tradition in 1921, the DuPont family hosted lavish gatherings to share the holiday spirit with friends and family.

For the Entire Family

A blend of outdoor and indoor displays, there is something to interest just about any member of your family. The displays change every year, so it becomes a new experience every time you visit.

Starting in late August, the outdoor lights are installed by arborists and add up to over 50 miles of lights, snowflakes, orbs, and uplighting more than 150 outdoor trees.

Music Room

As soon as I enter the Conservatory, I usually make a beeline for the Music Room. As a floral designer myself, I find the design of this room always exciting, displaying outstanding original vignettes, and I wasn’t disappointed this year.

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Visiting Tips

Here are some tips for visiting Longwood and making the most of your time:

1. Purchase your timed tickets in advance on line. Popular times like Saturday nights can sell out early. Try to go earlier in the season for less crowds.
2. A good arrival time is 3PM to 4PM.  I like to view the gardens both in daylight and at nighttime. It can look totally different.
3.  Visit the Conservatory first. Especially if you have small children, they will spend a lot of time in the children’s garden which is chock full of water features. Bring a fresh change of clothes for waterlogged kids!
4. Dress warmly, bringing both hats and gloves. When I arrived around 4PM, the weather was fine, but once the sun sets, it turned very cold! Dress in layers, so you can peel off your layers when you go into the warm Conservatory.
5. Eat in the cafeteria. They have reasonably priced delicious food. Make sure you get the mushroom soup since Kennett Square is the mushroom capital of the world! There is also a Beer Garden with pizza and quick bites outside with indoor seating. For a special experience, eat at the 1906 restaurant located on site.
6. Make sure you visit one of the top best public restrooms located at Longwood Gardens with an ‘Eco-Friendly’ design and awe-inspiring green wall.
7. Visit the gift shop early rather than later. Full of carefully curated garden related products, the gift shop is usually empty as people arrive, but can get hectic as people are leaving. Make sure you look at the plants as they have some unusual selections.

Outdoor Train Garden

You don’t have to be a dedicated gardener to appreciate all the over-the-top Christmas displays, just someone who treasures and enjoys the sights and sounds of the holidays. Sing along with the Christmas carols on the 10,010 Aeolian pipe organ, the largest ever constructed in a residential setting. Kids of all ages, will appreciate the enormous outdoor Garden Railway with Thomas the Tank Engine and lots of interesting miniature replicas. I noticed the Longwood Italian Water Garden created in miniature in the train garden this year.

Or climb a treehouse with the kids to get a good view of the garden lights. My toddler niece spent at least an hour and a half in the interactive children’s garden in the conservatory. What better way to introduce kids to enjoy a garden setting? Memories were made on this visit. For car and truck aficionados, check out this video on transforming an old farm truck into the Retro Red Truck that enlivened the front of the Du Pont house. What a dream project! 

For another great video of the opening night at Longwood, go to:

Lasting from now until January 7, 2024, make your timed reservations on line at A Longwood Christmas. Open daily 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, if the weather is inclement, there is plenty to do inside as well as experience the outdoor lights.