Available only to those who have completed a New Volunteer Orientation and necessary paperwork. This package is for a background check and a new volunteer processing fee. Within one week of purchase, a link to complete the background check process online will be sent to you via email. If you prefer to fill out a paper form and mail it in, one will be provided at your request. Once the background check has been completed, we will provide a name tag at no charge to you. Please allow up to 2 weeks after submitting the background check for your name tag to arrive in the mail. If you have questions please contact the Volunteer Center at arbvol@umn.edu or 612-301-1203.

Mandatory background check and new volunteer processing fee. If this is a financial hardship, please contact us for help.

Members: Please sign in to access benefits. Discounts apply after clicking "add to cart".

Non-members: Become a member for free general daily admission and discounts.

All ticket sales are final. No refunds, exchanges, or resale. Each person must have a ticket.

Entirely online access available beginning January 6, 2026 through the Canvas learning platform

Weekly Zoom sessions will be held on Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. beginning January 13 and ending May, 2026 (Zoom sessions are not required and will be recorded for later viewing)

Registration Deadline

Core course registration deadline: December 1, 2025

Cancellation Policy
$200 refund for cancellations until December 15, 2025. No refunds after December 15, 2025

PLEASE DISREGARD THE TICKET YOU RECEIVE WITH THIS ORDER. THIS IS AN ONLINE PROGRAM

Before You Head Out...

• Winter Lights is an all-weather event. Please dress warmly and prepare for outdoor conditions.
• Your ticket is for Winter Lights general admission only; if you would like to visit the Arboretum during daytime hours, please reserve general daily admission tickets here.
• Arboretum members receive discount pricing based on membership level - Sign in to your online account to access member rates, or call 612.301.6775 for help. 
• Join today and receive discounts immediately!

Winter Lights Ticket Cancellation Policy

• All Winter Lights ticket purchases are final. No refunds or cancellations, including for weather, illness, or schedule changes.
• To reschedule tickets, see our Winter Lights Reschedule Policy below.

Need to Reschedule?

• Rescheduling is by phone only; please call 612-301-6775 for assistance - subject to availability.
• A $10 reschedule fee per order applies each time you reschedule. 
• We are unable to reschedule tickets after 5 p.m. the day before your ticketed date.

Other Important Information

• Free parking is included with your Winter Lights ticket.
• Tickets are valid only for the date and time you select.
• No early entries - please arrive at your scheduled time.

This item is for Extension Master Gardener Volunteers who are transferring from another state, who are being reinstated into the program or who have taken ProHort and are now becoming a Master Gardener. The package includes a background check, a name badge and t-shirt.

The Food Preservation Consultant Training for Master Gardener Volunteers is a self-paced online Canvas course to teach you how to safely and confidently process produce using resources from the University of Minnesota Extension. The course includes teaching materials to help you share food preservation with your community. The course has nine modules and will take 15 to 20 hours to complete.

 

Registration is $20. If you took the previous version of the course (before 2025), you will be required to complete the updated version of the course to maintain your Food Preservation Consultant status. If you have previously registered for or completed this course, please email wagn1400@umn.edu to gain access. 

 

After registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the course. 

** You will be automatically emailed a ticket, please disregard you do not need it for this course**

**For entry, you will need a ticket for each person**

Winter Lights Ticket Cancellation Policy

• Winter Lights is an all-weather event, and tickets are nonrefundable. Resale of tickets is prohibited.  

Rescheduling Winter Lights Tickets

• A $10 rescheduling fee per order will be applied each time you reschedule. 

• Once the ticket date has passed, we are unable to reschedule your ticket(s).

• Rescheduling is by phone only; please call 612-301-6775 for assistance - subject to availability.

Other Important Information

• These tickets include free parking on-site at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and are valid only for the date and time selected above. Please verify your selection.

• Winter Lights tickets must be purchased in advance; additional tickets are not available upon arrival.

• Early arrivals will not be admitted, please arrive at your scheduled time.

• Coupons are not accepted for admission to Winter Lights.

• Winter Lights is an all-weather event, and involves walking outdoors! Please dress for Minnesota weather conditions.

Arboretum members get reduced admission rates for Winter Lights based on membership level.

