Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center

IMPORTANT EVENT & SAFETY INFORMATION updated October 28, 2024

SUBJECT TO CHANGE / UPDATE         Questions?  email info@annmariegarden.org

By purchasing a ticket to the light show, you agree to the Event & Safety Info - please read carefully!
 

OUR CANCELLATION POLICY - on some nights, it may be necessary to cancel the light show due to weather.  It is our policy to make the decision the morning of the cancelled night.  We will post the closure on social media and our website - AND - all ticket holders for that night will be contacted and provided with instructions on transferring their tickets(s) to another evening. The transfer fee is waived when we cancel the night.  

**IMPORTANT UPDATE **   Parking @ Annmarie Garden In Lights - due to periodic wet conditions in our Parking Field, on some evenings, guests will be directed to park in the adjacent Solomons Town Center Park.  If you have passengers with mobility issues, we strongly recommend that you make use of the quick drop-off/pick-up area!

GENERAL INFO

ON NIGHTS THAT THE LIGHT SHOW IS OPEN, Annmarie will close from 3-4pm to transition from daily visiting configuration to light show configuration. All guests and cars MUST exit the property by 3:00pm.  If you are a ticket holder for the evening's light show, you must move your car to the Parking Field and re-enter through the Admissions Gate.

EVENT HOURS – on nights the light show is running, the Parking Field will open at 4:00pm and the Admissions Booth will open at 4pm. Guests who want to shop, can enter at 4:00pm. The Admissions Booth closes 30 minutes before the show ends and no guests will be admitted after that time.

HOURS - depending on the night, light show hours are either 5-8pm or 5-9pm.  Check out the CALENDAR for nightly details.

RESTROOMS - there are two restroom locations - the Studio School and the Arts Building. 

RAIN, SHINE, or SNOW – unless there is a Calvert County weather emergency, the light show will go on!  Please be aware that in the event of extreme rain, sections of the show may not be lit.

NO SMOKING, NO VAPING – the light show is a smoke-free, vape-free event.  No exceptions!

SERVICE ANIMALS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME at the light show; pets and therapy animals are NOT allowed at the light show - except on PET-FRIENDLY NIGHTS.  We follow ADA guidelines regarding the definition of a service animal.  

WHEELCHAIRS & CHAIRS (for disabled guests) & STROLLERS ARE WELCOME - wheelchairs and mechanized chairs for disabled guests are welcome at the light show; strollers and small wagons (that are pushed or pulled by an adult) are also welcome for transporting small children. 

MECHANIZED VEHICLES, DRONES, SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS, TOY CARS & SIMILAR ARE NOT ALLOWED - Please note that we do NOT allow scooters, skateboards, toy cars, remote controlled vehicles or toys, and similar at the light show. 

OUTSIDE FOOD & DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED - guests may not bring in outside food or drink. Food and drink will be available at the event.  We will allow guests with food allergies to bring snacks.

CASH & CREDIT - please note that most vendors accept credit, but we suggest you come prepared to pay with cash. We do NOT have an ATM on site.

LIGHT SHOW SAFETY & RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK – PLEASE BE AWARE OF ELECTRIC SHOCK POTENTIAL!  Our spectacular show is powered by electricity. We think about the safety of our guests, staff, and volunteers in everything we do, so . . .  DO NOT TOUCH THE LIGHTS, displays, or cords!  Please keep an eye on the little ones in your group.  STAY ON THE DESIGNATED PATH.  Do not go under or over the light swoops or the flagging.  DO NOT TOUCH OR SHAKE THE LIGHTS SWOOPS.  If you see something broken or if you see someone touching a display, please report it immediately to a staff member.  Guests who touch or disturb displays will be asked to leave the light show and will not receive a refund.

STAY ON THE LIGHTED PATH – stay on the lighted path.  There is a risk of electric shock if you venture off the lighted path or if you touch the displays, cords, light strings, etc.  Guests who disobey our safety guidelines will be evicted from the show and will not receive a refund.  Please keep a close eye on kids and other members of your group to keep them safe.   

TICKETING

   

   

MEMBER TICKETS:

• Members must reserve their tickets online, in advance
• Member advance tickets $5; at the gate $10
• Members enjoy FREE admission on Special Member Nights, but MUST reserve their tickets in advance (members without a reservation on Special Member Nights will pay $10/member at the gate).
• Members can take advantage of Bring-A-Friend Nights.  Details here.

NON-MEMBER TICKETS:

• Non-members must reserve their tickets online in advance
• $15-18/person online, depending on the night; $20-23/person at the gate, depending on the night (if not sold out)
• age 2 & under FREE, but must have an advance reservation
• every member of your party, including those 2 & under must have a reservation

ADVANCE TIMED ENTRY TICKETS REQUIRED – advance tickets are required for all guests, including members and non-members.  Please be aware, some nights and some entry time slots WILL SELL OUT.  PLEASE plan ahead and reserve your tickets/entry window in advance.

EVERY GUEST MUST HAVE A TICKET - every individual in your ticketing/family group must have a ticket, and must be present when you enter.  

MEMBERS – RESERVE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE- members MUST reserve tickets in advance, members wihtout advance reservations will pay $10/member at the gate.  If you are reserving tickets for NON-MEMBERS, you must pay non-member admission fee for each non-member. 

RESERVING TICKETS FOR a GROUP OF 20 or MORE? - email your details to info@annmariegarden.org and we will contact you for expedited processing.  Please note these special group transactions can only be handled Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm.  

All GUESTS ON YOUR TICKETS MUST BE TOGETHER WHEN ENTERING - all members of your ticket group must be present when you enter the admissions gate. If you think some members of your group will enter separately, then we suggest they purchase their tickets separately.

DON’T LINE UP EARLY - do not line up early at the admission gate; you will not be allowed to line up or enter until your entry window begins; stay in your car until your time.

