Enchanted Airlie – an honored Wilmington holiday tradition and a magical, family night at Airlie Gardens. Since moving here, my family looks forward to Enchanted Airlie every winter. The opportunity to visit Santa then sip hot cocoa while tripping through lit-trees and sparkling crystal-like flowers is fantastic.
In fact, we enjoy it so much, I started to wonder: who do I thank for making this happen? So I tracked down Rebecca Pearce, Guest Services Manager at Airlie Gardens, and one hot October day I peppered her with all of my holiday and Christmas questions.
The origins of Enchanted Airlie
Enchanted Airlie was the brain child of the Board in the early 2000s. Seeking a fundraising idea (100% of money raised goes back to the Gardens), they traveled and saw other holiday garden spectaculars before finally determining to create one of their own. The first Enchanted Airlie was held in 2005 and was completely generator based. The event was offered for only three nights (compared to today’s twenty nights) and sold out.
In the fourteen years since, the event has grown significantly. In January of each year, the Airlie Gardens staff of seven gardeners and six administrators sit around a table to determine what the next Enchanted Airlie will look like. They troubleshoot problems (such as where to locate Santa and how to help with traffic flow) and brainstorm ideas for new exhibits.
“This is a group effort, for sure,” Pearce explained. “We listen to visitors and we also get to exercise our own creativity.”
Surprised, I asked her who, exactly, held the title of “Enchanted Airlie Designer.” It turns out there isn’t a single person at Airlie Gardens on task for Enchanted Airlie. It truly is a team effort.
“Well, we add something every year. And, for example, the grape clusters were a gardener’s idea, and the cutouts for pictures was mine,” Pearce explained.
The dedicated staff decides together what to add and what to change, then as a team they make it happen.
Highlights of the Evening
“I love the oak that changes colors,” Pearce shared. “And we get asked every year where people can buy the hyacinths, so we started selling those in our gift shop.”
Our family’s favorite? The singing Christmas trees. And I don’t think we’re alone in this as every year we join many other children and their parents dancing along to the harmonized trees. This was the idea of Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Scott Childs, who then worked with an outside company to have them programmed.
Of course, the most exciting part of Enchanted Airlie for most kids is the Santa visit. Santa at Enchanted Airlie (and who has been there since it started), is the “real one,” according to most children. In an intimate atmosphere, he takes his time, listening to each child, asking questions, and smiling for cell phone cameras at all angles.
“We want to keep Enchanted Airlie affordable. It was important for us not to charge for Santa photos or other add-ons. In our mind, the $30 per car gets you in and gives you access to the entire experience.”
Volunteers:The Heart of Enchanted Airlie
Enchanted Airlie will have over one million lights and over 40,000 visitors this year. Many Jacksonville families come but visitors from as far as Raleigh, Fayetteville and Greensboro will also be in attendance.
The fact that the night looks so seamless to visitors is remarkable. Staff begins hanging lights during the summer months in preparation. For the actual events, six staff members are on site at all times, while the main power comes from the volunteers (a minimum of thirty volunteer are need each night).
“We really couldn’t do this without those volunteers,” Pearce admitted. “In fact, people want to know why we don’t have more nights open and, right now, it’s because of staff. Our staff works so hard and on days like Christmas Eve and Christmas, we want them to be home with their families.”
Whatever magical process Airlie Gardens staff has, it obviously works. Each year, the event gets bigger and sells out faster. Last year, in 2018, the event quickly sold out on all Fridays and Saturdays, and the rest of the days soon followed.
Pearce shared, “I think this is a wonderful thing for the Wilmington community because it is an affordable, family-friendly experience that is like nothing else. I see people getting outside, enjoying each other as a family for two hours, and getting in the holiday spirit. Adults have as much fun as the kids!”
Want to get tickets to Enchanted Airlie?
airliegardens.org
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