Descanso's Enchanted Turns 10, and the Date You Pick Sets the Price

How much does a walk through Descanso Gardens after dark cost this year? For an adult without a membership, it costs anywhere from $29 to $52, depending on the night and the entry time. The route is about a mile long on every night of the run, and parking is free on every night. The price is set by the date and entry time you choose.

Enchanted Forest of Light opens for its tenth season this Sunday, November 22, and runs through January 9, 2027, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For anyone who lives within a short drive of 1418 Descanso Drive, the planning comes down to three questions: which night, whether the show is worth an evening at all this year, and which parts of the season don't need an Enchanted ticket.

Ten seasons, and what this one adds

The show started small. A November 2016 account of the debut described a first season of eight attractions, running from November 25 to January 8, 2017. By year two, according to the La Cañada Valley Sun, organizers had expanded the Ancient Forest, grown Flower Power from 2,900 tulips to 4,000, and brought the total to 10 installations. In 2018, the Los Angeles Times identified Chris Medvitz of Lightswitch as the event's creative director and described his work on Flower Power.

Both of those early pieces are still in the show. Descanso lists Flower Power and the Ancient Forest as returning favorites for 2026. The anniversary season adds these:

• A laser light show on the Main Lawn that ends in a "snowfall" finale. The artists page credits the laser installation to Lightswitch Design.
• Tom Fruin's luminous house sculptures, moved to the Oak Grove. Returning visitors will find a familiar piece in a new part of the gardens.
• Giant Koi in the Garden of Good Fortune, marking the Japanese Garden's 60th anniversary.
• New train cars built by Guy Louis, Descanso's train technician.

The artist collective HYBYCOZO, Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk, also returns. For a household that has walked the route several times, the moved Fruin houses and the new lawn finale are the main reasons to see it again. They also explain why the high-demand nights carry the high-end prices.

A price set by the calendar, with no do-overs

Descanso says ticket prices "vary by date and entry time." Its own advice for saving money is to come on less busy dates and at less busy entry times. These are the published ranges for the 2026 season:

At the top of the range, a non-member adult pays $23 more than on the least expensive night. A family of two adults and two children with both children between 2 and 12 pays $82 more. Membership takes up to $7 off general admission and $20 off an Anytime ticket. It doesn't make Enchanted free, and Descanso doesn't honor reciprocal-garden memberships for this event.

Enchanted tickets can't be rescheduled or refunded, and the event goes on rain or shine. Descanso suggests treating an unused ticket as a donation to the Descanso Gardens Foundation. Once you pick a date, you're committed to it.

That's where the Anytime ticket comes in. At $85 for a non-member, it costs $33 more than the most expensive dated adult ticket. In exchange, it's good on any night of the run. A local who would rather decide on the day, after checking the forecast or a calendar that filled up unexpectedly, gets something for that premium that an out-of-town visitor booking one night may not need.

A few more house rules affect the night itself:

• The gardens are cashless, including the food and drink stands.
• Parking is free and first-come, first-served, with attendants directing cars into the Descanso lots.
• There are no discounted group rates. Groups and buses have to call 818.949.4200 to reserve.
• An Enchanted ticket covers only the evening event. Daytime visits, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., need a separate admission.
• Descanso recommends a coat, scarf, hat and gloves. Some installations cycle through changes in color or sound, so it's worth lingering at them.

The first week of December carries the most

Daytime admission is separate from Enchanted, and that matters most in early December, when the busiest stretch of the season falls on the town's own calendar.

From Wednesday, December 2, through Sunday, December 6, the Holiday Market presented by LAist sets up on the Main Lawn with handmade jewelry, artisan pottery, botanical gifts and plants from local makers. It's open twice a day. From 1 to 4 p.m., it's included with regular daytime admission or a membership. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., it's included with an Enchanted ticket. A member who lives nearby can shop it in the afternoon without buying an evening ticket at all.

The city has its own lights event that same Friday. Festival in Lights runs at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Boulevard, on December 4 from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with stained-glass-style art, light installations and interactive pieces. It ends one hour after Enchanted opens for the night, about a five-minute drive away.

Here's how that week fits together:

1. Wednesday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 to 4 p.m. Holiday Market, included with Descanso daytime admission or membership.
2. Friday, Dec. 4, 4 to 6:30 p.m. Festival in Lights at Memorial Park.
3. Wednesday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Dec. 6, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Holiday Market inside Enchanted, included with an Enchanted ticket.

Making an evening of it

The most expensive way in comes first. The Enchanted Preview Party is this Saturday, November 21, from 7 to 10 p.m., at $275 per ticket. That covers unlimited food and drinks, a dessert bar, Carmela Ice Cream, The Flashdance DJs and the La Cañada High School Choir. Sponsorships add a 6 p.m. VIP reception and an Anytime ticket.

Once the show opens, Farmhouse at Descanso serves dinner throughout the run, and Beverly Press reports that reservations are recommended. Outside food isn't allowed in the gardens, so Farmhouse and the seasonal food stands along the route are the options on site. The Store, Descanso's gift shop, stays open during Enchanted and stocks holiday and plant-themed goods.

The show itself is about a mile of lit paths that can be done with strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Descanso notes that terrain varies along the route and that lighting is dim in places. There is some flashing light in the installations. The last night is Saturday, January 9.

My office is in La Cañada Flintridge, a short drive from Descanso Drive, and the season here is something I follow closely. If you have questions about this part of town, whether they start with the lights at Descanso or a property a few streets away, I'm glad to talk them through. Let's Connect with Ed Dorini.