Giveaway: Enter to Win Free Admission to Brookside’s Garden of Lights!



Holiday light displays are always a seasonal treat, and you have a chance to win a visit to an area favorite: The spectacular Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens!

Escape to a glittering world with towering sunflowers, puffy rain clouds, lazy turtles, larger-than-life mushrooms, and other critters so beautiful, you’ll think you’ve been transported to a fairytale land.

Garden of Lights delights families every year with its imaginative and lighted figures that help usher in the holiday season. The handmade forms of forest animals, flowers and other natural elements help transform the gardens into whimsical winter scenes.

But the fun doesn’t stop outdoors. The conservatory will be transformed by G-scale model trains racing through a wintry landscape. And no wintertime shindig would be complete without mugs of piping hot cocoa, s’mores and live musical performances.

Garden of Lights opens November 24 and will run through January 1 (closed December 24-25). Hours are 5:30-9:30pm Sunday – Thursday, and 5:30-10pm Friday – Saturday. Admission is $25 per car/van Sunday – Thursday, and $30 per car/van Friday – Saturday. (KFDC Tip: If yu can swing it, go on a weekday when it’s less crowded.) Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton, MD.

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Giveaway: For a chance to win free admission to Brookside’s Garden of Lights, simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite holiday treat to eat (savory or sweet). Get an extra chance to win by entering on the KidFriendly DC Facebook Page, too. The passes can be used on any date the exhibit is open. This giveaway will run through Tuesday, November 21, 2017, then a winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Montgomery Parks, however, I only promote events, places, and programs that I genuinely believe in and think will be of interest to KFDC readers.

221 Comments

Filed under 2017, All ages, Annual, Christmas, DC, Exhibit, Giveaway, Holidays, Maryland, Outdoor, Seasonal, Sponsored Post, Trains, Weekdays, Weekend, Winter

221 Responses to Giveaway: Enter to Win Free Admission to Brookside’s Garden of Lights!

  1. Jessica E Belford

    Gingerbread men!

  2. Jenny Han

    I looove eggnog!

  3. Apple Pie is so classic and delicious! It’s my number one holiday treat!

  4. Ruth

    Grandma Susie’s caramel

  5. Laurie pickett

    Sugar cookies! Trees and santas and Christmas ornament shapes!

  6. Chanel Steel

    Orange rolls on Christmas morning

  7. Elaine Qualter

    Every year for Christmas we make these decadent cookies with a soft sugar/butter/sour cream dough encapsulating a chunk of Milky Way candy bar. M&ms decorate the top! They’re fun to make and delightful to eat.
    We’re love Christmas in DC and always appreciate your tips and giveaways!

  8. Riva

    My mom makes a dessert called Brazo de mercedes, a Filipino dessert, which is made of soft meringue with custard filling. She makes it with a lot of love and tender care so it turns out delicious every time! 🙂

  9. My fav holiday treat would be the homemade gingerbread cookies my kids and I make.

  10. Crystal Simms-Hines

    Dressing and sweet potato pie are among my holiday faves.

  11. Joyce

    turkey and mashed potatoes with lots of gravy.

  12. sarah

    Every year as a child, my father would buy a box of chocolates from chocolatier Bernard Callebaut in Calgary, Canada. Last year, we went to visit family in Canada and my Dad brought my husband and I each a package of the chocolates for us to take home – but by the time we returned home I couldn’t find them. I thought we had lost them. I was so upset, I spent one evening awake, unable to sleep, worried that we had lost the chocolates – which aside from being delicious, were a close reminder of a sweet childhood memory. Turns out my husband hid them as a joke. But I’ll get him back … just wait!

  13. Adriana Palacios

    Panettone with hot chocolate

  14. Dawn Horan

    Homemade cutout sugar cookies

  15. Tina Morrison

    Homemade chocolate covered cherries 🍒

  16. Linda So

    Sweet potatoes w/ marshmallows on top!

  17. Rebecca

    Latkes with applesauce.

  18. Valarie Reinbold

    I look forward to homemade caramels all year.

  19. Alison

    My great grandma’s Christmas cookies!

  20. Katie White

    My grandmother’s chocolate walnut fudge is my favorite treat to eat during the holidays!

  21. Rachel Zimmerman

    Christmas cookies!