Members - please sign into your online account to receive your Member Special Pricing; ALL DISCOUNTS APPLIED AT CHECKOUT.  For assistance, call our ticketing team at 612-301-6775

Join today and take advantage of your discount immediately!

Please allow 3-5 business days to receive your replacement name badge.

Vendor booth fee for Winter Wellness Market at the Arboretum on Saturday, Jan. 11th. $125 for an 8' x 8' space.

We encourage you to register your entire party together so we can seat you accordingly.

We’re happy to accommodate vegetarian diets at our teas. Please let us know any vegetarian requests when purchasing your ticket so we can prepare for your visit.

A quick note on tickets: Tea tickets are nonrefundable. However, we understand plans can change — tickets may be rescheduled to another tea date up to 14 days before your original reservation, pending availability. A $5 rescheduling fee per order applies.

ServSafe Food Handler Training is required for all Arboretum Culinary Program Volunteers.

The course is online and will take approximately 3 hours to complete.

After payment is received you will received a link to the course and a course key to register and begin the training.

**For entry, you will need a ticket for each person**

Winter Lights Ticket Cancellation Policy

• Winter Lights is an all-weather event, and tickets are nonrefundable. Resale of tickets is prohibited.  

Rescheduling Winter Lights Tickets

• A $10 rescheduling fee per order will be applied each time you reschedule. 

• Once the ticket date has passed, we are unable to reschedule your ticket(s).

• Rescheduling is by phone only; please call 612-301-6775 for assistance - subject to availability.

Other Important Information

• These tickets include free parking on-site at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and are valid only for the date and time selected above. Please verify your selection. 

• Coupons are not accepted for admission to Winter Lights.

• Winter Lights is an all-weather event, and involves walking outdoors! Please dress for Minnesota weather conditions.

Arboretum members get reduced admission rates for Winter Lights based on membership level.

Members - please sign into your online account to receive your member discount; for assistance, call our ticketing team at 612-301-6775

Join today and take advantage of your discount immediately!

Enjoy a sauna experience as part of a Winter Wellness Fair add-on or Arboretum visit add-on.  

This is a social sauna experience with 8 spaces available each 1/2 hour. 

Ticket purchases for the sauna experience do not include gate admission.  Please purchase a Winter Wellness ticket or reserve Arboretum general admission tickets during your sauna time.   Click here for Arboretum Timed Entry Access 

For your sauna experience, please bring the following:

• Attire is required, bring a swimsuit or athletic clothes for inside the sauna (we will have a changing room attached to the sauna)
• Waterproof (slip on) shoes
• Two towels - one for sitting on inside the sauna (required), and one for drying off after (recommended)
• A water bottle to rehydrate afterwards

Online Class At-Your-Own-Pace starting January 13, 2026

Optional Introductory Live-Zoom Meet-and-Greet for Registered Participants
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Optional Live-Online Facilitated Q&A Sessions with Experts
Tuesdays, January 20- April 21, 2026

Registration Deadline: January 9, 2026

Online Class At-Your-Own-Pace starting January 13, 2026

Optional Course Introduction and  Meet-and-Greet for Registered Participants (Live Zoom Meeting)
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Optional  Facilitated Q&A Sessions with Experts (Live Zoom Webinar)
6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, January 20 - April 21, 2026

Deadline for registrations is January 9, 2026

Register by December 1, 2025 to guarantee delivery of your Companion Guide prior to the start of the program. 

If you register after December 1, you may pick your Companion Guide up at the Arboretum or have it mailed to you. We cannot guarantee mail delivery by January 13th for those that register after December 1. 

Cancellation policy: Course registration is transferable to another student through Jan. 9, 2026 by contacting the Education Office at the contact information listed below. A $25 cancellation fee is applicable to all cancellations prior to Nov. 30, 2025; a $100 cancellation fee between Dec. 1-Dec. 30. No refunds after Dec. 30, 2025.

Questions?
Contact the Arboretum Education Office at ArbEdu@umn.edu or call 612-301-1210 between 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
 

PLEASE DISREGARD THE TICKET YOU RECEIVE WITH THIS ORDER. THIS IS AN ONLINE CLASS