Glades Garden in Surrey

Glades Garden Park is a beautifully-curated garden in Surrey with exotic flowers and heritage trees. It’s open to the public only on specific days.

The park hosts an annual Mother’s Day event. In addition to live music and some snacks and drinks on this day, there’s the opportunity to have a mini professional photoshoot among the beautiful nature.

This article contains the following information about Glades Garden:

Glades Garden in South Surrey

First developed in the late 1950s, Glades Garden Park today is a 15-acre botanical oasis that boasts over 1,500 rhododendron plants as well as other exotic flowers and shrubs.

Unlike most parks, Glades Garden isn’t open every day of the year. The public can only visit at specific times and on certain days. That includes days when there’s an open house, on weekends in the summer and on special event days.

The garden is quite beautiful. Some of its rhododendrons are as tall as a two-storey building and in the spring the colours are spectacular. As well, many of the old growth trees are designated heritage trees. It’s a pretty place!

Where is Glades Garden?

Glades Garden is at 457 -172nd Street in South Surrey, close to the US Border. The Peace Arch Crossing is less than a five-minute drive away.

Also not far from the garden, Darts Hill Garden Park is just a five-minute car ride to the north. It too is open only on specific dates (but more often than Glades Garden). The resort town of White Rock, meanwhile, is about 5 km west of both.

Hours and Admission

Glades Garden is closed to the public during the winter months. In 2026 it’s open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekends between May 2nd and June 28th. General admission costs $7.75 per person. Seniors age 55 and over pay $5.75 and youth ages 13 to 18 cost $4. Children under the age of 12 are free.

During some special events, like on Mother’s Day, there is a small extra fee to get in. At other events, however, like during the annual Sounds of Summer Concert Series concert, admission is usually just by donation.

Surrey's Glades Garden Park

Glades Garden Events

A number of events happen at Glades Garden each year. In addition to the six or so open houses in the late spring and early summer, there is a usually special Mother’s Day event in May as well as an outdoor concert in either July or August.

Mother’s Day Event at Glades Garden

On the second Sunday in May each year the park is open for a special Mother’s Day celebration. There is live music, and snacks and beverages are available for purchase from the on-site coffee shop.

Last year Mother’s Day celebrations took place on both the Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Admission in 2026 will likely be $8.75. Children under 12 years old enter for free but still need a ticket.

The Mother’s Day celebrations typically include live music, mini photography sessions and a vendor selling drinks and snacks. The photo sessions last year cost $40 and up to six people could take part. At last year’s event a professional photographer spent 10 minutes taking a series of pictures of groups at the gardens and guests received all the pictures afterwards.

Sounds of Summer Concerts

The garden hosts the City of Surrey’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series once a year in either July or August. The event is a series of free concerts which take place in a different park once per week in the summer. Admission to each of the events is usually by donation.

Sounds of Summer Concert at Glades Garden — Sounds of Summer Concert

Accessibility

The park contains a few slightly hilly areas and mulch trails so it is not overly wheelchair or stroller-friendly. There are a few sections that are flat and easily accessible, but for other areas it can be challenging for people with mobility issues. For the average person, though, getting around is no problem.

Pets are not allowed (except service dogs, of course), so make sure to leave Fido at home.

The History of the Glades

Lydia and Murray Stephen purchased five acres of land in 1956. The couple had a dream of turning the unused and overrun property into a gorgeous garden like those of Murray’s homeland of Scotland.

In 1970 Murray Stephen passed away and the garden was not tended to until Jim and Elfriede DeWolf purchased the property. They restored and gifted the land to the City of Surrey in 2002 and the municipality expanded the garden and plans to continue to do so.

Glades Garden Fountains

Tips & Advice

Below are some extra bits of information to help you make the most of your visit to Glades Garden.

TIP #1: The park has some amazing flowers in the spring (just in time for Mother’s Day), and it’s a wonderful place to take photos. Late spring is definitely the most impressive time to go, especially when the rhododendrons are in bloom.

TIP #2: Another exceptional time to visit is during the Sounds of Summer Concert Series event. The outdoor concerts take place at a different Surrey park each week including once a year at Glades Garden.

TIP #3: If you like gardens and happen to be in the area, then combine your trip with a visit to Darts Hill Garden Park. Located just a short drive away at 1633-170th Street, it too is a beautiful place and open to the public only on specific dates. White Rock is another great spot to visit on the same trip, especially if you like beaches.

TIP #4: The parking lot at Glades Garden isn’t huge and can fill up quickly, especially on days with big events. If you’re driving to one of the events, especially on a day with good weather, go early and then enjoy the gardens before the show.

TIP #5: On Mother’s Day most years, to help with the traffic, there is a complimentary shuttle service between Darts Hill and Glades Garden (which makes it a good day to visit both venues). The shuttle service is first-come, first-served, though, and it’s not usually wheelchair accessible.

Other Information

Check out the City of Surrey‘s website for more information about the Garden.

See our article about the Sounds of Summer Concert Series to learn more about the City’s once-a-week live music opportunities at different parks in the summer.

Check out the following for more information on places and events similar to Glades Garden: