Festival of Lights

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM
City Hall Courtyard, 101 N. Court Street
Free to Attend

Don’t miss one of the holiday season’s most inspiring events.

Each year the Festival of Lights brings the true spirit of the season to young and old alike. Holiday greetings, carols, and an inspirational messages are all part of this community tradition-based event that highlights the true meaning of the holiday season. Attendees join in the program with a moving candle-lighting ceremony, filling the courtyard with magnificent light.

This event is held outdoors. Onsite ASL Interpreting.

Festival Program

The 2024 Festival of Lights will include a special musical performance by The Frederick Children’s Chorus and an inspirational message from community leader, Jessica El-Zeftawy.

The Frederick Children’s Chorus, founded in 1985 by Judith L. DuBose, is dedicated to encouraging every child to be the best singer that they can be regardless of their financial circumstances. In addition to the Chorus’ performance at the Festival of Lights, the group will also host the 29th Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along at the Weinberg Center on Tuesday, December 17 at 8:00 PM, and please help them celebrate their 40th anniversary at their Spring Anniversary Concert to be held also at the Weinberg on May 3.

Jessica El-Zeftawy is the Development Officer for Frederick County Public Libraries. She has had the extraordinary opportunity to work with colleagues and community partners to build a philanthropy program from the ground up, a professional dream come true. Jess teaches nonprofit leadership and marketing classes at Hood College, where she’s inspired by the next generation of do-gooders. She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves on the board of many outstanding local service organizations, including the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and the League of Women Voters. When she’s not at the library or in the classroom, she’s most likely hanging out at home with her husband, two kids, and their ridiculously good-looking English bulldog on their hobby farm in Myersville, MD. Her hobbies include volunteering, reading smutty romance novels, collecting house plants, and creating cooking content on social media.

This year’s program will also include remarks from Mayor Michael O’Connor, an audience sing-along of favorite carols, and a moving candle-lighting ceremony.

Beverage Truck

Arrive early to grab a hot cup of cocoa, coffee, or a specialty latte from this year’s vendor, Eklectic Coffee Bar! They’ll be onsite at the City Hall courtyard from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Festival History

Over 30 years ago, Julia Hanna, a Frederick City resident, expressed concerned that the world was losing sight of the real meaning of holiday season. She asked area residents to display single white candles in their windows to bring back the feeling of an old-fashioned holiday, and to focus on the warmth and fellowship of the season. She encouraged community togetherness… and the candlelight festival was begun. Since that time, the tradition has evolved into this ecumenical gathering.