USBG Holiday Show Showcases Poinsettias and Dinosaurs, Opens Thanksgiving Day

The popular annual holiday display "Season's Greenings" returns to the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) open Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. The Garden will be closed Dec. 25 and will stay open late with extended evening hours on seven days. The Conservatory will feature botanical wreaths and holiday decor, thousands of poinsettias, and iconic D.C. landmarks made from plant parts. This year's theme of "Season's Greenings: Dino-Mite!" celebrates the model train show featuring dinosaurs, animals, and plants of the Cretaceous period.

In the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains will chug through displays of dinosaurs made from plant parts, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and more, plus living plants whose ancestors lived alongside them such as cycads, ferns, and magnolias! Many of these plants connect to the plant collection showcased in our Primeval Garden house in the Conservatory.

On seven evenings in December (Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and Jan. 1), the Garden will stay open until 8:00 p.m., with live seasonal music to enjoy while exploring the Conservatory holiday displays and plants and the train display in the gated outdoor gardens. See the full list of musicians on our exhibit website.

Inside the Conservatory, holiday decorations will include thousands of colorful poinsettias and the Garden's collection of D.C. monuments and landmarks, such as the U.S. Capitol building, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and many more, all made from plant parts. Recent favorites will return, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial; the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and the National Gallery of Art East Wing. The East Wing building even includes a rooftop miniature model of a blue rooster made from plant parts created for the USBG by National Gallery of Art employees.

Throughout the outdoor gardens, trees and shrubs will be lit with strings of lights and holiday plant displays will feature evergreens and festive decorations.

A gift store run by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and local D.C. small business Rewild will offer botanically themed gifts for purchase in the Conservatory's West Gallery. Vintage Views will offer coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks for sale near the trains on select days.

The Conservatory is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, the gated outdoor gardens are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, and the Terrace Gardens and Bartholdi Gardens are open dawn to dusk daily. The Garden will be closed Dec. 25. Tickets are not required to view the trains or any part of the USBG. The trains will run between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily, extended to 8 p.m. on the seven days with evening hours, and may not operate during inclement weather.

Plan your visit at www.USBG.gov/SeasonsGreenings.

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Media contact: Devin Dotson, [email protected], 202-306-6743

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About the United States Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, established by Congress in 1820. The U.S. Botanic Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. With over a million visitors annually, the USBG strives to demonstrate and promote sustainable practices. It is a living plant museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. www.USBG.gov