Winterfest of Lights: How to find short lines, warm cocoa at Ocean City's holiday classic

Pull out your sweaters and warm up some hot cocoa — Ocean City's 26th annual Winterfest of Lights is here.

The special holiday festival will kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 15 with a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. in Northside Park's Winterfest Village at 125th Street and the bay in Ocean City. The event is open and free for the public to enjoy.

Update: The Winterfest of Lights tent and train ride will not open Thursday, Nov. 15 due to strong winds. The opening ceremony will still happen inside the Northside Park Community Center.

During the festival ceremony on Thursday, the Ocean City Elementary School's "OC Stars" will be performing holiday songs and dance. Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan will also "flip the switch" to light the 50-foot Christmas tree, officially commencing the Winterfest celebrations.

This lights on this year's Christmas tree have been choreographed to holiday music to make a more complete experience for Winterfest attendees, said Frank Miller, special events director for Ocean City.

The Christmas tree playlist includes a blend of Bing Crosby's classic holiday songs, a modern rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" by Toby Mac and a classic song with a contemporary twist by violinist Jenny Oaks Baker. The songs will play on a loop as patrons watch the lights dance on the tree, Miller said.

"In the past we've always had a 50-foot tree, but with static lights," Miller said. "This year's tree is innovative. It has a lot of technology built into it. I guess you could call it a smart tree."

The town's parks and recreation department decked out the Christmas tree with both white and RGB lights — even the garland has lights, Miller said. In total, there are about 7,000-8,000 lights on the tree.

The opening ceremony will also feature a visit from Santa Claus and free rides on the Winterfest Express train until 9:30 p.m. when the festival ends for the day.

The Winterfest Express will take passengers through a mile-long ride through more than a million sparkling lights. Sing along to the holiday music as you ride past 12 Days of Christmas, Santa's Workshop and The Wizard of Oz displays.

The visual experience people get when going to Winterfest is what's most important to Miller, he said.

"I want people to come in and have a sense of awe," Miller said. "This is an experience you wouldn't see elsewhere. I want to really solidify that holiday feeling into our patrons so when they leave here, they are in the holiday spirit."

When to go, what to bring to Winterfest?

After Nov. 15, the Winterfest of Lights festivities will run until Dec. 31. On Sunday through Thursday, the hours of operation will be 5:30-9:30 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays the festival will be open from 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Admission to Winterfest cost $5 for those 12 years and older and anyone 11 years or younger gets in for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ocean City Community Center and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

"If you want to avoid long lines, come during the week and come a little later," Miller said.

Miller's advice is to have dinner first and then arrive at Winterfest at about 7:30 p.m. when there will be less of a line to get on the tram.

For those who can't go during the week, don't worry. Although patrons may have to wait for a few minutes, the line moves relatively quickly as the tram can seat up to 75 people at a time, Miller said.

It's important for people to plan ahead before coming to Winterfest, Miller said. Since the ride is outside, patrons should check the weather beforehand in case it calls for rain.

"Bring blankets, hats and gloves," Miller said. "It'll be a fun experience no matter what, but we don't want you to shiver through it."

Hot cocoa, Santa, presents and more

After you ride along the Winterfest Express, warm up with some hot cocoa inside the Winterfest Pavillion in Northside Park.

The inside of the tent is heated so patrons can escape the outside cold, Miller said.

While warming up in the Pavillion, you can also take photos with Santa Claus and browse the gift shop. Santa will be available for photos every night through Dec. 23. Santa photos and other items are at an additional cost.

There is also a glow hut where kids can play with glow sticks and other fun, light-up toys, Miller said.

Instagram-worthy spots

Get your cameras ready for these magical photo opportunities during Winterfest of Lights. Whether you're taking a selfie or getting the whole family together, the millions of twinkling lights are sure to make your photos bright and cheerful.

Several local businesses have also set up displays as "Instagram hot spots" so Winterfest attendees can take the perfect holiday photo. The following businesses will have displays set up around Northside Park as part of this year's Winterfest:

• Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
• Candy Kitchen
• IG Burton
• Assateague National Seashore
• Jolly Roger Amusement Park

If you go

What: Winterfest of Lights

When: Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, Sunday through Thursday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Where: Northside Park's Winterfest Village at 125th Street and the bay in Ocean City

How much: $5 for those ages 12 and up; free for anyone 11 years and younger

For more information, visit https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/special-events/winterfest/.

Contact reporter Sara Swann at (302) 324-7711, sswann@delmarvanow.com or on Twitter @saramswann.

More:Ocean City's big events: 'It takes the entire town'

More:The end of Daylight Savings is great, but there's a downside to that extra hour of sleep