Merry and bright: Where to find holiday light displays in the DC area
Holiday light displays are beginning to twinkle all over the Washington, D.C., area. With sunsets happening before 5 p.m., we’re happy to find something merry and bright. Here are some of the best holiday light displays to enjoy in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Holiday lights in D.C. ZooLightsNov. 22 to Jan. 4, National Zoo in Northwest D.C., $6 per guest over the age of 2Details See lantern versions of your favorite zoo animals, enjoy live music, ride the Conservation Carousel and shop for treats and gifts after-hours at the National Zoo. ZooLights will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Jan. 4, plus Thursday, Dec. 19, Monday, Dec. 23, Thursday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Dec. 30. Heads up: ZooLights doesn’t feature real animals, and all indoor exhibits will be closed. Parking costs $30 per vehicle. The National Zoo is easily accessible by Metro. Use the Cleveland Park or Woodley Park-Zoo stops. CityCenterDCTree lighting on Nov. 30, downtown D.C., freeDetails Jordin Sparks and the American Pops Orchestra will provide the soundtrack as News4’s Eun Yang helps light up the CityCenterDC tree on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kids activities will begin at 5 p.m. before the tree lighting program takes off at 6 p.m. After that, stop by CityCenterDC anytime to see the tree. It’s a perfect place to go before or after the DowntownDC Holiday Market. Holiday Boat Parade & PartyDec. 7, The Wharf, freeDetails You may come to see dozens of boats decked out for the holidays floating by, but you’ll want to come early and stay late for live music and a host of other activities. Holiday lights in Maryland Courtesy of National Harbor National Harbor holiday tree and fireworks showThrough Dec. 30, Spirit Park, free Head to National Harbor’s Spirit Park every night to see a 60-foot RGB tree come alive with dancing lights. The show happens every 30 minutes from sunset until 9 p.m. On Saturdays, don’t miss the fireworks show at 5:30 p.m. And if you want some indoor winter fun, head to the Gaylord National hotel for ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens December 2023. Photos by Tony Ventouris. Garden of Lights at Brookside GardensNov. 22 to Jan. 5, Wheaton, $10 per personDetails Stroll through the half-mile path filled with lights and displays within the display garden at Wheaton Regional Park. Garden of Lights will be open daily from 5-9 p.m., except for certain holidays. It will be closed Nov. 25-28, Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. Tickets are required for all visitors age 5 and up, and they must be purchased in advance. City of Gaithersburg Winter Lights FestivalNov. 29 to Dec. 31, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, $15-$25 per vehicleDetails Drive past hundreds of illuminated displays and trees on this 3.5-mile path in Seneca Creek State Park. You only need one ticket per vehicle. It costs $15 to go Monday through Thursday and $25 on weekends. Tickets must be purchased in advance. The festival is closed on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Special nights include: Sip & Sparkle with live music, wine tasting, and a trolley ride on Nov. 24. Walk & Wag on Nov. 25, when dogs are allowed to visit. Festival of LightsNov. 29 to Jan. 1, Watkins Regional Park in Upper MarlboroDetails The drive-through display is scheduled to be open from Black Friday to New Year’s Day. Stay tuned for more information! Holiday lights in Virginia NOVA Parks’ Winter Walk of Lights Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical GardensThrough Jan. 5, Vienna, Virginia, $18-$22 per personDetails and tickets Follow a festive, 0.6-mile trail filled with sparkling trees, glittering nature and holiday scenes. Then, warm up by sipping hot cocoa or roasting s’mores. Every visitor over the age of 2 needs a ticket. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them online via Eventbrite. Winter Walk of Lights will be open on holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Winter Lantern Festival Winter Lantern FestivalThrough Jan. 12, 2025, 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, Virginia, $16.99-$26.99Details More than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns and lights exploring Chinese myths, legends and zodiacs make up the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons. Keep an eye out for panda lanterns – yes, they’re an homage to the National Zoo’s new residents Bao Li and Qing Bao! After you take plenty of pictures, watch the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe and take a spin on the bounce house, light swings and more. The Winter Lantern Festival is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 5-9:30 p.m. NOVA Parks’ Festival of Lights Bull Run Festival of LightsNov. 15 to Jan. 4, Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, $30 per vehicleDetails Stay cozy in your car while you drive through 2.5 miles of festive light displays. Then, stop by the Holiday Village to enjoy a carnival, bonfires, s’mores and sh
Holiday light displays are beginning to twinkle all over the Washington, D.C., area.
With sunsets happening before 5 p.m., we’re happy to find something merry and bright.
