Christmas Garden in Leipzig and Dresden again during Advent

This winter, over a million points of light will once again turn two historic parks in Saxony into Christmas gardens for a few weeks. While 18th-century Pillnitz Palace and Park in Dresden will sparkle in the dark during Advent for the sixth time, Herfurth'sche Landschaftspark in Markkleeberg, which was created at the end of the 19th century, will be illuminated for the second time after its debut in 2023. Christmas Garden Deutschland GmbH announced warm light and shimmering colors in around 30 installations and sounds until the beginning of 2025.

Novelties and classics in Dresden

For the Christmas Garden Dresden (21 November to 12 January 2025), the organizers announced more colourful productions, surprises and classics of the past on the approximately two-kilometre-long circular route through the former princely summer residence. It ranges from the pleasure garden in a blaze of light through the Cathedral of Light past a water installation to the carillon, sea of lights and islands of light with over 45,000 points of light - and the Christmas story at the Palm House.

Wishing Bridge and readings with celebrities in Leipzig

The current agra-Park Markkleeberg will be transformed into a "magical sea of glitter with sparkling attractions" as Christmas Garden Leipzig (November 26 to January 5, 2025). The audiovisual tour leads from the sea of lights to a Wishing Bridge and the Wishing Tree. In between, light flakes dance across the floor, there are sparkling cuddly bears and forest animals, color ballet and water fairy tales as well as a lake of wisdom - on which lotus blossoms shimmer. In December, readings with actress Anna Thalbach and singer Mieze from the Berlin electropop band MIA are planned in the ambience.

Dresden and Leipzig, which are currently two of the 15 Christmas Gardens in Europe, were visited by over 200,000 people in the pre-season, around 120,000 adults, children and young people in Dresden and 85,000 in Leipzig. The Royal Botanic Gardens in London's Kew district were illuminated for the first time in 2014, two years later the spectacle premiered in Germany.