The Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival is welcoming visitors for its 26th season to view a variety of displayed lights at Seneca Creek State Park from Nov. 26 through Dec. 31 at night.

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The Gaithersburg website shared that the winter lights festival tickets may be purchased in advance online. Visitors may only purchase one ticket per vehicle. Monday through Thursday tickets are $15 and on Friday through Sunday tickets are $25.

Due to COVID-19, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of winter lights. Therefore, changes have been made to ensure a “positive & safe experience for all attendees, staff and event-site neighbors,” according to the Gaithersburg website.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and tickets will not be available at the admission booth. Tickets will also be available “by date and are good only on that date.”

It is important to purchase tickets in advance because the number of tickets available for each date is limited to the maximum number of vehicles the event venue can comfortably and safely accommodate. The reasoning for this is to “ensure a pleasant and memorable experience for each guest.”

The winter lights are a 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park. The park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, conveniently accessible from I-270. The passage takes you past more than “450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night.”

Junior Sofie Vinick goes to the winter lights festival every year and always looks forward to it. Vinick said, “The lights are mesmerizing and seeing them was a great way to start the wonderful holiday season.”

They have a wide range of light displays from castles to nutcrackers to reindeer. “My favorite part was seeing all the different colored light displays such as the snowman and christmas trees,” Vinick said.

On Google Reviews, the winter lights festival has a rating of 4.0 stars out of 5.0 stars. There are over 130 reviews on Google reviews. 

A recent review said the “lights are the same as 20 years ago with hardly any animated lights. Way too many arches, candy canes, and trees. Compared to other light displays I have seen, this is a real disappointment.”

However, most reviews enjoyed the winter lights festival and left positive comments. One review said that “the lights were beautiful and overall it was a good experience.”

This year the festival includes a few additions such as the castle, the twirling gingerbread, teddy bearland and the light tunnels. A review on the festival’s website said, “This is a fun event to drive at night to see the light decorations. The best time to go is during the weekdays, it’s a few dollars cheaper and since it’s more sparse you can really slow down and take your time.” 

On the winter lights festival website, people often leave recommendations and advice. A review said “I recommend that all cars be required to drop down to parking lights. Headlights in your mirrors or coming at you really take away from the beauty of the decorative lights.”