November and December was an enchanting time for local merchants as a record number of Gardens Aglow visitors attended the annual LED light show at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  In each of Gardens Aglow's four seasons, attendance has grown significantly. 2018 was the event’s best by posting 112,000 visitors for the six-week run.

Last year, Gardens Aglow attracted 98,000 visitors, but that mark was easily eclipsed by this year’s number due to an assist from the Maine State Tourism Department. CMBG received a state tourism grant which it used in boosting attendance by over 14 percent. Since its inception, Gardens Aglow has attracted visitors to the Boothbay region during an unlikely time for the seaside summer tourist destination. In 2015, CMBG did very little in promoting Gardens Aglow’s inaugural event. CMBG officials expected  at most 10,000 guests for the six-week event. But year one proved a tremendous success, drawing 36,000 visitors.

In 2016, a modest advertising budget netted 75,000 visitors. In 2017, the Joint Economic Development Council created Boothbay Lights to run in conjunction with Gardens Aglow which begins the week prior Thanksgiving Day and ends New Year’s Eve. Boothbay Lights decorated downtown Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor with the same lights adorning buildings and bushes at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for Gardens Aglow. Boothbay Lights is designed to attract Gardens Aglow guests to the region’s inns, restaurants and shops. Boothbay Lights succeeded in boosting sales for local inns and restaurants, but merchants didn’t enjoy the same success. But in 2018, it seemed everyone benefited from the winter light show.

“This year was great for everyone,” said Michael Maxim of the Boothbay Lights Committee. “The response has been overwhelming and helped us achieve our goal of extending the season and promoting the region.”

This was the first year CMBG received a state tourism grant. CMBG targeted tourists familiar with Maine, but not likely to visit during the holiday season. CMBG advertised in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland, specifically Baltimore. So the grant in combination of CMBG’s own advertising strategy resulted in  record attendance.

Boothbay Harbor merchant Bill Kirby is one of several local businesses who benefited from the influx of winter tourists. Kirby has operated Enchantments for 31 years as a specialty shop for “new age and mystical” products such as jewelry, tarot cards and figurines. His business is open year round and attracts a steady stream of regular customers. But Gardens Aglow has provided a much-welcomed boost to the business.

“My business doubles during Gardens Aglow, and this year was by far the best it has ever been,” he said. “While they wait for the next shuttle bus they come over and shop. I’m very grateful for this because it brings in a lot of late business beyond the regular tourist season.”

Gardens Aglow is a 650,000 LED light show decorating CMBG plants and buildings.