Visitors see Winterfest of Lights once, usually on a Saturday, whenever their trip happens to fall. If you live here, you can choose your night. That matters this season, because the 2026 Winterfest is a different event depending on the day of the week. The best of the Ocean City and Berlin holiday calendar also lands on a few crowded stretches, which means the best plan is a calendar, and a quick walk through the lights won't cover it.
The run is longer this year, too. Winterfest opens at Northside Park on Thursday, November 19, and runs through January 2, 2027, open nightly from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The 2025 season ended on December 31, so this year the lights stay on through New Year's Day and the Saturday after it.
What's actually new in the park
According to the Town of Ocean City's October 20 announcement, this year's layout adds a snowflake arch, a walk-through beach ball, a giant illuminated cupcake display, and a new setup for Santa photos. The 50-foot musical Christmas tree is still the centerpiece. Delmarva Now also ran a preview of the 2026–2027 season on October 23.
Opening night is free. The ceremony starts at 5 p.m. on November 19 with a performance by the OC Stars, remarks from the Mayor, and the switch-flip by opening-night sponsor Delmarva Power.
After that, general admission is $6 plus fees for ages 12 and up, and free for children 11 and younger. An unlimited ride wristband is $6 per child. The rides are two children's rides from Trimper's Amusements and the Town's trackless train, and surreys are available to rent for pedaling the path. The park is at 200 125th Street. Tickets and updates are on the official Winterfest page.
Pick your night: Winterfest by day of the week
Dogs come on Wednesdays, carriages take over on select Mondays and Tuesdays, and the weekends bring fire, ice, and live music. Opening night is Thursday, November 19, which makes the pattern easy to map:
| Night | What's different | 2026–27 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Monday and Tuesday, select weeks | Enchanted Evenings: carriage rides with reservations, smaller crowds | Nov. 30; Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 |
| Wednesday | Pet-Friendly Wednesdays: bring the dog | Nov. 25; Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
| Friday and Saturday | Fire & Ice Nights: live entertainment in the tent, bonfires, icy displays | Nov. 20, 21, 27, 28; Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26; Jan. 1, 2 |
Enchanted Evenings are the quiet option. The official Winterfest page describes them as carriage-only evenings: you ride a horse-drawn buggy through the lights, browse the gift shop and food options without the usual crowds, and get a photo with Santa. You can book 2-seat, 6-seat, or 12-seat carriages, the package includes a Santa photo gift, and reservations are required. If you're planning to walk in, check whether your Monday or Tuesday is on the carriage list first.
Wednesdays are the dog nights. The six dates run from the day before Thanksgiving through December 30.
Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights. Fire & Ice Nights skip Christmas Day, and the Ice Lab's professional carvers work in the Fire & Ice Village on four of them: December 4, 11, 18, and 26. If the ice carving is your reason to go, those four dates are the ones to circle.
The cast of characters changes partway through. Santa makes his last visits on December 23, and starting December 26 a roaming group of "Wonderland Characters" takes over. Families who want the Santa photo should go before the 24th.
Thanksgiving weekend stacks both towns into one evening
The busiest stretch of the season starts Friday, November 27. Here's how that weekend lays out across Ocean City and Berlin:
- Friday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.: The 44th Annual Holiday Shoppers Fair opens at the Ocean City Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway. It runs through Sunday, November 29, with doors at 10 a.m. each day. One $5 admission covers the whole weekend, and ages 13 and under get in free.
- Friday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m.: Ice Ice Berlin & Tree Lighting begins downtown, with more than 30 ice sculptures around town and the Mayor lighting the Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Berlin Main Street A&E District hosts it.
- Friday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m.: The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas at the Performing Arts Center.
- Friday, Nov. 27, evening: The first Fire & Ice Night of the holiday weekend at Northside Park.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 9 to 11 a.m.: The Character Breakfast in Ocean City.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m.: The first Merry Marketplace of the season in the Berlin Welcome Center parking lot at 14 S. Main St., with local art, freshly roasted chestnuts, and hot chocolate. The Berlin OC Rotary Club hosts it.
