Shine at The Columbus Botanical Garden Celebrates Beauty, Community & Transformation

Carrie Beth Wallace
12 minutes ago
3 min read

Written by Carrie Beth Wallace

Images via Columbus Botanical Garden

This holiday season, the Columbus Botanical Garden invites our community to step into a world where light and nature intertwine. On select nights from November 29 through December 23, Shine: A Garden Light Spectacular will transform The Garden into a glowing wonderland of illuminated pathways, twinkling displays, and timeless memories waiting to be made.

“The Columbus Botanical Garden, to me, is really a cultural jewel of the city,” says Carmen Overton, Director of Development. “Every great city has great cultural institutions, including botanical gardens.”

During Shine this year, The Garden will shimmer brighter than ever before.

A Living Story Told in Lights

Each night of Shine is shaped to inspire awe. As visitors stroll beneath archways of light and take in sweeping displays, they’ll witness The Garden reimagined through artistry and innovation.

“The Garden is a place for all seasons,” said Overton. “You can come back again and again, and you’re always going to see something different.” That spirit of continual renewal is exactly what Shine embodies—each visit unique, each moment a chance to connect.

A Place to Gather, to Celebrate, and Be Together

Through Shine, The Garden intentionally creates a space where families, friends, couples, and groups will find the freedom to slow down and enjoy the season together. Whether it’s a child’s first holiday memory or a multigenerational tradition, Shine offers a meaningful place to gather.

“The Garden is more than a beautiful place,” reflects Bruce Howard, Board President. “It’s a place to learn, a place to be inspired. It’s a place to gather with family and friends.”

This, Howard said, is inherent to The Garden experience. “The learning just comes naturally here. There are so many incredibly passionate people here both on staff and in our volunteers that know so much about nature they so freely share with anyone who comes to The Garden.”

Shine as a Catalyst for The Garden’s Growth

While Shine is undeniably a visual delight, its purpose stretches far beyond aesthetics. For leadership, the event holds deep strategic and emotional significance.

“I am very passionate about Shine for a number of reasons,” Howard explained. “First, it’s a place for community to come and celebrate the holiday season. However, the financial impact that it will have on The Garden is just as important to me. Shine is an event that brings in revenue dollars that The Garden really needs to sustain itself.”

This year’s enhanced installations - including displays by Columbus, Georgia’s beloved Mr. Ludy- promises to take Shine to new heights.

“It’s been my dream for eight years that Shine would develop into the kind of event it is today, said Howard. “I’m thrilled that this year, The Garden is taking Shine to another level.”

The Garden hosted more than 6,000 people during Shine last year. This year’s attendance is expected to grow even further thanks to the team’s expanded approach. Each ticket sold makes a valuable impact to The Garden by providing needed funds for continued growth.

A Year of Purposeful Transformation

“This year has been a time of change and transformation here at The Garden,” said Andrew Ruhs, Interim Executive Director. “We are intent on continuing to make The Garden a community asset. We are focused on organizational suitability, and have really set the organization up to go into the future.”

Howard echoed Ruhs’ shared sense of momentum. “I’m extremely proud of our staff. They have done an amazing job this year of totally transforming every aspect of The Garden’s operation. We are writing the next chapter of The Garden and I’m excited to be a part of it all.”

Through events like Shine, The Garden’s next chapter is unfolding with imagination and heart. All while keeping people and experiences at the center of it all.

Where Art, Nature & Community Connect

“Everyone here at The Garden is so passionate about creating events and moments for people to come and connect with nature and with each other,” said Overton. “Everybody has a part to play in creating the story we’re making.”

At The Columbusite, we believe that the arts live not only in galleries and theaters—but also in the very soil of our community. A city’s arts and culture scene is grown most through its people working in collaboration to provide creative experiences like Shine. This year’s event does more than illuminate the landscape—it illuminates what’s possible when vision and stewardship come together. So, wrap up in something warm, bring the people who matter most to you, and walk into a world where nature and light work together to tell a story worth experiencing, year after year, together, again. ◼️