Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens invites Boothbay peninsula community members to take part in the annual Gardens Aglow holiday lighting contest. Participants with a home or business visible from a public roadway and located on the Boothbay peninsula in the towns of Edgecomb, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor or Southport, are eligible to win. Displays will be judged in two categories — business and residential. Employees and family members of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are not eligible to enter.

To participate, complete the registration form at www.GardensAglow.org and click on the “Contest” link. Entries must be received by Nov. 22 to be eligible for judging. Displays will be evaluated by a panel of judges from the community. Points will be given for originality, effective use of color, and overall impact when viewed from the nearest public roadway. Judges will consider residential and business displays separately. First place in both categories will receive $1,500 plus 15 tickets to Gardens Aglow, 2019. Second place will receive $1,000 plus ten tickets to Gardens Aglow and third place will receive $500 plus five tickets to Gardens Aglow.

Winners will be announced at the Gardens Aglow Community Night, Wednesday, Dec. 4. Community Night is Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ expression of its appreciation to the Boothbay peninsula for the tremendous outpouring of support received throughout the year, a complimentary evening for Boothbay peninsula residents only. Residents simply need to present proof of residence for admission to enjoy this fun event, kicking off the season in the company of friends. As an added bonus this year, professional photographer Michael Leonard, a contributor both to regional and national news outlets, will be on hand to help guests take their best shots, whether via cellphone or DSLR, of CMBG’s holiday light display.

Gardens Aglow is CMBG’s annual festive seasonal celebration. With more than 650,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens, the Gardens is taking its dramatic display of brilliant color to new heights. Illuminated trails, dramatic designs, and winter-themed exhibits make the largest light display in Maine not only bigger, but a brighter, more radiant experience. There is something for everyone to experience at Gardens Aglow — in addition to dramatic lighting, enjoy music, snacks, hot chocolate, and holiday shopping in the Gardenshop.

Gardens Aglow runs Nov. 14 through Dec. 31 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 4 to 9 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve). Tickets are timed for three separate arrivals each night at 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $9 for children 3-17 (children under 3 are free) and $41/family of four, are available online. Discounts are available for CMBG members and groups of 10 or more; see www.GardensAglow.org for all pricing options. To ease the journey to Gardens Aglow, shuttle buses will run continuously during the event, beginning at 4 p.m. from the municipal lot in Boothbay Harbor to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. While Gardens Aglow is a self-guided walking tour, complimentary wheelchairs and scooters are available on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting.

There is nothing quite like Maine in winter, and Gardens Aglow has become a firm tradition in Maine’s seasonal calendar. Together with Boothbay Lights, the Boothbay peninsula is the place to be for wintertime cheer. Experience the Gardens’ explosion of festive color, then dine in one of the many restaurants characteristic to the region and enjoy a wide variety of seasonal activities, including special events and seasonal shopping experiences. For a complete calendar of regional offerings, visit www.boothbaylights.com