Howard County’s Symphony of Lights is taking place in Columbia until January 1. Proceeds from the event will benefit Howard County General Hospital.
The Howard County Symphony of Lights is underway in Columbia, the event’s 100 large light creations are made up of over 300 bulbs - In the past twenty years has drawn over two million visitors. The Symphony of Lights is not only a worthwhile holiday event and activity for locals and visitors, but also a way of helping to raise money for a worthy cause. To date, more than eight million dollars has been raised to benefit Howard County’s General Hospital. [caption id="attachment_6613" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
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Symphony of Lights is open Tuesdays through Saturdays until January 1 except for New Year’s Eve. On weekdays, the dazzling light displays are open from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on the weekends. Patrons interested in attending the holiday event may purchase tickets online or onsite, Sunday through Friday tickets are $20 and Saturday tickets are $25.
The Symphony of Lights is a drive through light display, so only one ticket is needed per car. The drive through display includes a laser light show and 3-D holiday video and the whole experience is set to holiday music. Howard County Symphony of Lights also holds a contest for its patrons, in the Candy Cane Count Contest patrons submit a total count of lit candy canes spotted in the drive through display for a chance to win a prize.
Those who guess correctly are placed into a drawing in which the first-place prize is four tickets for a dinner and show at Toby’s Dinner Theater in downtown Columbia, as well as a month of free swimming lessons at the Goldfish Swim School - PLUS a $20 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. Second Place will receive two free tickets to a 2018 concert of the prize winner’s choice at Columbia’s Merriweather Post Pavilion outdoor concert venue.
December 11, the Symphony of Lights will host a special “Tail Lights” night in which dog owners can walk through the light display with their furry friends. Tail Lights night will feature a “best dressed pet” contest which will award prizes for the three best costumes. Tickets for this event are $10 per person in advance and $15 the day of the event. There is no charge for pets and children aged four and younger.
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While the drive through display is closed on New Year’s Eve, Symphony of Lights still has activities planned on December 31. From 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. ticket holders will have the chance to walk the light display course and enjoy musically synchronized fireworks at 7 p.m. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve “Midnight at 7” celebration are $15 in advance and $20 the day of.
The Symphony of Lights entrance is located at the intersection of Hickory Ridge Road and Broken Land Parkway in Columbia. Parking is available at 10970 Grantchester Way in Columbia at the intersections of Broken Land Parkway and Divided Sky Lane as well as at the intersection of Merriweather Drive and Little Patuxent Parkway. Traffic monitors will be up in the event of a need for overflow parking. For tickets and more info visit the Symphony of Lights event page.
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