What began at Maymont as a two-week event focused entirely on the Japanese Gardens has evolved after six years into something far grander, more expansive and more inclusive.

If you don’t remember the first Garden Glow at Maymont in 2018, it was a simpler affair entirely focused on Japan with sushi-making demonstrations, a tea ceremony and a Taiko drummer. To put it in perspective for Richmond event-goers, there were exactly two food trucks the entire run of Garden Glow, a number that seems positively quaint today.

This year’s Garden Glow kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 16 and runs for 22 evenings at Maymont with a rotating cast of, wait for it, over 20 food trucks. If you have strong preferences, check out the website to see which trucks are onsite each evening, but you can always count on Brunswick stew and hot cocoa as nightly temperatures cool.

The fun begins at the Robins Nature Center, so if you or some of the younger members of your entourage want some glowing goodies – think necklaces, wands, headbands – you can pick them up at the Glow shop just outside of the Nature Center before you head out.

Next you continue along the Glow path, which is lined with light installations by international artists along the way to the Glow village on the Carriage House Lawn. The installations are fanciful interpretations of flowers, grasses and reeds, some towering 21’ high, with others suspended from tree branches along the Woodland Trail.

Once at the Glow village, guests can channel Madonna and strike a pose by the shadow wall or express their creativity at the big bright Mega-Light board [if you remember Lite-Brite toys as a kid, you’ll love it]. The new Glow swings will take you higher, or you can relax and grab a seat by the fire pits and glow furniture to savor food and drink from the Glow bar. Those seeking activities will find them at the village.

Groups (alumni groups, corporate staffs, families, team-building outings) who want a home base for the evening can reserve a dedicated hospitality tent on Glow row to entertain clients or just to celebrate with a large group of friends or family. Reservations are available online.

But the star of the evening is down the Woodland Trail with the enchantment of the colorful Japanese Garden in all its lighted splendor. Seeing Maymont transformed by artful lighting into a mesmerizing, immersive experience allows visitors to experience nature in a different light literally, but also to connect with the great outdoors in a truly unique way. Be forewarned, the selfies will be plentiful.

Since this isn’t Maymont’s first rodeo, they’ve figured out how to seamlessly pull everything off to avoid crowding. Guests can purchase tickets for half-hour entry time slots, which helps even out the flow of people, many of whom need to stop to capture the moment. But if it’s crowds you want to avoid, plan to visit on one of the following value nights: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (except for the final week). The Museums for All program provides admission of $3 per adult, and free admission for children to anyone who presents a SNAP/EBT card.

Another option for attending when it’s less busy is to score tickets for later in the evening. Fair warning, first-timers, Friday and Saturday nights sell out early and are the most crowded. If you’re smart enough to be a Maymont member, Oct. 16, 22 and 29 are free nights for you. That alone should be incentive to become a Maymont member.

Then again, you can save yourself the bother of ordering tickets completely by volunteering to be part of Garden Glow. If you’ve been before, you know that Garden Glow is a major community event, meaning Maymont needs a small army of volunteers to pull it off, especially for over three weeks. There are volunteer positions to suit just about anyone, from helping with directions along the Glow path, to assisting with check-in, or beverage sales, the latter requiring volunteers who are 21 or older. Assistance is also needed with setting up and putting away furniture and other equipment each evening and shifts range from 4 to 8 p.m., 5:30 to 9 p.m., and 8 to 11 p.m., depending on the evening.

Whether you’re coming as a guest or volunteering, remember to do it like a pro. Forget fashion and wear outdoor trail-worthy shoes. Just as important, dress for the weather by layering, especially now that temperatures are dropping dramatically after dark. Garden Glow may last for three whole weeks, but it’s a rain or shine event and some parts of the trail are a tad rustic.

Should you need one more reason to attend, just remember that all event proceeds help care for Richmond’s public treasure, Maymont.

Garden Glow presented by Kroger runs from Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Nov. 10 at Maymont. For tickets, food truck listing, volunteer opportunities and parking info at https://maymont.org/calendar/garden-glow/