When the Maymont staff created Garden Glow five years ago, the goal was to create a new outdoor event that presented Maymont in a fresh way.

Garden Glow is a completely immersive event, with the gardens appearing to be lit from within, and the familiar landscape elements transformed into architectural shapes and soft textures in various colors. The Glow Path is central to it all.

This year, the pathway is longer than ever, taking visitors from the Carriage House Lawn down through the Westrock Woodland Trail to the Japanese Garden, where visitors are surrounded by color, from the crowns of the trees down to the depths of the reflecting pond. Then it returns by way of the Cascade staircase and Italian Garden, which also will be illuminated. There are a few surprises, too, such as the changing colors on the waterfall in the Japanese Garden, and laser lights through a fog machine at the Grotto.

Each year Maymont incorporates feedback from guests, staff and volunteers and makes tweaks to accommodate more people and expand into new areas of the park. “As attendance has returned to pre-pandemic levels, we’ve learned we can expand the Glow Village so people can hang out and enjoy each other’s company before or after they’ve explored the gardens,” says Ellen Byrd, senior manager of special events.

Each evening after sunset, visitors are invited to converge on the Carriage House Lawn, where the Glow Village will offer expanded seating, and more than a dozen fire pits. There will be a selection of local craft brews on tap, as well as wine and cider from the Glow Bar and a rotating cast of local food trucks each night, offering different cuisines -tacos, Greek, pizza, chicken- and sweet treats such as kettle corn, funnel cakes, and s’more kits. Volunteers will provide skewers for anyone who wants to toast marshmallows from the s’mores kits. To keep things cozy, a vendor will offer hot beverages like cocoa and coffee.

Byrd says they’ve also learned that interactive elements, like the Shadow Wall, a 20 ft. x 10 ft. white screen with colored lights projected onto it, are very popular. As a result, they’re adding the Big Bright Mega Light activity, a custom-built large board, lit from within, with over 2000 glowing translucent pegs that can be rearranged in patterns [remember those classic Lite-Brite toys?] “When someone stands in front of the Shadow Wall’s light, their silhouette is magnified on the screen with multiple colors around the edges,” says Byrd. “It makes for great photos of peoples’ shadows dancing and posing from in front or behind the screen.”

Those looking for a different sort of original art need look no further than the innovative art installations Maymont commissioned from two local talents.

Alfonso Pérez Acosta will engage local school children in a participatory art project to paint designs on lightbulbs that express their “inner glow.” These will hang along with hundreds of the artist’s own hand-painted bulbs, lighting up the interior of the arborvitae grove. Artist Jeff Dobrow will project an animated light show on the historic water tower by the Carriage House featuring a menagerie of illustrations inspired by Maymont’s plants and wildlife. In the Japanese Garden, Dobrow will highlight the patterns and textures of animals and plants using a more abstract animation that will play across the natural and man-made structures in the garden. Both installations can only be seen during Garden Glow.

All activities take place entirely outdoors, rain or shine, except in the case of severe weather. Visitors are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear suited for walking rustic paths. In addition to street parking, event parking is available at the Historic Estate Entrance and The Robins Nature Center.

If it sounds like producing all this must involve a lot of group effort, it does. Byrd says it takes about 500 volunteers to create the magic of Garden Glow. Volunteers do everything from setting up every afternoon and helping out for a 4.5-hour shift during the event, to supporting check-in, bar and drink sales, and the Glow Village path and attractions. “It’s a fun way to experience Garden Glow, and a great activity for groups,” says Byrd. “Volunteers should be 15 and older, although teens ages 11 to 14 may also volunteer, if they’re accompanied by an adult guardian.” Those interested can volunteer at HandsOn Greater Richmond | Garden Glow at Maymont2022 (handsonrva.org).

The addition of the Italian Garden to Garden Glow this year adds a locals’ favorite to the already-popular event. Byrd says Maymont tries to offer something new each year because they want people to consider Garden Glow an annual tradition in their Richmond fall calendar, much like the Second Street Festival or Folk Fest.

“Garden Glow is an unforgettable experience, fun for all ages and a great activity with a group, your family, or on a date,” she insists. “The art installations alone make it a can’t-miss event.”

Presented by Kroger, Garden Glow runs Oct. 13 through Nov. 6 at Maymont. Tickets range $10-$15 and you can purchase them here. Visit maymont.org for more information.