Lights on the Bay

Lights on the Bay is a holiday light show you drive through at Sandy Point State Park. The SPCA of Anne Arundel County runs it as a fundraiser, and 2026 is its 32nd year. It runs every night from November 23, 2026 to January 3, 2027, holidays included, from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $25 per car, and the two-mile drive along the Chesapeake Bay passes about 70 animated and still displays.

Dates and Hours for 2026

• Season: November 23, 2026 to January 3, 2027
• Sunday to Thursday: 5 to 9 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 5 to 10 p.m.
• Holidays: open every night, including Christmas and New Year's

One answer on the organizer's FAQ lists slightly different weekday hours, so check lightsonthebaymd.org before a late visit. During this period the park itself closes to regular day visitors at 4 p.m., so the evening roads are for the show. See park hours.

Tickets and Prices

• Cars: $25
• Large passenger vans, Sprinter vans and similar group vehicles: $40
• Buses and oversized group vehicles: $60

You can buy tickets online in advance for a quicker entry, or pay at the gate with cash or a card. There are no season passes. The SPCA hands out $5-off coupons through local businesses during the season, and on Military Mondays, December 7 and December 21, 2026, military members get $5 off at the gate with a valid ID. That discount is gate-only.

What to Expect

The route is a slow two-mile drive on the park road by the water, with about 70 light displays. The organizer describes holiday scenes, displays that nod to historic Annapolis, and a lit North Pole train station. A few things to know:

• 3-D glasses are sold at the gate and make the lights look layered.
• Music: tune the car radio to 97.1 FM for holiday music on the drive.
• Scavenger hunt: kids can look for hidden items in the displays and enter a prize drawing.
• Santa visits on select nights; the organizer posts dates on its Events page.

Lights and Leashes: Walk It With Your Dog

Before the drive-through season starts, the SPCA opens the route on foot for three nights: November 20, 21 and 22, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. It is a dog-friendly walk-through, and everyone must be out of the park by 9 p.m.

Getting There

Lights on the Bay is inside Sandy Point State Park at 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis, at the western end of the Bay Bridge. Take US 50/301 to exit 32 and follow the cars to the gate. Full directions are on parking and directions.

Who It Supports

Every ticket supports the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, an animal shelter in Annapolis. Questions about tickets, sponsorship or media go to lightsonthebay@aacspca.org, not to the park office.

Other Winter Events at Sandy Point

The Polar Bear Plunge follows in late January, when thousands of people run into the Bay for Special Olympics Maryland. See all events at Sandy Point.