Montgomery County Recreation is hosting holiday-themed, family-friendly events for everyone to enjoy this winter. From cocoa and crafts to photos with Santa, December events will be hosted at community recreation centers, senior centers and aquatic facilities across the County. Registration for events can be completed online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. Registration for winter programs and activities is also currently underway. Upcoming special events hosted by Montgomery County Recreation will include:

Saturday, Dec. 3:


The City of Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival is getting ready to welcome visitors for another spectacular season. The wondrous display of lights at Seneca Creek State Park will be open nightly November 25 through December 31. The festival is closed on December 25 and last entry for December 24 & 31 is 8:30 p.m. The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night. The park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, conveniently accessible from I-270.

Advanced purchase of tickets is required and one ticket is required per vehicle and pricing/additional information can be seen below:


The Town of Kensington has partnered with KTown Ladies to bring the Town of Kensington residents the 2nd annual seasonal lighting ceremony on Friday, December 2nd from 6pm-7pm at Howard Avenue Park (3716 Howard Ave).

“Please join us for hot adult beverages, hot cider and hot chocolate, s’mores by the fire pits, music, and merry making! The lighting ceremony begins at 6:15pm and there will also be a brief announcement about the home decorating award contest categories and rules. Enjoy the lights in Howard Avenue Park every evening through January 8.”


Though it has been open for a couple weeks, an opening ceremony will take place at Silver Spring Ice Skating at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring at 6:00pm.

The event will include Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Will Jawando participating in the opening ceremony that also consists of a coat and sock drive. Anyone who donates a coat or new package of socks will be able to skate for free between 6:30pm and 9pm on Tuesday night, November 22.


The Salgado family of Germantown has had a Christmas light display as far back as they can remember. The incredible display includes giant lighted arches, over 25 inflatables characters, a 20ft snowman, thousands of lights, an animatronic Santa, and more.

They call it the Salgado Family Christmas Display, and it’s put together each year by siblings Pahan and Supuli, their parents Ameesha and Chalanga, uncle Indika, and cousins Dulitha and Dinuki. The tradition started at their grandmother’s house in Gaithersburg when Pahan and Supuli were small children. The display eventually moved to her children’s home in Germantown. Their grandmother passed away in 2020 and the family lost their other grandmother in Sri Lanka the same year as well. To honor them and their memories, the family added two angels to the display.


Per Montgomery Parks: Our Urban Wood Sale is back! Shop for resources for your next woodworking, homebuilding, furniture repair, or craft project.  This year, the sale features kiln dried, planed, and air dried wood. Slabs are different sizes and thicknesses (sizes ranging from 3/4” to 3” thick), and prices range from $5- $400. Walnut, cedar, pine, poplar, oak, beech, cherry, cypress, and ash will be available. Credit card only. No advanced sales.

All sales benefit Montgomery Parks’ urban wood waste recycling and green waste recycling programs. Saturday, December 10 and Sunday December 11 from 8 am to 1 pm * or until supply runs out. Montgomery Parks’ Green Farm Maintenance Facility, 8301 Turkey Thicket Drive, Gaithersburg, 20879. Follow signs upon arrival.


MoComCon is back and it’s an all day, all ages event celebrating all things comics, graphic novels, and fandoms. MoComCon 2023 will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Germantown Library. Additional information available below:

On-going between 11:00 – 3:30pm: Life Sized Candy Land, FOLMC Book Sale, Beat Saber VR Stations, Coloring Stations, Scavenger Hunt, Button Making, Selfie Station, Take & Make Kits (while supplies lasts), and more!


Montgomery Parks announces the opening of this year’s Brookside Gardens’ annual Garden of Lights outdoor, walk-through winter light display on Friday, November 18 (preview photos and video available below). Garden of Lights features glimmering one-of-a-kind displays adorning the flowerbeds and pathways throughout Brookside Gardens. New features this year include a winter wonderland scene with tall ice-like formations and falling snow in the Rose Garden and oversized colorful flower forms throughout the Formal Gardens. All new displays were handcrafted by Montgomery Parks staff 

 Pedestrians and cyclists can enter the seasonal light display at the pedestrian gate at 1800 Glenallan Avenue or via a half-mile path beginning at 2000 Shorefield Road, near the Wheaton Regional Park Adventure Playground.Visitors can buy unique, seasonal gifts at the gift shop and hot chocolate and snacks will also be available for purchase.


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