It’s time to once again go walking in a winter wonderland. Except this time around, the activity might wear out a little more shoe leather. The multimedia holiday extravaganza known as Dazzling Nights is returning to Harry P. Leu Gardens, this time covering a mile’s worth of terrain and incorporating a million lights in the largest production yet.
A bunch of all-new features will highlight this sixth edition of the immersive seasonal experience, which is presented annually by the Creative City Project and The Memoir Agency.
Those added attractions will include an 80-foot-long, stained-glass cathedral; a meadow filled with illuminated butterflies and fireflies; and a literal forest of oversized candy canes and lollipops. There’ll also be a 50-foot star and huge crystal chandeliers hanging overhead, as well as an all-seeing owl assembled from reclaimed materials.
A dedicated Holiday Village will afford visitors opportunities to shop and to enjoy sweet treats and tasty beverages (both family-friendly and adult varieties). And, as usual, live entertainment will be presented nightly.
Dazzling Nights is the brainchild of impresario Cole NeSmith, best known as the founder of Immerse, a street festival that fills Downtown Orlando with hundreds of live performances, intriguing art installations and unexpected creative experiences. (That event will return February 20 to 26, 2026.)
Previously, NeSmith also spearheaded Haunting Nights and Happy Frights, likewise held in Leu Gardens, which were Halloween-themed counterparts to Dazzling Nights. Those two events were suspended this year due to impending tariffs and hurricane-season concerns, among other factors.
Instead, NeSmith and his team have channeled their energies into an even more elaborate, over-the-top version of Dazzling Nights. The result, he says, will be “even more awe, joy and excitement for us all.”
Prebooking for the adventure is required, with walkthroughs beginning every 15 minutes between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets are sold online only and guests are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before their chosen entry time for valet and on-site parking, and at least 45 minutes early for off-site parking.
Harry P. Leu Gardens is located at 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando. For more information, visit the website.
