Brookgreen Gardens is a world-famous 91,000-acre sculpture garden and wildlife preserve located in Murrells Inlet, a nature lover’s paradise about 16 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach. Any time of the year, Brookgreen Gardens is a magical place. How do you get better than magical? The Christmas season has a way of making everything, even the most awesome experiences, even better. And that is certainly the case with Brookgreen Gardens, whose Nights of a Thousand Candles display has been named one of the best Christmas lights displays in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.

Every year, Brookgreen Gardens transforms for the Nights of a Thousand Candles Christmas celebration, with over 2,700 hand-lit candles throughout ...

... and millions of sparkling lights!

The lighting includes a mixture of both white and colored lights.

And then there are lights cascading from the oak trees.

The lighting effects in this sculpture garden look like something out of a fairytale!

At every turn, there's a breathtaking sight ... simply stunning!

Some nights for the event sell out, which has led to the unfortunate situation of tickets being sold online by scalpers seeking to profit from your ticket purchase with additional costs added to the original ticket price. Sometimes fake tickets are even sold, which leads to disappointed patrons being denied entry after discovering their tickets are invalid.

There have also been numerous scam social media accounts selling fake tickets. So it's important to keep in mind that the only legitimate places to purchase tickets to Nights of a Thousand Candles are the Brookgreens website (linked below at the end of the article), the Brookgreen Gardens ticketing company, ShowClix, by phone, and in person at Brookgreen Gardens.

Open from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., stroll along the paths with a warm cup of cider, hear the sounds of holiday music, and celebrate the season with family and friends.

Brookgreen Gardens is for lovers! Opened in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington to share their love of sculpture, flora, and fauna with the community, it has become a popular spot for popping the question.

Its Harvest Restaurant is open for reservation only dinners in conjunction with the Nights of a Thousand Candles display. You must have tickets to the event to dine there on one of these nights. Perfect date night!

Merry Christmas from Brookgreen Gardens!

Note: There are no additional fees for parking.

For more information about the Brookgreen Gardens Nights of a Thousand Candles, visit the Brookgreen Gardens website and Brookgreen Gardens Facebook page. And be sure to check out one of the best gift shops in South Carolina, also in Murrells Inlet, where you may want to stop by on your way to the gardens for a little Christmas shopping!

Have you been to this Christmas event in South Carolina? Share your experience with us in the comments section below!