Ice Ice Berlin's date shows up differently on some regional event listings. We're going by November 27, the date on the Town of Berlin's special events calendar.
Berlin's tree arrives before any of that. On Wednesday, November 18, at 2 p.m., the town Christmas tree makes its way to the Atlantic Hotel, the day before Winterfest opens.
December 3 through 6: two parades, a gala and a 5K in four days
The second stretch to plan around starts with the first Thursday in December.
Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. is the Berlin Christmas Parade. Local businesses, schools, fire companies, and nonprofits march up Main Street. The Town says there are typically about 80 participants, and judges hand out awards in each category.
Friday, December 4, the Town of Ocean City hosts its second annual Winter Gala at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $150, tables are available, and the event fills seven themed rooms with food, drinks, and entertainment. The same night is a Fire & Ice Night with ice carvers at Northside Park.
Saturday, December 5, at 11 a.m. is the Ocean City Christmas Parade, running from Old Landing Road north to 120th Street. Southbound Coastal Highway closes along that stretch so spectators can line the curb, and afterward there's a family gathering and awards presentation at the Carousel. The parade's event page says it "goes in-house this year to continue the 43 year tradition started by Gold Coast Mall," and suggests getting there early to park and claim a spot. The second Merry Marketplace in Berlin opens at 11 a.m. the same morning.
Sunday, December 6, the Winterfest of Lights Jingle Bell 5K runs from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at Northside Park.
The middle of December belongs to Berlin
Things slow down after that first weekend in December, and Berlin's calendar carries most of the middle of the month. The Merry Marketplace comes back on Saturdays, December 12 and 19, at 11 a.m. On Thursday, December 10, the Berlin Hanukkah Celebration meets at The Inn Berlin, where members of the community light the menorah at 5 p.m. The Town of Berlin and The Inn Berlin host it together. Berlin Main Street's event page lists the gathering starting at 4 p.m.
At Northside Park, the last Monday-and-Tuesday Enchanted Evenings fall on December 21 and 22, and the last dog night before Christmas is December 23.
Three ways to ring in 2027
With the season extended, New Year's has its own run of events:
- Berlin, December 31 at 6 p.m.: A family-friendly ball drop timed to midnight in Berlin, Germany, with a DJ and giveaways for kids. Berlin Main Street A&E District hosts it.
- Northside Park, midnight December 31: Entertainment at Winterfest leading up to free fireworks at midnight over the uptown lights.
- Downtown Ocean City, January 1 at 7 p.m.: A second fireworks show, this one at the Inlet.
From December 29 through 31, there's also a Coca-Cola bottle hunt at Northside Park. Finding a hidden bottle with a winning message earns a share of $2,000 in Coca-Cola merchandise, claimed at the main entrance. January 1 and 2 are the last two Fire & Ice Nights, and then the lights go dark for the season.
Before the lights: the first half of November
This post goes up just before a busy weekend. The Art League's First Friday Opening Reception and Block Party runs Friday, November 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., with free admission. The next morning, Saturday, November 7, the 12th Annual Storm Warriors 5K Walk/Run goes from 9 to 11 a.m. along the shoreline and benefits the Ocean City Museum Society. The Ocean City Running Festival follows on November 14, with 5K, 8K, half marathon, and full marathon distances.
A few practical notes for Northside Park:
- Winterfest can close for bad weather. The Town's information line is 410-289-2800.
- Scooters and powered wheelchairs can be rented on site from Advanced Mobility Solution for $12 per two hours, and standard wheelchairs are also available.
- The Town posts real-time updates at @OceanCityMaryland on social media.
If you're hosting family this season and want help planning a December visit around a Fire & Ice Saturday, a Berlin parade, or the New Year's fireworks, the team at Buy at the Beach Group is happy to share what we know about getting around town this time of year. Book an appointment, and we'll see you under the lights.
