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 February 8, 2020. 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 this Friday, December 20th at 7 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.

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

Through December 31, (closed on Christmas) enjoy the lovely woodland setting with over 450 illuminated displays and lighted trees. In its 23rd 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 buy tickets for a discount conveniently online.

🧝🏻Enchant Christmas in Washington D.C.

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

Check out The Great Search at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. through December 29th. 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 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, through January 1st. Over 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights turn the Zoo into a winter wonderland! this year they have added dozens of large, glowing animal lanterns.

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 December 6th to January 4th. 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.

🎄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 23rd year of the light display. Model train lovers will enjoy the G-scale train display all decked out for the holiday. 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 through January 1st, with fireworks at 7 pm on New Year’s Eve. About 45 minutes from Frederick.

🎁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

Here is a list of local places with fun holiday light displays that I sourced 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.

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