Here are some of the best holiday light displays to enjoy in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Holiday lights in D.C.
ZooLights
Nov. 22 to Jan. 4, National Zoo in Northwest D.C., $6 per guest over the age of 2
Details
See lantern versions of your favorite zoo animals, enjoy live music, ride the Conservation Carousel and shop for treats and gifts after-hours at the National Zoo.
ZooLights will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Jan. 4, plus Thursday, Dec. 19, Monday, Dec. 23, Thursday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Dec. 30.
Heads up: ZooLights doesn’t feature real animals, and all indoor exhibits will be closed.
Parking costs $30 per vehicle. The National Zoo is easily accessible by Metro. Use the Cleveland Park or Woodley Park-Zoo stops.
CityCenterDC
Tree lighting on Nov. 30, downtown D.C., free
Details
Jordin Sparks and the American Pops Orchestra will provide the soundtrack as News4’s Eun Yang helps light up the CityCenterDC tree on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kids activities will begin at 5 p.m. before the tree lighting program takes off at 6 p.m.
After that, stop by CityCenterDC anytime to see the tree. It’s a perfect place to go before or after the DowntownDC Holiday Market.
Holiday Boat Parade & Party
Dec. 7, The Wharf, free
Details
You may come to see dozens of boats decked out for the holidays floating by, but you’ll want to come early and stay late for live music and a host of other activities.
Holiday lights in Maryland
National Harbor holiday tree and fireworks show
Through Dec. 30, Spirit Park, free
Head to National Harbor’s Spirit Park every night to see a 60-foot RGB tree come alive with dancing lights. The show happens every 30 minutes from sunset until 9 p.m.
On Saturdays, don’t miss the fireworks show at 5:30 p.m.
And if you want some indoor winter fun, head to the Gaylord National hotel for ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Nov. 22 to Jan. 5, Wheaton, $10 per person
Details
Stroll through the half-mile path filled with lights and displays within the display garden at Wheaton Regional Park.
Garden of Lights will be open daily from 5-9 p.m., except for certain holidays. It will be closed Nov. 25-28, Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1.
Tickets are required for all visitors age 5 and up, and they must be purchased in advance.
Winter Lights Festival
Nov. 29 to Dec. 31, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, $15-$25 per vehicle
Details
Drive past hundreds of illuminated displays and trees on this 3.5-mile path in Seneca Creek State Park.
You only need one ticket per vehicle. It costs $15 to go Monday through Thursday and $25 on weekends. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The festival is closed on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
Special nights include:
- Sip & Sparkle with live music, wine tasting, and a trolley ride on Nov. 24.
- Walk & Wag on Nov. 25, when dogs are allowed to visit.
Festival of Lights
Nov. 29 to Jan. 1, Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro
Details
The drive-through display is scheduled to be open from Black Friday to New Year’s Day. Stay tuned for more information!
Holiday lights in Virginia
Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Through Jan. 5, Vienna, Virginia, $18-$22 per person
Details and tickets
Follow a festive, 0.6-mile trail filled with sparkling trees, glittering nature and holiday scenes. Then, warm up by sipping hot cocoa or roasting s’mores.
Every visitor over the age of 2 needs a ticket. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them online via Eventbrite.
Winter Walk of Lights will be open on holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Winter Lantern Festival
Through Jan. 12, 2025, 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, Virginia, $16.99-$26.99
Details
More than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns and lights exploring Chinese myths, legends and zodiacs make up the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons. Keep an eye out for panda lanterns – yes, they’re an homage to the National Zoo’s new residents Bao Li and Qing Bao!
After you take plenty of pictures, watch the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe and take a spin on the bounce house, light swings and more.
The Winter Lantern Festival is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 5-9:30 p.m.
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Nov. 15 to Jan. 4, Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, $30 per vehicle
Details
Stay cozy in your car while you drive through 2.5 miles of festive light displays. Then, stop by the Holiday Village to enjoy a carnival, bonfires, s’mores and shopping.
You only need one ticket per vehicle. Check out the “promotional nights” section for discount codes on select dates.
The Bull Run Festival of Lights will be open on holidays including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (but the carnival will be closed on Thanksgiving).
Here are more details on dates, hours and carnival prices.
Ice & Lights-The Winter Village at Cameron Run
Nov. 15 to Feb. 23 (ice skating opens Nov. 29), Alexandria, Virginia, $8.55+
Details
The Winter Village is packed with light displays perfect for photos. Don’t miss the 100-foot tunnel arch! Take some family selfies, gather around a fire pit, get treats and shop at retailers.
Ice skating will be available starting Nov. 29. All tickets must be purchased online.
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