The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will host its 27th annual Luminary Walk on select nights from Nov. 27 through Dec. 26. This year's event offers four ways to experience the candlelit gardens after dark.

Volunteers light candles by hand in the woods on traditional Luminary Walk and Candlelight Stroll nights, according to Leawood City Lifestyle, which profiled the event. Jennifer Cairns, director of development for the Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, told the publication that the hand-lit candles give the walk its character.

"Volunteers literally head into the woods and light all of the candles by hand, creating this magical, almost old-fashioned feeling throughout the Arboretum," Cairns said.

The traditional Luminary Walk offers live entertainment, Santa visits and festive activities for families. Tickets cost $17. Children 5 and under get in free.

An 18-and-older Candlelight Stroll runs on separate evenings with a quieter atmosphere and additional beverage options, also at $17. Electric Glow strips out live music and caps attendance for a lower-sensory experience at $12 per ticket.

Glow Cart Tours provide staff-driven golf cart rides through the displays for guests with mobility needs. Three-passenger carts cost $45 and five-passenger carts cost $75, according to the foundation's event page.

Along the traditional and Candlelight Stroll routes, visitors can find local musicians, youth choirs, carolers and an Elvis impersonator performing seasonal favorites. Louisburg Cider Mill cider is among the beverages available. The event's gnome homes and fairy villages have become returning favorites.

Preparation starts months ahead. Cairns told Leawood City Lifestyle that planning begins almost as soon as the previous year's walk ends, with physical setup launching in late September or early October. Volunteers move materials, build displays, coordinate entertainment and map the route. The walk is almost entirely volunteer-driven, Cairns said.

Ticket proceeds go to the Friends of the Arboretum, funding the Arboretum's educational programs, operations and capital improvements. The foundation's 2026 event calendar lists attendance at 31,700, though it is unclear whether that reflects a prior-year total or a 2026 projection.

Cairns advised first-timers to dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. The Arboretum is not typically open at night, making the walk a rare chance to see the gardens after sunset.

Tickets are available at artsandrec-op.org. However, all 2026 Glow Cart Tours are sold out, and the event page offers a waiting list. According to the organization's FAQ page, the fun begins at 5 p.m. There is no entry is allowed after 8 p.m., and lights begin going out at 9 p.m. Cart departures are scheduled from 5 to 7:15 p.m.

Upcoming at the Arboretum

  • Friday, Nov. 20: Holiday Luminary 5K. Runners preview the light displays before the walk opens to the public. The race starts and finishes near the LongHouse Visitors Center, according to the city of Overland Park's November event guide.
  • Friday, Nov. 27: Luminary Walk opening night.
  • Sunday, Nov. 29: First Glow Cart Tour evening.