Which beautiful winter light display will you visit this year? We did the research on several in the area so you don’t have to!
Winter Lights Festival – Gaithersburg
Open until December 31st
Location: Seneca Creek State Park 11950 Clopper Rd Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 6-9PM Friday & Saturday: 6-10PM
Fees: Cars, SUV’s, Mini-Vans Monday – Thursday: $12 Cars, SUV’s, Mini-Vans Friday & Saturday: $15 Limos and 20-Passenger Vans: $20 Mini-Buses: $30 Buses (30 seats or more): $70
Why Go Here?: *3.5 mile drive through Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 380 illuminated displays and 65 animated vignettes *Themed areas include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, the North Pole, and much more!
Symphony of Lights – Columbia
Open until January 1st
Location: Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods Little Patuxent Pkwy Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: Wednesdays – Sundays: 5:30-10PM including holidays CLOSED Mondays and Tuesdays
Fees: Cars or vans up to 8 seats Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sun – $20 Cars or vans up to 8 seats Saturday – $25 Buses not permitted
Why Go Here?: *Proceeds fro event benefit Howard County General Hospital. Over the past 21 years, nearly 2 million people have visited the lights. Proceeds from the event have raised more than $7.5 million to benefit the hospital. *Display of more than 100 animated an stationary holiday light creations made up of more than 250,000 bulbs
Miracle on 34th Street – Hampden
Open until December 31st
Location: 720 West 34th Street Baltimore, MD 21211
Hours: The lights come on every day around 5:15 and stay on until 11PM
Fees: NONE! This is a walk-through light display. Click HERE to get information on parking.
Why Go Here?: *The street has been nationally recognized by Nightline, The Travel Channel, the Maryland Lottery, Home and Garden, and many more *Now in their 70th year! *Favorites include the hub cap Christmas tree, bike rim snowmen, overhead trains, Big Red Lighted Crab
Lights on the Bay – Annapolis
Open until January 1st
Location: Sandy Point State Park 1100 E College Pkwy Annapolis, MD 21409
Hours: Open every night from 5-10PM
Fees: Cars – $15 Large passenger vans, mini buses, and trolleys – $30 Buses – $50
Why Go Here?: *3D glasses make the already magical light show come alive! *Two-mile scenic drive along the Chesapeake Bay with approximately 70 displays illuminating the roadway
Garden of Lights – Wheaton
Open until January 1st
Location: Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave Wheaton, MD 20902
Hours: Sundays – Thursdays: 5:30-9PM Fridays & Saturdays: 5:30-10PM
Fees: Cars and mini-vans Sunday – Thursday: $25 Cars and mini-vans Friday & Saturday: $30 Buses and limos must book in advance by calling 301-949-3010
Why Go Here?: *More than one million dazzling lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals and other natural elements *Enjoy strolling from garden to garden past twinkling tree forms, fountains, sparkling snowflakes and more *Visit the Conservatory to watch G-scale model trains wind through a seasonal landscape *Warm up inside the Visitors Center with hot cocoa and nightly musical performances *This is a WALK-THROUGH display and payment is collected per vehicle upon arrival