Best DMV Holiday Lights Displays
The holiday season is here! As such, we’ve decided to put together a list of the best DMV holiday lights displays, so you can find the perfect experience for your family to enjoy!
DC
Where: Neighborhoods around DC
When: Now – January 8th
Admission: Free
Check out the dazzling holiday lights and decor throughout DC Main Street’s and commercial corridors, including Chevy Chase, DuPont Circle, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Mount Pleasant, and more!
Where: Nationals Park | 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: Adult tickets starting at $35; youth tickets starting at $23
Enchant at Nationals Park, presented by Hallmark Channel, is an experience you won’t wanna miss! Beyond the lights and 100-foot tall Christmas tree, you’ll be able to meet
Santa, gather round Mrs. Claus for storytime, explore the holiday shops, play reindeer games, decorate ornaments, enjoy live shows, and adults can enjoy a spiked hot chocolate in the Tipsy Tree Lounge. There’s also ice skating for an additional $18 for all ages.
Where: Georgetown Commercial District
When:Now – January 22nd
Admission: Free
Experience the 8th edition of GLOW in Georgetown, DC’s oldest neighborhood! GLOW is the region’s only free curated outdoor public light art experience. In addition to the light art installations, GLOW programming includes more than 30 walking tours, GLOW-themed yoga and Pilates classes, a silent disco, a special evening of late-night shopping on Friday, Dec. 9, and more!
Where: The Yards Park | 355 Water Street Southeast Washington, DC 20003
When: December 1st – January 2nd
Admission: Free – just reserve your spot online
Light Yards is back with another family-friendly art installation at The Yards Park, featuring five 13-foot tall bells that illuminate The Yards’ Sun Deck as they swing back and forth and provide ample amounts of holiday cheer for all the hear! After you take in the bells, you can cozy up at one of The Yards’ 10+ restaurants and retailers for dinner, drinks, and holiday treats!
The District’s Holiday Boat Parade
Where: 760 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
When: December 3rd from 6 – 9pm
Admission: Free – no reservation required
The District’s Holiday Boat Parade is one of DC’s most iconic events during the holiday season! Now in its 30th year, the parade features over 60 beautifully decorated boats making their way down the Washington Channel. In addition to the parade itself, there will be ornament decorating and face painting by Recreation Pier; s’mores at the Camp Wharf fire pit; a lighted, 45 feet tall Christmas Tree to take in; ice skating at The Wharf Ice Rink on Transit Pier; winter drinks at our Pacifico Beer Garden; and an opportunity to take pictures with Santa!
ZooLights at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Where: Smithsonian’s National Zoo | 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
When: Now – December 30th
Admission: Free; flat-rate parking fee of $30
ZooLights at Smithsonian’s National Zoo features amazing environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns, transforming the Zoo into a winter wonderland! While the animal houses will not be open for viewing during the event, in order to allow the animals a good night’s sleep, the lights, live music performances, tasty winter treats, and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping are sure to make ZooLights an unforgettable experience for the whole family!
Maryland
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center | 13470 Dowell Rd, Solomons, MD 20688
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: $15 for non-members; free for members; free for children under 2; all reservations must be made online, in advance
Discover magical creatures, musical holiday scenes, deep sea treasures, and sparkling trees at Annmarie’s Garden in Lights! In addition to the dazzling lights, there will also be food trucks, holiday pop-up shops, golf cart tours, and themed nights, including Santa Sundays, the Holiday Train Display, Special Needs Night, Local Hero Nights, and Pet Night!
Where: Watkins Regional Park | 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD 20737
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: $10 per car; $15 per car at the gate; $20 for vans; $30 for buses; $5 per bike
Take in the holiday lights display at the Festival of Lights from the warmth and comfort of your own car! Dare to brave the cold? This year it might be tempting as there will be horse-drawn carriage rides available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5 – 9pm!
Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Temple
Where: Washington D.C. Temple | 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD
When: December 1st – January 2nd
Admission: Free
Washington D.C.’s Temple invites you to come out and enjoy over 400,000 lights, Créche displays of nativities from around the world, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and a wide array of performances. Everything is free of charge, but you will need to reserve tickets online for the performances!
