Luminaria

The Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point are the post-Labor Day weekend location of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival each year.  At this winter time of year one might think that “gardens” would have nothing to offer.  Wrong!

Through the Holiday Season the Ashton Gardens are the home of LUMINARIA, a spectacular light show of Christmas delight and beauty.

The Gingerbread Houses are only the beginning...

As you enter the gardens there are Gingerbread Houses filling the garden’s greenhouse. They are meticulously done and beautifully creative.  We would have made the trip just to see them.

On our way through Luminaria!

Once in the Gardens themselves, the Gingerbread Houses would be left behind except for the lingering aroma of gingerbread that follows along with you for a while.  Gingerbread is not the only smell enhancement along the way; there is the aroma of tulips blooming as the LED tulips bloom and later the smell of peppermint while traveling through a forest of candy canes.

Blue lights sparkle over flowing streams.

The summertime streams of water now flow with twinkling blue lights, the sculpture garden is softly lighted with hundreds of LED candles, a long hillside glows with thousands of luminaries timed to change color and pattern with Christmas music to accompany them. There is even a pair of reindeer...Comet and Dasher...to be visited.  Along the way there are opportunities for warm-ups and hot chocolate.

Walking a path of candy canes.

If you ever have a chance to be near Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah at this time of year, do NOT miss the chance to walk through this holiday of lights.  Dress warmly, though.  It will probably be near freezing when you are there.  It is also a good idea to go early in the evening...we began our visit at dusk near five o’clock...to avoid parking and people crowds.

Dancing luminaries accompanied by music.