Open Daily 10AM to 2PM

This seasonal exhibit features a lush garden filled with tropical plants where hundreds of butterflies soar through the air or perch on your shoulders.

Gulf Fritillary, Monarch, Zebra Longwing, Giant Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and American Lady are just a few of the species that call Whispering Wings home.  Colorful, dainty creatures, butterflies belong to the Lepidoptera order of insects. They are cold-blooded and depend on the sun to regulate their temperature. They are essential pollinators in the garden and need nectar plants for adult butterflies, host plants that provide food and camouflage for caterpillars, and plants that provide shelter from wind and predators.

Whispering Wings also contains a pupae emergence room where visitors may observe the transformation from chrysalis to adult butterflies!

We, the people of Brookgreen Gardens, invite you to come out, one and all, on September 17, 2022, to celebrate the signing of the Constitution from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Carolina Gold Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, activities will include Storytelling, Children’s Parade led by George Washington, crafts, and more. It will be a fun and educational event for the whole family. The event will begin at the Lowcountry Center and shall occur throughout the gardens.

“From Chaos to Beloved Community: Envisioning Social Justice” opens August 5 – November 30 in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium.

Curated by Torreah “Cookie” Washington, the 2022/2023 African American Fiber Art Traveling Exhibition features 19 pieces crafted by African American fiber artists from throughout the nation.

The 50-minute interactive program informs about values and qualities that are inherent to Gullah Geechee heritage. Songs, poetry, excerpts from cultural writings, and personal insights are presented by Ron Daise, Vice President for Creative Education.  “Cotch de laarnin,” that is, receive awareness about the significance of a living culture that exists in communities along the southeastern coast of the United States. The program is free with garden admission.

Hollywood stars brought big-screen magic to Myrtle Beach over nearly 50 years. Kathryn Hedgepath, author of the now collectible book Myrtle Beach Movies, will share stories of the motion pictures made or premiered here, as featured in her book and on her popular weekly trolley tour that takes guests to various film locations. 

She will also highlight the city’s impact on music history—drawing from her Myrtle Beach History, Movies & Music Trolley Tour—including the origins of Beach Music and South Carolina’s state dance, The Shag. 

About the Speaker: 

Myrtle Beach native Kathryn Hedgepath is the creator and narrator of the Myrtle Beach History Trolley and Step-On Tours. She has traveled to forty countries across six continents and uses her global experiences to present local history through a worldly lens. 

Kathryn returned home from New York City in 2002 to marry her husband, Jenks, after a career in television and publishing. She also spent a semester working in Space Shuttle Operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., before beginning graduate school at Georgetown University. Her first career job was as Personal Assistant to television icon and wildlife expert Jim Fowler of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom fame—a position arranged by her father, Myrtle Beach’s first veterinarian, when Fowler spoke at a veterinary conference in Myrtle Beach. 

Proud to trace her family history in Horry County back to the pre-Revolutionary War years, Kathryn enjoys sharing the rich history of the area with visitors, newcomers, and locals alike. 

Learn about Gullah Geechee culture, history, and beliefs with Author, Emmy-nominated Performing Artist, and Cultural Interpreter Ron Daise. Explore the resilience and dignity of Gullah Geechee people throughout systems of oppression as Daise juxtaposes readings of excerpts from his novella, We Wear the Mask, Unraveled Truths in a Pre-Gullah Community, with stanzas of “We Wear the Mask” by poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. 

About the Speaker:      

Ron Daise, a St. Helena Island, SC native, is a prominent author, performer, and cultural preservationist. As Vice President for Creative Education at Brookgreen Gardens since 2004, he's received the 2019 SC Governor's Distinctive Achievement Award for his impactful contributions. Daise, along with his wife Natalie, created the "Gullah Geechee Wisdom Cards Guidebook," earning the 2017 SC African American Heritage Commission's Project Award. Former stars of Nick Jr. TV's "Gullah Gullah Island," they received the 2019 Foundation for Leadership Education Lifetime Achievement Award and other honors. Daise is a respected figure in Gullah Geechee cultural heritage, having served on the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission and presented at the United Nations. A Hampton University graduate, he actively contributes to community and educational initiatives in Georgetown, SC.  

