The Ninth Annual Nights of 1000 Lights at Sherman Library & Gardens dazzled over 11,000 patrons across 13 nights with a Candy Land theme, which was met with sweet and savory applause for the 2023 holiday season.

Corona del Mar, CA:  As Corona del Mar’s cultural hub, Sherman Library and Gardens was honored to greet patrons from near and far who chose to celebrate their holiday season at Nights of 1000 Lights. Arriving to the iconic destination with friends and family, children, teens and adults alike experienced the wonder of the season with an illuminated Rainbow Trail, Lollypop Woods and Gumdrop Mountains, which led to the Peppermint Stick Forest, and the glistening light tunnel which was reimagined for 2023. The Candy Heart Carnival featured carnival games for kids of all ages, complete with prizes, and a candy heart photo area set-up with props. The Candy Land Express Train greeted guests on their way to visit Santa in his workshop, where a table was set-up for those who believe to write Santa a letter. The gardens’ beloved Pepper Tree was designated as the wishing tree, where patrons could write their wish on a gingerbread cut-out and hang it on the tree.  Nightly performances took place thanks to the LA Follies next to a fire pit which encouraged guests to whip up their own batch of s’mores. Watch the festive recap HERE. 

Nights of 1000 Lights is a year-round labor of love. Over 5,000 hours are invested into bringing this annual event to life.  About 10 dedicated staff members spend over 500 hours each per year curating, designing and decorating for Nights of 1000 Lights. Each year, striving to keep the magic alive and the holiday spirit infused with something more unique and memorable than the year prior.

“Our staff is truly remarkable. The passion and perseverance they have year over year to produce this event inspires all of us. Nothing quite beats seeing the joy this event brings to so many people across many generations. Thank you to our staff for making 2023’s Nights of 1000 Lights a success for our beloved patrons.” -Scott LaFleur, Executive Director

About Sherman Library & Gardens

Sherman Library & Gardens is a non-profit that has been deeply rooted in Orange County, California for over half of a century, serving the community as a sanctuary and education beacon for history, horticulture, and the arts. Founded in 1966 by Arnold Haskell, and named for his friend and mentor, Moses Hazeltine Sherman, this iconic institution serves as a guardian of regional history and artifacts, a living library of plants both native and exotic, and a conservator of artistic works influenced by and produced in the Pacific Southwest. Today, Sherman Library & Gardens is a monument to Haskell’s dream of an educational and cultural center including a premier botanical garden and outstanding research library. Sherman Library & Gardens was recently recognized by the Newport Beach City Council with a proclamation, naming Sherman Library & Gardens as the “Cultural Hub” of Corona del Mar. Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, CA  92625.

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