From the Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens to the Winter Lights in Gaithersburg, we’ve rounded up Montgomery County’s best holiday light displays and experiences you won’t want to miss this season.
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens: Wheaton
Stroll through more than one million dazzling colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted flowers, animals, snowflakes, and other natural elements at the Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens. Wander this winter wonderland and enjoy whimsical scenes, enjoy a new animated tunnel of lights as well as an interactive tap light display near the Children’s Garden.
The walk outdoors is about 1.5 miles, you should wear comfortable shoes, and dress for cooler weather in the evenings. The path is good for shoes, wheelchairs, and strollers. After you walk through the lights, head to the gift shop to get holiday gift items. Grab a hot drink or light refreshment from food vendors.
The Garden of Lights is open every night through January 5, 2025 (except November 25-28, December 24 & 25, and January 1,) at Brookside Gardens. The cost is $10 per person and is only available for purchase in advance. Visitors under five are free however, still require a ticket.
Winter City Lights: Olney
Winter City Lights is an immersive holiday lights experience where guests can walk through a 1.5-mile trail full of twinkling lights and explore over 200,000 square feet of displays covering 18 acres. Enjoy the 200-foot diameter canopy of twinkling lights cascading from the top of the 52-foot Christmas tree. It creates a massive umbrella of lights up above that match to the recorded holiday music. And if you wanted to see the lights under the snowflakes, Winter City Lights has you covered with Winter City Snow! Every night small bubble-based snow falls through the air to give the feeling of snow falling!
For an additional fee, guests can glide down an ice-slick penguin tubing slide, or get a chance to throw Lumberjack axes. There are over five acres of mulched compound with tables, chairs, and fit pits, perfect for making s’mores.
Concessions are also available like freshly made pizza, BBQ sandwiches, burgers, fries, and fried Twinkies and Oreos. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic holiday-inspired drinks are on sale too.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. Note: ticket prices might increase closer to Christmas and day of ticket purchases.
Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park: Gaithersburg
Drive through the City of Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival featuring 3.5 miles of enchanted woodland with more than 450 illuminated displays and spectacularly lit trees that brighten the evening sky. Celebrating its 26th spectacular season, the display in Seneca Creek State Park features seasonal scenes like Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Toyland, Victorian Village, and the North Pole.
For an added experience, come during one of the Enchanted Evenings. These are special themed events available before Winter Lights opens to vehicles. S’mores Lights is for all ages to enjoy an evening roasting marshmallows in a beautiful woodland setting. Sip & Sparkle is a 21+ tasting event where guests can try beer and wine from local Tastemakers like Saints Row Brewing, Clear Skies Meadery, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, and more. Ride around on an open-air trolley under the dazzling lights. Take your furry friends to the Walk & Wag Enchanted Evening where you can take a one or three-mile stroll under the lights. Afterwards, get a selfie with Santa and food from a local food truck.
The City of Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival is open every night from November 29 through December 31 (except December 25) at Seneca Creek State Park. Tickets must be purchased in advance and won’t be available at the gate. The price is $15 per car/van (Monday-Thursday) and $25 per car/van (Friday-Sunday), or $30 for a 15+ passenger van.
Light up the Lakefront at rio
There are wonderful moments of joy sprinkled throughout rio in Gaithersburg. Attend Light up the Lakefront for a festive evening of holiday fun.
Stroll along the lakefront for beautiful light displays, Instagramable selfie spots, and warm firepits. After working up an appetite walking through this winter wonderland, stop by one of the many restaurants to dine in for a delicious meal or take it to go. At 6:45 pm, watch a dazzling fireworks show over the lake.
Festival of Lights
In Kensington, the Washington DC Temple hosts the Festival of Lights, lighting up the temple and surrounding nature with lights.
From December 5, 2024, to January 1, 2025, over 500,000 lights illuminate the grounds and celebrate the season. The lights turn on each evening from 4:45 pm to 9:00 pm. Each day the lights are on, the temple also hosts performances with different talent from the area. All performances are held inside at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center.
Entrance and parking are free, doors open 45 minutes prior to performances.
Tree Lightings
Clarksburg Premium Outlets will host a Holiday Tree Lighting on November 23, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Make sure to take pictures at their selfie stations, get some face paint, and listen to festive music with live performances and the tree lighting starting at 7:00 pm sharp.
Attend the annual Rockville Tree Lighting at Rockville Town Square on December 6, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Enjoy an evening of music, entertainment, ice skating, and tree lighting!
For more holiday inspiration, head to the MoCo Holiday Experience Hub.
