It’s December, which means the time for Garden in Lights is upon us. This annual tradition brings a lot of visitors to Annmarie Garden, where they get to stroll through the wooded path to see unique light displays. Fun fact: This event was named in 2011 as the Finest Holiday Tradition by Maryland Life Magazine.
You won’t see holiday-themed lights here. Instead, you’ll see scenes depicting superheroes, airplanes, astronauts, fairy tale creatures, surfers, scuba divers, cowboys and much more. Each of the scenes is designed exclusively for Annmarie Garden, so there is nothing like them anywhere else. Many of them are incredibly detailed, inviting you to stop and admire the work that went into them.
In addition to the lights, visitors can view the current exhibits inside the Art Center, in addition to browsing and buying at the gift shop and ornament sale. The handcrafted ornaments for sale make special gifts for family, friends or yourself. (And the gift shop offers a lot of very nice things, too!)
To add to the festive atmosphere, there is live entertainment provided by local artists and groups. You can also pick up a sweet treat and a hot beverage at Dream Weaver’s Holiday Cafe in the artLAB.
I volunteered last year on a busy Friday night, and it was fun to see the excited looks on the faces of both the children and adults. It is clearly one of those special events that is eagerly anticipated every year.
Garden in Lights runs for about a month, with discount nights and a special pet night on New Year’s Day. It opens for the season during the Solomons Christmas Walk, giving families the chance to spend a fun-filled day in southern Calvert County. In 2013, Garden in Lights runs from December 6 through January 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. (weather permitting).
http://www.annmariegarden.org