Where to See Christmas Light Displays in and Around Frederick County

🎅Holiday Light Displays

One of my favorite memories as a child was driving through Rochester New York, looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights. According to my dad, it was cheap entertainment. As a five-year-old, it was just magical. My inner five-year-old still gets a thrill…check out some of these magical places in and around Frederick to see holiday lights:

⛵Sailing Through the Winter Solstice in Downtown Frederick

This fun light display consists of lighted sailing boats in Carroll Creek. Unlike the usual holiday light display, this one will last through the first week of February. Another unique aspect of this joyful event…you can vote online for your favorite boat, and raise money for local charities. Vote for your favorite here.

🎄The Festival of Lights in Downtown Frederick

The Festival of Lights is back Friday, December 15 at 12:30 – 3 pm. This is a bit different from the usual light display, it’s a moving candlelight service with an inspirational message, featuring a performance by the Frederick Children’s Chorus. Open to all at the Frederick City Hall Courtyard, 101 N. Court Street. Learn more about Holiday events in Frederick from the Celebrate Frederick website.

While you’re downtown, take a walk and enjoy the Holiday window displays of over 100 merchants. The lighted trees along Market Street and Patrick Street are magical!

Nearby Light Displays:

💡Seneca Creek State Park Winter Lights Festival

November 24th through December 31, (closed on Christmas) enjoy the lovely woodland setting with over 450 illuminated displays and lighted trees. In its 27th season, a 3.5 mile drive through the park. 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg (a 25 – 30-minute drive). Open 6 pm to 9 pm. Rates vary for vehicle types. Check out the details and tickets must be purchased in advance online.

🧝🏻Enchant Christmas in Washington D.C.

Do you like ice skating? Do you like light mazes? What a cool combination! Evidently, a mischievous elf has hidden one of Santa’s reindeer and all of Washington D.C. needs to help find him!

Check out Enchant Washington D.C. at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. through January 1st. Ice skating is weather permitting. Additional Christmas market, in case you still need to do some shopping. Food and drinks are also available. General admission includes full access to “the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze”, more than 60 vendors, Santa’s Landing, Kid Zone, and the Ice Skating Trail.

Note: You’ll need to buy tickets in advance, as they seem to sell out quickly! The park is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Frederick. It would certainly be worth the trip!

National Christmas Tree and Pathway of Peace

The National Christmas Tree lighting is celebrating 100 years. There are six dates. You can check out all the festivities online by watching the ceremony at https://thenationaltree.org. CBS will broadcast the 2023 National Christmas Tree Lighting on December 15th at 8pm ET.

You can also sled on over to visit the National Christmas Tree and the 58 trees decorated by states, territories, and schools managed by the Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity at President’s Park from Friday, December 1, 2023, through Sunday, January 1, 2024. The park is open Sunday through Thursday 10am-10pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10am-11pm. For more information, visit National Christmas Tree – President’s Park (White House) (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

The Gaylord Resort at the National Harbor

The Gaylord always has a fantastic Christmas display! It is free to walk around the hotel and view, from November 20 through December 31. Ice skating is back this year. 

🦌National Zoo Light Display

If you are in Washington D.C., you may want to visit the National Zoo and see the beautiful Light Display, ZooLights, from Friday, November 24th, through December 30, from 5 pm to 9 pm. Over 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights turn the Zoo into a winter wonderland! 

Best of all, ZooLights is free to the public. Although, parking is minimal, so people are encouraged to take the metro.

🤶🏻Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport

Williamsport’s Byron Memorial Park becomes a brightly lit holiday paradise from early December to early January. Walking through the display is an annual event opened with a Christmas parade through the town. Byron Memorial Park is about 40 minutes from Frederick going on I-70.

Maugansville Ruritan Club has Christmas lights. Located at 18007 Maugans Ave, Hagerstown.

🎄Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens

Just a 45-minute drive from Frederick, Brookside Gardens in Wheaton has a dazzling display of over 1 million lights! This is the 24th year of the light display. From November17 through December 31, except for November 20 through 23, and December 24 and 25. See info and ticket prices.

🎶A Symphony of Lights in Columbia

A Howard County holiday tradition set in historic Merriweather Post Pavilion, A Symphony of Lights. A portion of proceeds from this event benefit the Howard County General Hospital. Open November 23th through January 1st. Drive through or walk through. About 45 minutes from Frederick. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

🎁Miracle on 34th Street

If you’re ever in Baltimore this holiday season, head over to the neighborhood of Hampden and see the beautiful lights on 34th Street. The neighborhood homes all light up to make a magical display. Be sure to check out the website and read the heart-warming story behind the lighted street.

Crowd-sourced Light Displays

Key 103 Radio Holiday Map of Cheer. It gets updated every year.

The Nextdoor App also has a Cheer Map where members can list their homes. 

Here is a list of local places with fun holiday light displays that I sourced (last year) from Facebook friends:

• Canal Run – Fletchers Drive (Point of Rocks)…tune in to 98.1 while watching.
• There’s a really fun house lighted up on Roundtree Road in Jefferson.
• …on Catholic Church Road near Burkettsville.
• …2620 Inwood Drive in Adamstown.
• …5910 Elmer Derr Road Frederick.
• …Braddock Heights on Ridge Crest Court.
• …Route 17 south of Burkittsville, the first farm.

And a helpful reader left this tip on Pinterest:

“There’s a townhouse near Waterside & Monocacy Blvd., at 803 Jubal Way. It has Disney & Dalmatians in the front yard, Santa’s workshop with elves in the backyard. You can see some of the backyard from the road but if you get out of your car to see all the backyard it’s absolutely amazing.”

Special Mention…Polar Express Train Ride

It isn’t a light display, but how fun is this…punch a golden ticket and have hot chocolate with Santa aboard the Polar Express at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Located in Cumberland, at 13 Canal Street

If you know of any other good holiday light displays that make your inner five-year-old cheer, let me know and I’ll add to my list! Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, Peaceful Kwanza, and Happy Hanukkah!

Pin for future reference: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/4292562133067309