  22. Lance

    A tall glass of mulled wine is Santa’s favorite little helper

  23. Emily

    I like hot cocoa and soy/coconut nog.

  24. Melva

    Our family likes to bake bread and cookies for Christmas.

  25. Lindsey

    Would love to take my 2.5 year old!

  26. Hadley Stocker

    pecan pie

  27. Julia

    Gingerbread cookies!

  28. Paula P

    Gingerbread cookies!

  29. Mafe garcia

    Gingerbread cookies and eggnog

  30. Elise

    Sugar cookies! Gingerbread cake! Hot cocoa! So many….

  31. Kelly

    Decorated sugar cookies

  32. Sadie Hendrickson

    Lemon Ricotta Cookies, which are one of the few Italian traditions my family continues for the holidays.

  33. Lauren Mullen

    I love following your blog and have found tons of fun things to do with my twin girls because of it, so thank you!! My favorite holiday treat is chocolate chip meringue cookies. My grandmother used to make them for us and it’s such a sweet memory I have of her.

  34. Jean

    Christmas cookies (using grandma’s recipes!)

  35. Definitely the homemade gingerbreads man my kids and I make.

  36. Melissa

    White chocolate gingerbread cookies

  37. Lauryn Warring

    Hot cocoa with marshmallows!

  38. Laura

    I love to make and eat Christmas cookies!

  39. Sandy

    I love holiday cookies

  40. Jason Wenrich

    Gingerbread!

  41. heather

    Hot cocoa and holiday cookies – perfect combination.

  42. penny

    Gingerbread for sure!

  43. Verniers

    Always the “bûche de noel”!!!!:-)) yummy!

  44. Nikki

    My favorite treat is baking and eating Gingerbread men ☺️

  45. Kate Ivcevich

    We enjoy making pfeffernuts, tiny molasses cookies my grandmother used to make. Labor intensive, but so delicious and makes me so happy to continue the tradition. Thanks!

  46. Alex

    Favorite holiday treat is homemade sugar cookies with icing. 🙂

  47. Barbara Cleary

    Cookie cutouts!

  48. Brooke W

    My favorite holiday treat is probably simply a really yummy cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, enjoyed fireside.

  49. Stacy Ross

    My favorite holiday treat is Mexican Wedding Cakes (aka Russian Tea Cakes, Snowballs). They are a powdered sugar mess, but SO yummy! Thanks for the chance to win tickets. My family tries to get to Brookside every winter for this display. 🙂

  50. Moira Angel

    Rum soaked fruitcake!

  51. Sarah K

    We love mince pies!

  52. Jenelle Walson

    Eggnog is my favorite holiday treat 😁

  53. Ann

    Love homemade cinnamon rolls.

  54. Sabrina A

    Cookies! Preferably with hot chocolate 😊

  55. Smita Varia

    Apple Pie! I love Apple Pie (especially the pie crust.)

  56. Amy b

    Peanut blossom cookies!

  57. Holly

    Italian panettone!

  58. Elizabeth Leach

    Peppermint Bark!

  59. Lane Windham

    Can’t wait!

  60. Rachael Sondak

    Mint chocolate anything!

  61. Tania Stewart

    Definitely hot chocolate! Can’t beat it.

  62. Wendy

    homemade shortbread!!

  63. Jennifer Gonzalez

    Spiked eggnog and rumcake 😉

  64. Colleen

    The warm cheese danish that my aunt bakes from scratch every Christmas morning!

  65. Jessica

    Cream cheese and pepper jelly with crackers and cheese straws!

  66. Sandra

    Panettone is definitely my favorite. I was born in Peru but lived all over, therefore tried almost everything. There’s nothing better, for me, than a fresh fluffy panettone with hot chocolate on the side. Yum!

  67. Rachel

    Our family has a sweet tooth! We love cookies, especially the peanut butter with a Hershey kiss!

  68. Rachel

    Sugar cookies with almond frosting!

  69. Suchitra H

    I love White chocolate covered pretzel!

  70. Cara

    Christmas cookies with lots of sprinkles

  71. Jen anderson

    Peppermint mocha!

  72. Rachel

    Holiday cookies of any kind with mulled apple cinder!

  73. I love cream cheese tree cookies, my great grandmothers recipe! I only make them at Christmas

  74. Cyril E

    Pumpkin & pecan pies!

