The inaugural year of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ Gardens Aglow was deemed a huge success by CMBG staff and local businesses alike. The goal of Gardens Aglow was to increase winter tourist visitation in the Boothbay Region, drawing attention to the many opportunities available to visitors during the months of November and December. In the end, more than 36,000 people visited Gardens Aglow between November 21 and December 31.

Much research was done prior to implementing the plan to create the largest LED light display in Maine. Other botanical gardens across the nation were interviewed, visitor surveys were conducted, and numbers were crunched. The results of the research left the leadership at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens confident that the community and the state of Maine would benefit from a winter attraction that would draw visitors from across the state as well as from northern Massachusetts and eastern New Hampshire.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce and the Boothbay Register were two key local organizations who helped to spread the word locally and to help build awareness for this special event. With the support of event sponsors Bath Savings Institution, Knickerbocker Group, Allagash Brewing Company, Farview Appraisal, Robinson’s Wharf, and Tindal & Callahan Real Estate, as well as a grant from the Maine Office of Tourism, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was able to successfully create Gardens Aglow and maximize the tourism impact on the Boothbay Region community. Geographic data from tickets purchased online indicated visitors came from as far south as Florida, as far west as California, and they came in droves from the upper east coast of the United States. The appeal for Gardens Aglow had a much wider reach than anticipated. Deb Frenkel, owner of T&D Variety commented, “Gardens Aglow had a positive influence on the community. It brought more people down the peninsula during the holiday season.”

Based on an algorithm outlined in a 2011 Gabe report (and adjusted for 2015 based on the Consumer Price Index) the estimated total regional economic impact of Gardens Aglow is $4,107,468. This figure includes direct local spending and payroll paid by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens as well as dollars spent by visitors in the region on things such as gas, dining out, and shopping. Jeff Teel from Ports of Italy shared, “Staying open in November and December was tremendous for us. Gardens Aglow contributed significantly to our guest occupancy.” Stefanie McElman from Harbour Towne Inn on the Waterfront said, “We typically are not open that time of year but at the suggestion of the Chamber, we opened on weekends for people visiting Gardens Aglow and it was great! We saw a huge influx of guests and each one of them said their experience at Gardens Aglow was wonderful.”

The unprecedented visitation at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens put a strain on the limited parking spaces available onsite during the Gardens Aglow event. Timed ticketing, teams of parking staff, and support from the town of Boothbay with remote carpool lots helped to manage the traffic in the parking lots but the Gardens has additional measures planned for the future. The 2015-2035 Master Plan includes the creation of an estimated 200 additional parking spaces as soon as fall 2016, just in time for the 2016 season of Gardens Aglow.

Gardens Aglow has already become a new winter tradition for many Maine families. Facebook is filled with comments about people who visited multiple times, brought out-of-town guests and longed to see the lights on a snow covered night. Perhaps 2016 will bring even more snowy evenings for Gardens Aglow and its visitors who come to explore the beautiful Boothbay region. Adele Bielli from Slicks Boutique added, “If we could all work together next year I believe the whole harbor will benefit.”

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, opened to the public in 2007. It’s one of a very few attractions in Maine to receive the AAA’s “Gem” distinction and in 2013 was ranked the #1 public garden in the U.S. by TripAdvisor. The Gardens is located at 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, off Barters Island Road, just over a mile from Route 27 and the Boothbay common. For more information and directions, call 207-633-8000, or visit www.MaineGardens.org.