Symphony of Lights has long marked the start of the holidays in Downtown Columbia, and this year it opens on November 27. The season's first big night comes 20 days earlier, and getting in is free. On Saturday, November 7, the Columbia Lakefront hosts an 800-drone show over the water, and the county lists it as a free drop-in event.
After that, the season moves in stages to Color Burst Park and then to Merriweather Post Pavilion, and every stop charges differently. One is a free drop-in, one is free with an optional RSVP and a separate rink ticket, one costs $25 a car, and some nights are $15 a person.
Saturday's Show Has No Ticket and No Rain Date
The drone show is part of Howard County's HoCo250 celebration of the country's 250th anniversary, and it's held at Columbia Lakefront, 10275 Wincopin Circle, next to Whole Foods and Millie Bailey Park. Patch reported that the event uses the same spot where residents traditionally gather for the county's Fourth of July fireworks. County Executive Calvin Ball's office is presenting it with the Columbia Association and Howard County Recreation and Parks.
The county's posted schedule:
- 4:30 p.m. Two Tasty Treats food trucks open.
- 5:00 p.m. The Howard County Veterans Foundation shows a video of about 20 minutes celebrating the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument at Vivian C. "Millie" Bailey Park.
- 5:30 p.m. The band Liquid A starts playing.
- 7:00 p.m. The County Executive gives a welcome, followed by a drone show of about 15 minutes set to music.
Sky Elements, a finalist on season 19 of NBC's "America's Got Talent," is producing the show. Organizers describe drones as an alternative to fireworks that makes no smoke and much less noise.
Some details affect the whole day, not only the evening. Patch reports that the Columbia Lakefront pathway closes at 10 a.m. on November 7 so crews can set up, so a Saturday morning walk along the water will need a different route. No road closures are planned. There's no rain date, and the county is directing people to the Howard County Recreation and Parks Facebook page for weather updates and any schedule changes. The county labeled the lineup tentative until a final confirmation in late October, and it says updates will go on the event page in the days leading up to the show.
The Monument in the 5 p.m. Video Has Been Open Since May
The Veterans Foundation's video celebrates a monument that already stands a short walk from the drone show. The foundation says the opening and dedication ceremony took place on May 14, 2026, and that the monument is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Baltimore Banner reported that it opened after a decade of planning, design and construction.
Artist Larry Kirkland designed it around three stars. A base star stands for the supporting community, a blue star for service members and their families, and a hollow gold star for fallen service members. A reflecting pond and benches surround it. The foundation says it reached its $2.75 million construction fundraising goal in late 2024 and is still accepting donations for maintenance.
The park is named for Vivian "Millie" Bailey. She was a World War II Army first lieutenant who commanded an all-female Women's Army Auxiliary Corps detachment, and she later sent care packages to troops and became a well-known Howard County philanthropist. Arriving before 5 p.m. on Saturday gives you time to see the stars and the pond in daylight before the program begins.
The military theme also continues past this weekend. Symphony of Lights takes $10 off every Thursday for drivers with a valid military ID. The discount is only available at the entrance.
On November 20, Free Admission Comes With a Paid Rink Next Door
Merriweather District holds its Annual Tree Lighting and Ice Rink Opening on Friday, November 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tree is lit at 7 p.m. Earlier in the evening, the Columbia Figure Skating Club and the Columbia Center of Theatrical Arts perform, kids can write letters to Santa, and local shops and vendors serve holiday food.
The tree lighting is free, but this is where Saturday's simple setup ends. Merriweather District asks for an RSVP so it can plan, and the first 100 guests who RSVP and check in at the Guest Services tent get a signature Merriweather District ornament customized with their family name. Ice rink tickets are sold separately.
The Color Burst Ice Rink at Color Burst Park, 6221 Mango Tree Road, is open from November 20 through January 31, 2027. General admission is $12 per person for a 75-minute session. Tax, skate rental and a reservation fee are added on top, and rentals are $3. An $89 season pass includes skate rental.
