Arboretum at Penn State Lights Up With ‘Winter’s Glow’

Winter’s Glow returned to The Arboretum at Penn State on Saturday evening, continuing a holiday tradition that began in 2014 as the Winter Celebration before evolving into its current annual format. 

The event transformed the Arboretum and the Palmer Museum of Art into a winter destination, drawing visitors for illuminated gardens, festive activities and seasonal entertainment.

Lights traced pathways and framed plantings throughout the gardens, highlighting decorated evergreen trees and the Arboretum’s unique exterior architecture and plants. 

A towering 22-foot blue spruce near the main fountain served as a central visual feature, anchoring the display visible from Park Avenue. Seasonal arrangements incorporated conifers, holly, red-twig dogwood and dried plant material collected from Arboretum landscapes, emphasizing winter interest and sustainability.

Inside the Palmer Museum of Art, visitors took part in hands-on activities including holiday craft sessions, a pop-up print shop featuring nature-themed artwork and scheduled wreath-making workshops. 

A large community-decorated tree, coined as the “CommuniTREE,” displayed handmade ornaments created by community members of all ages, adding a personal element to the evening’s programming.

Live music performances by Bells of Grace and Big Red and Zoe Makenna filled both the outdoor spaces and Palmer Museum Library, while warm drinks and light refreshments were available from local coffee vendor Idou Coffee Co. 

Winter’s Glow is part of the Arboretum’s broader winter display season, which keeps illuminated gardens open nightly through Jan. 18. Designed to celebrate both the holidays and the beauty of winter landscapes, the displays offer opportunities for evening strolls and seasonal reflection long after the main event concludes.

The light displays are available to the public daily from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. and dusk to 9:30 p.m., through January 18.