  75. Chrissy Sparks

    My fave holiday treat is peppermint white chocolate mocha drink paired with a peppermint dark chocolate cupcake with a cream cheese frosting! Yummy!

  76. Sarah

    Hot chocolate made from melted chocolate!

  77. grace

    hot chocolate!!!

  78. Heather Norden

    My grandmother’s homemade fruit cake!

  79. Lindsay

    Homemade Christmas cookies🍪

  80. Brian Schwartz

    My favorite holiday treat is cranberry crisp delight. It’s a dish with almonds and cranberries and it amazing!!!

  81. Maria LoPiccolo

    Biscotti, especially almond!

  82. Jackie Lai

    Peanut butter thumb print cookies!

  83. Robin A.

    Cranberry apple cake with brown sugar frosting!

  84. Jigar Shah

    My favorite holiday treat to eat is Orange Cranberry nut bread. It just goes sooo well with coffee.

  85. Paula

    Sopipillas – sugary, cinnamony goodness!

  86. Derek

    This place is great for Pokemon Go players, in case you need to incentivize the trip.

  87. Carrie C. in VA

    Fave holiday treat is peppermint bark!

  88. julie

    I look forward to eggnog all year!

  89. Danielle roy

    Hot chocolate and marshmallows

  90. Cristina Lucas

    Trader Joe’s dark chocolate mint stars! Simply amazing.

  91. Michelle Daniels

    We love Christmas Cookies!

  92. Sarah Puro

    Hot Chocolate!

  93. Rebecca Dirks

    Gingerbread cookies!

  94. Tara D.

    anything with ginger!

  95. I go to an annual Christmas Eve party and we have paella! 🙂

  96. Blayre Redrick

    Apple pie

  97. Andrea B

    Thumbprint cookies.

  98. Erin P

    Hot chocolate with marshmallows and christmas tree shaped cookies!

  99. Amy

    Baked brie for sure.

  100. Kristin Redmon

    Mexican wedding cake cookies!

  101. pattyj

    Favorite holiday treat has to be pie!

  102. ShellyMcK

    My mom’s Hello Dolly bars–chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and coconut. Over the top deliciousness.

  103. Megan

    Nothing quite as nice as coming inside from playing on a cold day to a steamy cup of hot cocoa, with marshmallows, of course!

  104. Karina Bernuy

    Lovely garden

  105. Jenny

    Buckeye Balls (peanut butter dipped in chocolate)

  106. Leida

    Oreo peppermint crunch cookies

  107. Tanya

    I loveeee Apple pie 🙂

  108. Ginna Bertheau

    Pecan pie!

  109. Sara Burnett

    My favorite holiday treat is pie!

  110. Alana Laliberte

    Christmas cookies and rum balls.

  111. Bonnie

    Pumpkin pie!

    Thank you!

  112. Steve Arrington

    Peppermint ice cream!

  113. Mariya

    I love stuffing!

  114. Chris

    My Mom’s cherry creamcheese whipped cream pie!

  115. Valencia B Palmer

    Pig in pig… (Lil’ smokies, wrapped in bacon, rolled in brown sugar, and bake for 15 mins.)

  116. Melinda

    Apple pie is my favorite!

  117. Dana Chong

    Peppermint bark

  118. Rebecca

    We love candy canes and homemade gingerbread! Yummy!!!

  119. Joanne

    I love Mexican wedding cakes (aka Russian teacakes) during the holidays. Buttery, powdered sugar-ey, and smell delicious when baking!

  120. Jackie DeFreitas

    There is something about the holiday green and red M&Ms that taste extra good than the regular colors!

  121. kerry

    peppermint bark!

  122. Jane Short

    Warm gingerbread with homemade whipped cream

  123. SJ

    I am a huge fan of yummy Christmas cookies. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I love all kinds. The sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread cookies, etc. Yum!

  124. Linda

    Favorite holiday treat is the pie! Apple and pumpkin :p yum! …now I want some.

  125. stacy

    A holiday cheesecake!

  126. Allison Wilson

    brownie, peppermint ice cream and hot fudge!!

  127. Katherine M Murray

    Egg Nog!

  128. Cheryl

    Christmas pound cake

  129. Isabel Z

    Oh that’s easy. I love my mother-in-law’s pignoli nut cookies that she bakes every Christmas.

  130. Laura O

    pumpkin pie!