Where: Brookside Gardens | 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton-Glenmont, MD 20902
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: $10 online
Check out Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights this holiday season! With more than one million dazzling and colorful LED lights, handcrafted into original works depicting animals, flowers, and other natural elements, this is surely a stop you won’t wanna skip!
Where: Sandy Point State Park | 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: $20 per car; $30 for large passenger vans; $50 for buses; $5 3D glasses
Driving through Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park has become a tradition for many families over the past decade. The Lights on the Bay display is a scenic drive along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay with more than 60 spectacular animated and stationary displays illuminating the roadway!
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion | 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: $20 per vehicle on drive-thru nights; tickets ranging from $10-$15 on walk-thru nights; children under 3 free
Merriweather’s Symphony of Lights has been a Howard County tradition for over 25 years! This family-oriented event features 300,000 bulbs across numerous animated and stationary holiday light displays. Plus, special events on walk-thru nights, including Festive Families (Nov. 27), Tail Lights (Dec. 6), Lit at the Lights (Dec. 8), and Midnight at 7 (Dec. 31)! Be sure to check out the website for more details.
Where: 4501 Olney Laytonsville Rd. Olney, MD 20832
When: Now – December 31st
Admission: Starting at $31; free parking
With 1 million twinkling lights spread across 18-acres of outdoor winter wonderland, Winter City Lights is “an enchanted experience beyond imagination!” In addition to the lights, Winter City Lights boasts 14 bonfires, a 52-feet tall Christmas tree with programmable lights for spectacular shows, an 8 lane Snow Tubing Ride, guaranteed WInter snow every night, s’mores, funnel cakes, and more!
Where: Seneca Creek State Park | 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
When: Now – December 31st
Admission: $15-$25 per vehicle; $30 for 15+ passenger vehicles
Be sure to check out the enchanting, 3.5 mile drive-thru Seneca Creek State Park, featuring more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night!
Virginia
Alexandria Boat Parade of Lights
Where: Old Town Alexandria Waterfront
When: December 3rd with festivities starting at 2pm and the parade at 5:30pm
Admission: Free
The Alexandria Boat Parade is here and in its 22nd year! This year, more than 50 decorated boats will float along one mile of the Potomac River near Old Town Alexandria. In addition to the parade, you can enjoy dockside festivities in Waterfront Park, including a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, food, activities, and more! Plus, check out a new family friendly event on the North Waterfront at Canal Center and Oronoco Bay Park, featuring artist vendors, music, kids activities, and more!
ΩWhere: 7700 Bull Run Dr, Centreville VA 20121
When: Now – January 8th
Admission: $30 per vehicle; $40 per vehicle at the door; promo codes available for discounts
Enjoy 2.5 miles of holiday lights at the Bull Run Festival of Lights from the comfort of your own car! And don’t forget to stop at the Holiday Village – complete with bonfires, s’mores, and holiday merchandise!
Where: Lerner Town Square at Tysons II | 8025 Galleria Dr., Tysons, VA 22102
When: December 16th – February 12th
Admission: General admission $29.99 + tax; youth $17.99 + tax
See the Lerner Town Square at Tysons II transformed into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns – all handmade by artisans with decades of experience! Plus, interactive light swings, see-saws, and tunnels. This immersive experience is one you don’t wanna miss!
Ice & Lights — The Winter Village at Cameron Run
Where: 4001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA 22304
When: Now – January 1st
Admission: Village only: $9.19 online/$10 at the door; village + ice skating: $22.03 (available online only)
Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run offers a fun, outdoor family experience, featuring unique light displays, ice skating, fire pit cabanas, pizza, hot chocolate, Dippin’ Dots, tons of photo opportunities, and so much more!
Where: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna VA 22182
When: Now – January 8th
Admission: $5-$18 online + Eventbrite fee; $20 at the door (tickets not available on site after December 8th)
Take in Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights this holiday season! In its 11th year, the Winter Walk of Lights is a half mile walk through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ elegant grounds, decorated with thousands of dazzling lights!
Happy Holidays!
We hope you were able to find a holiday lights display (or a few) for your family to enjoy! Happy holidays!