STAY UNITL CLOSING – busy nights will have multiple entry-windows, but once you are in, you can stay until closing.  

NO REFUNDS, NO TRANSFERS, NO RESALE - sorry, there are no refunds; tickets are non-transferable; no resale allowed.  In the event of a true family emergency, we will consider a transfer request.  If your request is approved, a $10 transfer fee will be assessed. 

OUR CANCELLATION POLICY - on some nights, it may be necessary to cancel the light show due to weather.  It is our policy to make the decision the morning of the cancelled night.  We will post the closure on social media and our website - AND - all ticket holders for that night will be contacted and provided with instructions on transferring their tickets(s) to another evening. The transfer fee is waived when we cancel the night.  

THIS IS AN OUTDOOR & INDOOR EVENT

THE LIGHT SHOW IS OUTSIDE – for those who have never visited, this is a walk-through light show.  Dress for the weather and come prepared to walk A LOT!  Guests will park in the grass Parking Field and check-in at the outdoor Admission Gate.   

ADMISSIONS and FOOD SERVICE are OUTSIDE!   

 

PARKING & HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY

**IMPORTANT UPDATE **   Parking @ Annmarie Garden In Lights - due to periodic wet conditions in our Parking Field, on some evenings, guests will be directed to park in the adjacent Solomons Town Center Park.  If you have passengers with mobility issues, we strongly recommend that you make use of the quick drop-off/pick-up area!

OUR PARKING FIELD IS DIMLY LIT & UNEVEN - PARK AT YOUR OWN RISK!  NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS

ALL PARKING FOR THIS EVENT IS FESTIVAL PARKING, meaning all cars will park in our grassy field.  Please be advised that the field is dimly lit and uneven, and can get muddy and wet.  We will do the best we can to close off muddy locations. There are staff members stationed in the Field, they are there to help you!

HANDICAP PARKING & THE DROP OFF AREA- there is a section in the grass Parking Field, adjacent to the paved entrance, that is designated for Handicap Parking.  Because the handicap parking area is limited, you may be directed to a grass parking areas.  We strongly recommend that drivers make use of the DROP OFF area before going to the Handicap Parking Area. 

GRASS PARKING FIELD IS UNEVEN & DIMLY LIT- The Parking Field is dimly lit, and grass is uneven.  Please use caution; we cannot responsible for any accidents, theft, etc.; PARK AT YOUR OWN RISK!

SATELLITE PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE SOLOMONS TOWN CENTER PARK - the paved parking area in the Solomons Town Center Park is open.  We suggest drivers pull into the Annmarie Parking Field, drop off passengers at the DROP OFF location, and then exit out of the Parking Field into the Solomons Town Center Park.  You can park your car there and walk back to the light show.     

HANDICAP GUESTS & THE LIGHT SHOW TRAIL – the light show itself is handicap accessible, but the parking field, sidewalks and trails are dimly lit and uneven in some places.  Guests with vision or mobility issues should take extreme caution and may want to consider taking advantage of Special Needs Night on December 10 and our Golf Cart Tours on December 4 & 16.  We cannot be responsible for any accidents; enter this light show at your own risk.  

SHOPPING & FOOD SERVICE

ARTS BUILDING IS OPEN FOR SHOPPING – The Arts Building will be open for shopping, including the Annmarie Gift Shop, The Ornament Show & Sale, and the Holiday Gift Show & Sale.    

NIGHTTIME CHRISTMAS MARKET - check out the calendar for special market nights!

OUTSIDE FOOD & DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED 

FOOD TRUCKS WILL BE ON SITE EACH EVENING - check the scehdule for details

RESTROOMS - restrooms are located in the Studio School and the Arts Building

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited at the event.     

ILLNESS / COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM

• If you, or anyone in your family has a fever, feels sick, or has recently traveled, stay home and quarantine until you are certain you are not sick; 
• If anyone in your family has a compromised immune system, we strongly recommend they do not attend this event; 
• If you or anyone in your group has a compromised immune system, we recommend they do not enter the Fairy Lolly; because of the nature of this play space, disinfecting of surfaces is not possible;

RISK
By purchasing a ticket or by attending the event, each guest accepts and understands the risks associated with visiting a light show - in the nighttime (and dark) setting and surrounded by extensive electrical displays and elements with various risks -  including parking and entering the event, walking the sidewalks, paths, and trails of Annmarie, touring the galleries, enjoying the interactive elements of the show, taking part in activities and entertainment, petting animals, consuming food and drink, etc., and agrees to hold Annmarie Garden, Ann's Circle, Inc., and Koenig Private Foundation, Inc., harmless to the extent permitted by law, from any and all claims, actions, liabilities, suits, injuries, demands, obligations, losses, settlements, judgements, damages, fines, penalites, costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, and other expenses, arising out of or relating to your attendance at this event.

DIRECTIONS

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
13470 Dowell Road, Solomons, MD  20688
 

From Washington DC (about 60 minute drive): Take Route 4 South, Exit 11 off Capital Beltway (to Prince Frederick). Continue on 4 South, following signs to Solomons. Left on Dowell Road at Hilton Garden Inn and Ruddy Duck. Garden is less than 1/4 mile on left.

From Baltimore (Beltway I-695): Take I-97 (Annapolis) to Route 301 South (Bowie). Continue on 301 to Route 4 and follow signs to Solomons. Left on Dowell Road at Hilton Garden Inn and Ruddy Duck. Garden is less than 1/4 mile on left.

From Annapolis: Follow Route 2 South towards Prince Frederick/Solomons. Left (South) onto Route 2/4 at Sunderland light. Left on Dowell Road at Hilton Garden Inn and Ruddy Duck. Garden is less than 1/4 mile on left.