Here's the math on the pass. A single session with rentals is $15 before tax and fees, so six sessions add up to $90. Someone who skates six or more times between the opening and the end of January comes out ahead with the pass, and anyone who goes only on opening night and once over winter break doesn't.
Rink hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 4 to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 4 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
The rink has also announced themed skate nights for January, with details to come next year.
Symphony of Lights Closes to Cars on Seven Nights
The Merriweather Symphony of Lights drive-through runs from November 27, 2026, through January 2, 2027, at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 5 to 10 p.m. on weekends, and admission is $25 per vehicle, cash or card. On most nights the line starts at the intersection of Broken Land Parkway and Hickory Ridge Road. The organizers warn that heavy traffic can change the line quickly and ask drivers to follow directions from Howard County police.
The drive-through is closed on November 29 and 30 and on December 1, 7, 10, 14 and 31. Several of those dates are walk-through nights, which charge by the person:
- Festive Families, Sunday, November 29, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. $15 per person, free for children 3 and under. Strollers, wagons and backpacks are welcome.
- Tail Lights, Monday, December 7, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. $15 per person. This is the dog-friendly walk-through. Dogs must be leashed, and festive costumes are encouraged.
- Lit at the Lights, December 10. Beer and cocktail sampling.
- Jingle & Jam, December 14. A toddler dance party with DJ Kopec.
- Midnight at 7, December 31. The drive-through page prints this one with last year's date, while Visit Howard County's holiday guide lists it for December 31, 2026.
Per-person pricing changes the cost a lot. Two adults and two kids over age 3 pay $25 to drive through on a regular night and $60 to walk on Festive Families night. The walk-through gets you out of the car, lets you set your own pace, and on December 7 lets you bring the dog. People who plan on a drive-through visit should check the calendar first, because some of the most convenient dates, such as the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving, are closed to cars.
The event is no longer run by Howard County General Hospital, but its FAQ says proceeds still support the hospital and the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission.
The Season at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location | How you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 7 | HoCo250 drone show | Columbia Lakefront, 10275 Wincopin Circle | Free drop-in |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Tree lighting and rink opening | Color Burst Park, 6221 Mango Tree Rd. | Free, RSVP requested. Rink is $12 per session |
| Nov. 20 to Jan. 31 | Color Burst Ice Rink | Color Burst Park | $12 plus $3 rental, or $89 season pass |
| Nov. 27 to Jan. 2 | Symphony of Lights drive-through | Merriweather Post Pavilion | $25 per vehicle |
| Nov. 29 and Dec. 7 | Festive Families and Tail Lights walk-throughs | Merriweather Post Pavilion | $15 per person |
| Dec. 4 to 6 | Holiday Market | Color Burst Park | RSVP available. Purchases from vendors |
The December Market Includes a Bakery That Opened in September
The season returns to Color Burst Park for Merriweather District's Holiday Market, open Friday, December 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, from noon to 4 p.m. The market has fire pits, story times, caroling and seasonal drinks from Merriweather District restaurants.
The 2026 vendor list is mostly local makers and food businesses, including Black Acres Roastery, Blended Bakery, Rosie Cheeks Distillery, Mouth Party Caramel, Mrs. Macarons, Fair Winds Candle Company, Pinwheel Clay, Wood Gone Wild and GameOn bar+arcade.
Flour Fable Baking Co. is one of the newest names on the list. The MoCo Show reported that the scratch bakery soft-opened at 6656 Dobbin Road, Suite K, on September 12 and held its grand opening on September 26. It sells rotating cookies, other baked goods and coffee, and within weeks of opening it was drawing lines and selling out. Anyone who hasn't made it to Dobbin Road yet can find the bakery at the market's Friday evening opening on December 4, 5:30 p.m., at Color Burst Park.
If friends or family visiting for the holidays start asking what Columbia is like the rest of the year, we'd be glad to talk it through. The Anthony Lacey Home Team has been part of this community for two decades, and you can schedule a free consultation whenever you'd like a clear, local answer.
