Looking Back: Bringing The Grotto to You

A Place of Sanctuary

Bringing The Grotto to You

Day 52: A Year at The Grotto

The Grotto through the year

As 2020 isn't quite what we expected, and we aren't quite sure when things will return to "normal", we thought we would take you on a tour of The Grotto through the year.

Please enjoy "A Year at The Grotto."

January

The Christmas lights from the Festival are taken down and stored for next year.

Rainy days make the sanctuary even more peaceful. If you haven't walked through the Upper Gardens in the rain you are missing something. The sound of the raindrops adds to the tranquility.

And there is perhaps nothing more beautiful than The Grotto in the snow. Once the roads are safe we open, and if you time it right, you are treated to something truly wonderful.

February

The winter continues, but there is usually a stretch of days with blue sky and crisp air. On those days, the view from the overlook and Meditation Chapel are spectacular.

The camellia's begin to bloom.

The annual Crabfest is held in The Grotto Conference Center.

March

The Grotto celebrates Lent with special concerts, retreats and liturgies.

The Upper Gardens begin to bloom.

The greens of the gardens get brighter.

April

The Grotto celebrates Holy Week with special liturgies and opportunities to pray the Stations of the Cross.

Easter at The Grotto is a joyous occasion, with people coming from around the region.

May

The flowers spring to life in spectacular fashion. The azaleas and rhododendrons seem to come in every color.

The Grotto, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, is a special place to be on Mother's Day.

We celebrate with the Filipino community at the annual Santacruzan.

June

The gardens are gorgeous in June, and the Rose Garden by the Monastery comes to life.

With the warmer weather, outdoor Mass on Sunday becomes the norm.

Weddings are celebrated on Saturday afternoons throughout the summer.

July

This month is full of celebrations, beginning with the annual Freedom Day celebration, organized by the Vietnamese community.

The annual Blessing of the Animals takes place on the third Sunday in July each year.

We celebrate with the Filipino community at the Dambana Festival.

August

Summer is in full swing in August. The weather is great and the gardens are beautiful.

We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary with an evening outdoor Mass and Candlelight Rosary Procession.

In August, our guests visit us from around the world.

September

As summer winds down, we are still left with a month of warm evenings and bright skies.

The Grotto celebrates its anniversary at the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. We look forward to a very special celebration in 2024 as we celebrate 100 years!

In September, the leaves begin to turn, and the gardens take on new colors.

October

Outdoor Masses wind down as the cooler months arrive.

The crew starts preparing to install over two million lights for the annual Christmas Festival of Lights.

The gardens, and especially the front parking lot, are ablaze with fall colors.

November

Christmas Festival of Lights installation is in full force in November.

Opening night is always the day after Thanksgiving.

The Grotto still operates its normal day schedule in November and December, and Mass is still celebrated every day. It is actually a very nice time to visit the Upper Gardens.

December

The season of Advent is upon us. Along with the liturgical celebrations, including Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, The Grotto celebrates Christmas with the annual Christmas Festival of Lights.

The Festival began in 1988. Known as the World's Largest Christmas Choral Festival, choirs from around the region perform in the Chapel of Mary, with its cathedral-like acoustics. In 2019,194 performers from 157 choirs generously shared their talent with Festival guests.