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

The only legitimate places to purchase tickets to Nights of a Thousand Candles are our website or our ticketing company, www.showclix.com. If you buy them elsewhere, we cannot guarantee their validity or that you will receive them.

Visit our FAQ page for answers to our most asked questions

Need to move your tickets to another date? Here's how! TICKET EXCHANGE

About The Event:

Experience one of the most beloved holiday events in the Southeast, Nights of a Thousand Candles.

See Brookgreen Gardens come to life amid the soft glow of more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and millions of sparkling lights.  From 4 - 9 p.m. walk the paths with a warm cup of cider, hear the sounds of holiday music, and celebrate the season with family and friends!

Sparkle & Fun!

Are you looking to add a touch of magic to your upcoming visit? Look no further than our Sparkle & Fun Package! This package includes a glass of wine (or cider) and a set of holographic glasses that will make the lights at Brookgreen Gardens even more festive.  The holographic glasses create a stunning visual effect, turning every light source into a mesmerizing display of color and sparkle. You will be amazed as you sip your wine and watch the gardens come alive with dazzling lights. Whether you're attending with friends or family, our Sparkle & Fun Package is the perfect way to elevate the atmosphere and create unforgettable memories.  

Pick up your Sparkle & Fun - on the north terrace of the Purdy Center.

TIPS!

Dress warmly! Traffic is sometimes heavy. We encourage guests to carpool whenever possible!

Named "Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina" by Travel+Leisure Magazine

Nightly Food Options

Campbell Catering (Dead Dog Saloon): 

Located in the Leonard Pavilion, offering a selection of Lowcountry favorites. 
Offering a selection of Lowcountry favorites. MENU HERE *menu subject to change

Rotating Food Trucks: 

Located near the Entertainment Stage, check dates below for the nightly selection.

Harvest Restaurant: 

Reservations are recommended. However, to have dinner at Harvest, you must also have tickets to Nights of a Thousand Candles. Reservations

Entertainment Schedule

Five - 45 Minute Sets (4 pm, 5 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:15 pm, 8:15 pm)

Tree Lighting: 6 - 6:15 pm  (in the Arboretum)

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors!

Brookgreen Gardens will display RODIN: CONTEMPLATION AND DREAMS – Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections from January 28 through April 23, 2023, in Brookgreen’s Rosen Galleries. Featuring 46 works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, celebrated as the greatest sculptor of the 19th century, this exhibition brings world renowned sculptures to America’s first sculpture garden.

“We are thrilled to display works from such a celebrated and talented sculptor,” says Page Kiniry, president of Brookgreen Gardens. “Bringing the works of one of art history’s most influential great masters to South Carolina's coast furthers our mission to display the finest sculptures and will offer visitors an exclusive chance to experience Rodin’s bronzes in an esteemed sculpture garden.”

RODIN: CONTEMPLATION AND DREAMS – Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections is made up of 45 works from the prestigious Cantor Collections, including nine life-size statues, portraits, full figures, torsos, fragments, and reliefs. Some of Rodin’s best-known sculptures are represented such as Balzac, figures from The Burghers of Calais, and maquettes from The Gates of Hell. The title of this exhibition comes from Rodin himself, who said that artwork, “…opens before us an enchanted land of contemplation and dreams.”

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) was a pivotal figure and is to this day celebrated as the greatest sculptor of the 19th century. His work represents a crucial transition to the modernism of the 20th century, which influenced many sculptors in Europe and America. His sculpture, The Thinker, is one of the most recognized works in sculpture. Rodin created many iconic works that altered the way traditional sculpture was perceived and set the stage for many modern sculptors to come.

This exhibition has been organized and made possible by the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. Presenting sponsors, Laura and Winston Hoy and Jeanne and Joe Mize.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Presenting Sponsors: 

Laura and Winston Hoy

Jeanne and Joe Mize

Bronze Sponsors:            

Hal and Margaret Holmes

Figure Sponsors:             

Carolina Cool          

First Citizens Bank

Gay Dolphin

Lakewood Camping Resort

Supporting Sponsors:    

Elaine and Kenneth Trousdell       

The Curator’s Circle

Join Ms. Robin R. Salmon, VP of Art and Historical Collections/Curator of Sculpture

Brookgreen Gardens for a book signing of her new book,  Brookgreen 101:  A Curatory's Legacy