SightseeingSeasonalFamily Favorite

Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park

Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park is a sightseeing stop in Upper Marlboro, MD, part of the Washington DC guide. Cost: under $25. Late November to January 1, evenings.

301 Watkins Park Drive · Upper Marlboro, MD

Why you should go…

The Festival of Lights is a drive-through holiday light show at Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro, run by M-NCPPC's Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation. You drive through three miles of light displays with more than 2.5 million lights, and holiday hayrides need advance registration. The 2025 season ran nightly from 5pm to 9:30pm, November 28 to January 1.

#holiday lights
#drive-through
#christmas
#prince george's county

What's around here?

The closest stops to Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sightseeing
Family Favorite
Prince George's County
Free
A Maryland county bordering DC, home to National Harbor, Six Flags America, and NASA Goddard.
3.0 mi awayMore like this
Sightseeing
History Buff
Anacostia Trails Heritage Area
Free
A Maryland-certified heritage area promoting historic sites, trails and cultural attractions across Prince George's County.
9.5 mi awayMore like this
Stay
Local Gem
Cambria Hotel College Park
$50+
A modern hotel on Baltimore Avenue steps from the University of Maryland, with Metro access into Washington, D.C.
11 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay
Sightseeing
History Buff
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Free
Tour Cedar Hill, the hilltop Anacostia home where Frederick Douglass lived until his death in 1895.
11 mi awayMore like this
Shopping
Local Gem
Eastern Market
Free
Capitol Hill's 1873 market hall, butchers and famous pancakes inside, weekend farmers and flea markets outside.
11 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping
Eat & Drink
Foodie Favorite
Union Market
Free
DC's buzziest food hall: dozens of vendors slinging oysters, arepas, pasta, and ice cream in a revived 1930s market.
11 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink