The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Lights Near Annapolis

There’s something about this time of year that makes you want to grab a giant travel mug of cocoa, crank up the heat in the car, turn on Christmas music, and pretend like you’re starring in your own Nancy Meyers holiday film with impeccable lighting and an unreasonable amount of knitwear. And what better backdrop for this fantasy than a glowing lineup of light displays that you can drive or walk through. 

Check out some of the best holiday light experiences within easy reach of Annapolis that would make Clark Griswold clutch his pearls.

Lights on the Bay

Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis
Drive-Thru: November 23, 2025 – January 1, 2026, nightly
Tickets: ~$20 per car

This beloved Chesapeake tradition is a two-mile drive of shimmering displays, including everything from soaring reindeer to Maryland-themed scenes (yes, there are crabs).

It’s cozy, it’s charming, and it’s the perfect place to go when everyone’s already in pajamas and you’ve resigned yourself to “car snacks” being an acceptable form of dinner.

LIGHTS & LEASHES Walk Nights (Pet-Friendly!)

November 21 & 22, 2025 | Evening
Let your pup strut their stuff under the glow of holiday lights before the route becomes drive-thru only. You don’t need to have a dog to enjoy this festive walk. 

What to expect:

• A magical 2-mile illuminated walk
• Pet-friendly vendors offering gourmet dog treats, accessories, and more
• Hot drinks & sweet treats for humans
• Photos with Santa — yes, pets and people

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade

Annapolis Harbor & Spa Creek
Saturday, December 13, 2025
FREE

One of Annapolis’ most well-loved holiday traditions. Dozens of boats bedazzled in lights will parade across the water. Everything from tiny sailboats to full-size yachts will be transformed into floating, shimmering wonders.

Arrive early, bundle up, bring blankets and hot drinks, and enjoy what might be the most Annapolitan holiday moment possible.

Homestead Gardens

Davidsonville Location
Walk-Thru: November 22, 2025 through December

Festive lights illuminate the grounds of Homestead Gardens’ Davidsonville location. You’ll be able to walk through a winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights, beautifully decorated trees, joyful displays, and loads of holiday cheer. Homestead will be offering events throughout the holiday season, but you won’t want to miss their Grand Illumination on November 22 to kick off their displays.

Symphony of Lights

Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia
Drive-Thru: November 28, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Tickets: ~$25 per vehicle

Symphony of Lights is big, bright, and full of character! Think giant glowing snowflakes, archways of light, and enough sparkle to make Martha May Whovier gasp dramatically.

While the drive-thru is gorgeous on any night, the special walk-thru events are the festive pièce de résistance.

Here are the highlights:

Lit at the Lights (21+, Walk-Thru)

Friday, November 28, 2025 | 6–9 PM
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 6–9 PM
Tickets: $45 for cocktail sampling • $15 walk-through only

An adult-friendly holiday stroll featuring:

• Handcrafted cocktail tasting stations
• A beer-garden lounge with local brews
• Food trucks + live music
• A 1-mile walk through dazzling lights

It’s festive cardio with a side of cocktails.

Festive Families Walk Night

Sunday, November 30, 2025 | 5:30–7:45 PM
Tickets: $15 per person (ages 3 and under free)

Kick off the season with this family tradition — a stroller-friendly walk where you can take in the displays at your own pace. Ideal for littles who want to inspect each snowman personally.

Tail Lights: Dog Walk Night

Monday, December 8, 2025 | 5:30–7:45 PM
Tickets: $15 per person (ages 3 and under free)

It’s exactly what it sounds like: a festive, costume-friendly walk where dogs and humans alike shine in the glow of thousands of lights. All dogs must be leashed, costumes encouraged for both species.

Miracle on 34th Street

Hampden, Baltimore
Walk-Thru | Late November-January 1
FREE

Hey, hon! If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a whole neighborhood competed to out-decorate each other for 20+ years… this is it. Miracle on 34th Street is a Baltimore cultural experience with a side of neighborhood pride and a sprinkle of kitschy perfection.

Winter Lights Festival

Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro
Drive-Thru | Late November – Early January
Tickets: Varies (generally $30-$40)

This one is all about scale — sweeping arches of light, animated displays, glowing characters, and scenes big enough to impress even the most jaded teenagers.

This place is holiday magic turned up to 11.

Picture this:

• A 52-foot programmable Christmas tree that shifts, sparkles, and pulses to music like it graduated top of its class in Light Choreography
• A 200-foot diameter canopy of dancing lights overhead — synchronized with your favorite holiday songs
• Trails of glowing displays that wrap you in a cocoon of bright, shimmering wonder

And that’s just the lights.

Add in:

• An 8-lane “Penguin Plunge” snow tubing ride (no skill needed, just enthusiasm and gravity)
• Adult holiday drinks that make the cold feel charming instead of personal
• S’mores, hot chocolate, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, BBQ sandwiches, pizza, soft pretzels — basically every comfort food you’d want after walking through a magical forest
• Light-up toys for the kids (and let’s be honest, for you too)

It’s festive, over-the-top, wildly fun, and the perfect place for anyone who sees a 52-foot Christmas tree and goes, “Yes. That. More of that.”

---

Whether you’re driving with a peppermint mocha and Delilah on the radio or strolling with the kids under a canopy of lights, these displays bring the magic we all crave this time of year.

Stay tuned! Our Neighborhood Holiday Lights Guide is coming soon, featuring the best local displays from families who go full Griswold every year.