Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum

A spectacular holiday tradition — Winter Lights!

When darkness falls on winter evenings from Thanksgiving through early January, Shelburne Museum’s campus glows in a bedazzling display of lights and music.

A holiday extravaganza, Winter Lights delights visitors of all ages with imaginatively and wondrously decorated iconic structures and gardens throughout the campus. The 220-foot steamboat Ticonderoga and its companion 1871 Lighthouse as well as the magical Beach Woods and beautiful Bostwick Garden are a few of the 18 special installations that are festooned with thousands of lights that make for a breathtaking walking tour of the Museum campus. And don’t forget to stop by the Museum Store to shop our selection of unique artisan-made gifts—perfect for the holidays!

Ice Bar at Winter Lights is a special event on December 7 that will surely get you in the holiday “spirit” with outdoor bars, food trucks, and merriment. Learn more.

Shelburne Museum Thanks Our Sponsors for their Generous Support

Partnering Sponsors

With Additional Support From

Dates & Times

Winter Lights will be open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following 2023–2024 dates:

Friday, November 24 – Sunday, November 26

Thursday, November 30 – Sunday, December 3

Thursday, December 7* – Sunday, December 10

Thursday, December 14 – Sunday, December 17

Thursday, December 21 – Saturday, December 23

Tuesday, December 26 – Monday, January 1

Thursday, January 4 – Saturday, January 6

*Hours and ticket pricing differ this night. See Special Events below for more information.

The Museum Store is open Thursday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 31 with a carefully curated selection of unique gifts for all ages.

Wednesday evening drive-through 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates:

Wednesday, November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20

Tickets

Purchase Tickets

Tickets will be sold online at 30 minute intervals.

Adults: $15
Children (ages 3-17): $10
Children (ages 0-2): Free

Wednesday Evening Drive Through: $65 per car

Looking to purchase Winter Lights tickets for your group of 15 or more? Purchase them yourself through the ticket link. Select the date and time of your choice and input the number of tickets. Names do not need to be assigned to individual tickets.

Questions regarding accessibility can be directed to Bonnie Douglas at bdouglas@shelburnemuseum.org.

Ice Bar at Winter Lights

Thursday, December 7 from 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Shelburne Museum has mixed its fantastic Winter Lights extravaganza with spirits for the perfect night out with a twist that’s sure to spark the holiday spirit! This special evening of merriment features outdoor bars stocked with local spirits, wine, and beer along with snacks to savor from local food trucks, all within the magical wonderland of Winter Lights. This is a 21+ event.

Purchase Ice Bar Tickets

Shelburne Museum Thanks Our Sponsors for their Generous Support

LEAD SPONSORS

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM

Member Perks

Shelburne Museum Members will receive early access to purchase Winter Lights tickets before sales open to the public.

Don’t forget to show your Shelburne Museum Member card at Admissions to receive a small gift to light your way through Winter Lights. One gift per an individual per a visit.

Member Night | Thursday, December 14 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Don’t miss this merry Member appreciation evening at Winter Lights. Members get a special and sweet(!) gift from sponsor Lake Champlain Chocolates, a coupon for a complimentary Lake Champlain Chocolates hot chocolate at the Weathervane Café, and a glow stick to light the way! Requires purchase of Winter Lights ticket for that night.

Winter Lights FAQs

Shelburne Museum is delighted to welcome visitors to Winter Lights this holiday season. In order to ensure the most enjoyable and safest visit possible, please review the following information and policies listed below. If you have any questions or concerns prior to your visit, please contact us at winterlights@shelburnemuseum.org

Your Time at the Museum

Proof of purchase is required for entry. Please bring a scannable smartphone or physical ticket with you for each member of your group.
We advise visitors to dress comfortably for being outdoors and wear footwear appropriate for uneven terrain and varied weather conditions.
The Weathervane Café will be open during Winter Lights, serving beverages and snacks.
Restrooms are available at the Weathervane Café, near the Train Station, and Admissions.

General Information

Photography and video (for personal use only) are welcome on the Museum grounds.
The use of sleds for transportation is prohibited.
Pets are not permitted on the Museum grounds. Service animals are welcome.
Shelburne Museum is a smoke-free campus. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Museum grounds.
The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff are of the utmost importance. To ensure a secure venue for all, the possession of firearms, fireworks, explosives, incendiary devices, knives, or weapons of any kind is prohibited at Shelburne Museum’s property.

Accessibility

The pathways are accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and wagons under normal weather conditions. Please note, however, that paths may be muddy, wet, icy, or snow covered. Pathways are lit, but be aware of lower light levels in certain locations on the grounds.
The Winter Lights experience requires approximately a half mile of walking, and there are slight changes in elevation both up and downhill. We advise all visitors to wear appropriate footwear for the weather and the terrain.
While none of the light installations use strobe lighting, installations at the entrance to the Museum campus, the south lawn, the Ticonderoga, Beach Woods, and the Weathervane Cafe all include motion lighting; the Ticonderoga installation includes sound, and some of the installations include music.
Please arrive at your reserved time to ensure optimal numbers of visitors on the grounds during each ticket session.
Grounds transportation will not be available on regular evenings. However, on select Wednesday evenings with reservations the Museum offers a drive-through experience. Tickets for the drive-through nights can be purchased through the Museum web site. Please contact Visitor Services Manager Lee Wheeler at lwheeler@shelburnemuseum.org for any specific accessibility accommodation requests.
If you or anyone in your group has sensory sensitivities, we’ve created a Winter Lights Social Narrative to help you prepare for your visit.

Refund Policy

There are no refunds or exchanges for tickets. You may transfer tickets via email to a party of your choice.
Extreme weather cancellation: In the event of cancellation due to extreme weather conditions, ticketholders will be notified by email and notifications will be issued over social media and local media. Tickets from the cancelled date are good at any subsequent date during the run of the event from 5-7 p.m. There is no need to rebook a ticket. Show the ticket from the cancelled evening to be admitted on another evening when Winter Lights is running, through January 6, 2024.

We look forward to welcoming you to Winter Lights! Please do not hesitate to let us know if there are steps we can take to improve safety or service.