  131. Courtney Wileman

    I always look forward to my mom’s homemade cinnamon twists on Christmas morning.

  132. Yahira

    I love making smores by the fireplace.

  133. Alex

    peppermint bark!

    and new york cheesecake- thats always a classic 🙂

  134. Linda

    S’mores and sugar cookies

  135. Elizabeth Haile

    Pecan pie!

  136. Katya

    I like mushed potatoes and chicken.

  137. Megan Phillips

    Roast & Yorkshire pudding – a holiday treat!

  138. Brianna Smith

    It wouldn’t be Christmas without my
    Aunt’s white chocolate peanut butter popcorn!

  139. Piper

    My favorite holiday treat is roasted spicy nuts, made by my mother-in-law!

  140. Nestle Toll House Cookies. a baking tradition in our family!

  141. Dani Sandler

    Chocolate thumbprint cookies

  142. Mel

    Homemade ice cream with crushed candy canes!

  143. MADHUMITA M CHAVAN

    My favorite holiday treats are ginger bread cookies.

  144. Lori S

    I love peppermint and pumpkin spice lattes during this time of year 🙂

  145. Jenny Chubin

    Monkey Bread for brunch on Christmas morning!

  146. Suzette M

    Homemade cinnamon rolls that take two days to make, Yum! It’s the one time of the year we get to have them!

  147. Jennifer Kehoe

    Hot apple cider

  148. Netta Carroll

    My favorite holiday treat is pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream, yummy.

  149. Homemade apricot or raspberry ruggulah!!

  150. Tracy

    We would love comp tickets to Brookside Garden holiday lights!

    Healthy No Bake Pumpkin Spice Latte Bites
    Easy, delicious cake-like bites which tastes exactly like a pumpkin spice latte but much healthier for you and only take 5 minutes to whip up! Soft and doughy, these no-bake bites and naturally vegan, gluten free, dairy free and come with a paleo and high protein option- A delicious snack or treat anytime!

    Ingredients
    * 1 3/4 cups gluten-free oat flour (can sub for rolled oats, oat bran or quick oats)*
    * 1/4 cup coconut flour (can sub for almond or extra oat flour)**
    * 2 T granulated sweetener of choice (I used coconut palm sugar)***
    * 1 T pumpkin pie spice (or a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a dash of ginger)
    * 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
    * 1 tsp vanilla extract
    * 1/4 cup cashew butter (can sub for any nut butter)
    * 1/4 cup brown rice syrup (can sub for any sticky sweetener)****
    * 1 T + dairy free milk of choice*****
    * Cinnamon and granulated sweetener of choice, to coat bites in (optional)
    Instructions
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    23. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sweetener, pumpkin pie spice and mix well.
    24. In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, heat your nut butter with your sticky sweetener until combined. Mix in your vanilla extract. Pour your wet mixture and pumpkin to the dry mixture and mix well. Depending on consistency, either add dairy free milk of choice or extra flour until a firm texture is formed.
    25. Using your hands, form into small bite sized balls. Roll balls in optional cinnamon/sugar mixture and place on a baking tray or plate. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to firm up.
    Notes
    * * For paleo option, use 1/2 cup coconut flour
    * ** If you use another flour, you may need to add 2-3 tablespoons to make the batter firm
    * *** I used 2 tablespoons but adjust according to your desired level of sweetness
    * **** For a paleo option, use maple syrup
    * ***** Depending on the flour combination, you may need more- Adjust accordingly

  151. Beatrice Torres

    Pineapple upside down cake!

  152. KC Kwon

    Pumpkin pie!

    Would love tickets to Brookside Garden of Lights! Thanks!

  153. Eva

    Pan dulce (aka as Panetone) but just the one my mom makes. Thanks!

  154. Véronique Dufresne

    Cookies!

  155. Theresa Wallingford

    My favorite treat for the holidays is pecan pie, but my kids’ favorite treat is Jello!

  156. Rachelle

    Christmas cookies! We use my husband’s grandmother’s recipes. We make at least a few different ones but she has dozens of recipes!

  157. Beth Fiencke

    Peppermint drop cookies

  158. Barbara Sacks Singer

    Potato Latkes for Hanukkah, the festival of lights. This light display is a highlight of the season!

  159. Valerie Meyers

    Pizelle cookies!

