# Watkins Regional Park Winter Festival of Lights

> Event for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Nov 27 – Jan 1 · 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Where: Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
- Ages: All ages (perfect drive-through comfort for babies, toddlers, and multi-generational families)
- Price: $20 per car/van (advance online or gate); multi-car passes and mini-bus rates available. Canned food donations encouraged for local food banks.
- Organizer: Prince George's County Parks & Recreation (M-NCPPC)
- Official page: https://www.pgparks.com/events
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/watkins-regional-park-winter-festival-of-lights--listing-31ae123ed34491bacf494204

## About

Celebrating its landmark 40th anniversary season in 2026, the Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro is Prince George's County's signature holiday drive-through tradition. Covering more than three scenic miles of parkland roads, this sparkling exhibition features over one million twinkling, eco-friendly LED lights and more than 100 animated displays. Highlights include a towering 54-foot musical Christmas tree dancing to holiday rhythms, illuminated gingerbread houses, animated toy trains, galloping reindeer, and cascading crystal canopies.

Families can turn up their car heaters, play their favorite holiday soundtrack, and marvel at the glowing spectacles from the comfort of their own seats. The drive-through format eliminates stroller hassles and keeps children cozy regardless of winter rain or snow. Visiting on weeknights (Monday through Thursday) offers significantly shorter vehicle queue times than peak December weekend evenings. Bringing non-perishable canned food goods to donate at the gate supports Prince George's County food pantries.

## Similar picks in Washington, DC

- [Winter City Lights](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/winter-city-lights--listing-d2daa823c3ea748c61581f66) — Nov 27 – Dec 28 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Fishermen's Country Club Grounds, Olney · All ages · From $20 · checked Nov 4. Ranked among the largest walk-through holiday light spectacles in the mid-Atlantic, Winter City Lights spreads across 18 wooded acres in Olney, Maryland. The centerpiece of the…
- [Bull Run Festival of Lights & Holiday Village](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/bull-run-festival-of-lights-and-holiday-village--listing-5c547d83da16621b13afa6ec) — Nov 14 – Jan 3 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville · All ages · From $30 · checked Nov 4. The Bull Run Festival of Lights delivers a premier 2.5-mile drive-through holiday light spectacular through the wooded expanse of Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. Families…
- [Winter Lights Festival 2026 — Seneca Creek State Park](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/winter-lights-festival-2026-seneca-creek-state-park--listing-41b78f5d1c23a60d7c2094e3) — Nov 27 – Dec 31 · Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 16. The City of Gaithersburg's Winter Lights Festival returns for its 31st season as a 3.5-mile drive through Seneca Creek State Park with more than 450 illuminated displays and lit…
- [Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park — 40th Year](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/festival-of-lights-at-watkins-regional-park-40th-year--listing-846715cede8e2b25bbefb867) — Nov 27 – Jan 1 · 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 16. Prince George's Parks marks the 40th year of its drive-through Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, open nightly from November 27, 2026 through January…
- [Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/meadowlark-s-winter-walk-of-lights--listing-260b5adf081e80ce055c9e66) — Nov 11 – Jan 3 · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna · All ages · From $19 · checked Nov 4. Nestled across the rolling hills of Vienna, Virginia, Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights is one of Northern Virginia's most enchanting family holiday traditions. Over 500,000…
- [Brookside Gardens: Garden of Lights](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/brookside-gardens-garden-of-lights--listing-269a1ef54327017c3d279baa) — Nov 20 – Jan 3 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Brookside Gardens, Wheaton · All ages · From $13.99 · checked Nov 4. For over a quarter century, Brookside Gardens' Garden of Lights has illuminated the winter nights of Montgomery County, transforming 50 acres of botanical wonder into an ethereal…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids at Watkins Regional Park](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/watkins-regional-park) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/venues/watkins-regional-park.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Upper Marlboro, MD](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/towns/upper-marlboro-md) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/towns/upper-marlboro-md.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Prince George's County, MD](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/counties/prince-george-s-county-md) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/counties/prince-george-s-county-md.md)
- [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/christmas.md)
- [Thanksgiving break with kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/thanksgiving) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/thanksgiving.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Washington, DC — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/events/2026-11.md)
- [This weekend in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc.md)