Head to Gaithersburg's Winter Lights Festival to drive (or walk) through more than 380 illuminated light displays and past 60+ animated vignettes. The tour, more than three miles long, is located in the scenic Seneca Creek State Park (11950 Clopper Rd Gaithersburg, Md., about 25 miles northwest of downtown DC).
Themes for this year's light show include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, North Pole and many others. Proceeds for the event will benefit local charities like Hospice Caring, Mercy Health Clinic and Second Chance Wildlife Center.
Discounts (we love discounts) are available at all Washingtonian Center retailers except Target and Kohl's). You can also enter the trivia contest for a chance to win a lifetime pass to the Winter Lights Festival, and two tickets to the Shen Yun show at the Kennedy Center in March.
The lights displays are open Sun.-Thurs., 6-9 p.m., and Fri.-Sat. 6-10 p.m.; admission is $15 per car.