  160. Uzma Hareem Khan

    cookies and milk are our families hot favorite for the holidays

  161. Hilary Hudimatch

    Chocolate peanut butter buckeyes, yum,

  162. Hello dear team!!! 😍😍🌟🌟🌟 I’m super close with my family, and Christmas allows for all of us to come together and spend some really quality time together. It’s always an awesome and happy time when we’re together, especially when the holidays are involved.From elaborate family meals, to yummy cookies, to candy in stockings, and all sorts of other holiday snacks, Christmas always means you’ll be having delicious food.
    I promise I’m not crazy. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh pine needles and Christmas cookies???
    Please give me the tickets so i can fully enjoy my Christmas spirit 🎄

  163. Kim Toro

    Coquito (Puerto Rican egg nog) is my all time favorite holiday treat. That and cookies. 😉

  164. MK

    Latkes with ketchup!

  165. Jennifer Templeman

    Christmas cookies!

  166. Carolyn

    Pumpkin pie!

  167. Leah

    Spiced red wine by the light of the fire!

  168. Tara Ghodrat

    Pecan Pie!

  169. Barbara Dominguez

    Toffee bars

  170. Stocking sweets with my son. His joy over a chocolate Santa or Santa Pez is pretty infectious.

  171. Erin Osit

    My husband’s amazing cranberry vanilla coffee cake on Christmas morning.

  172. Holly

    Gingerbread cookies!

  173. Kara L Eyrich

    Toffee Brittle. We went to this last year and it was great!

  174. Renee

    Gingerbread latte!

  175. Kristen Hall

    Chocolate caramel pretzel bark! Sweet and savory, goes with any warm drink or wine 🙂

  176. Alexandria Scott

    Oh! My favorite Christmas treat to eat is peppermint hot chocolate with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows on top. It’s so meditatively good!! 💆🏾‍♀️

  177. Alexandria Scott

    We love Brookside Gardens and have been doing to see the lights for so long! My daughter always sees the lights (like the dragon) during the day and asks to see them at night. My favorite Christmas treat is peppermint or salted caramel hot chocolate with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows on top. It’s so meditatively good!! 💆🏾‍♀️

  178. Absolute favorite sweet treat is the homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top; paired with some spike eggnog. Yum

  179. Inna

    I love hot wine

  180. Tomas Gajardo

    Gingerbread cookies!

  181. Kerri

    My favorite winter treat: my dad’s Christmas Day candy cane milk shakes.

  182. Chantae Brabham

    Shortbread cookies

  183. My favorite Christmas treat is my mother’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. There great warm or frozen. Best thing is the name turns people off so they don’t try them which leaves more for those who know their secret.

  184. Majose

    Turkey with staffing

  185. Maki

    Buttery snow ball cookies that my mom used to make and now that I’m a mom, I try to recreate them during the holidays.

  186. klaudia

    sugar waffles

  187. DorieSue Walker

    Green bean casserole.

  188. Kristina

    I’m a sucker for a piping hot Ppermint Mocha – homemade or out and about 🙂

  189. Maren

    Cranberry apple pie is my favorite dessert to eat around the holidays! It’s a simple, easy twist on an American classic. Sweet apples paired with tart cranberries that burst in your mouth when you tuck in to the slice of pie… served a la mode, of course!

  190. Miriam L

    Mmm PUMPKIN BREAD!!

  191. Nicole L

    I like to eat homemade gingerbread cookies during the holiday season.

  192. Danielle

    My favorite holiday treat is my Fathers home made lasagna he makes for Christmas.

  193. Shannon

    My family growing up always enjoed happy hour with cheese, crackers and sparkling juice so that is slways a must-have treat in my own home as well!

  194. Dorice

    peppermint bark!

  195. Avi

    Latkes made by an old Jewish Grandma (no hispter latkes)

  196. Rachael

    My mom’s homemade egg nog!

  197. Mariana

    My favorite holiday treat is cookies! Especially if someone else bakes them 🙂

  198. Joanna Barbour

    Stromboli, believe it or not

  199. Stephen Barbour

    Rum cake

  200. Carolina

    Polish Chrusciki!

  201. Jill Nielson

    We eat monkey bread every Christmas for breakfast.

  202. Amy

    Making S’mores at Light Displays!

  203. Lori S

    We love eating S’mores

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