Salisbury City Park will transform into a glowing holiday destination starting Nov. 28, when a brand-new free light display called Pohanka Winter Wonderland of Lights opens its gates at 4 p.m. The display will stay lit every evening through Jan. 2, 2027, giving Delmarva families weeks to wander through the park after dark.
The Greater Salisbury Committee is presenting the event in partnership with Pohanka Automotive of Salisbury, The Richard A. Henson Foundation, the City of Salisbury, Wicomico County and Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism, according to a city announcement. Visitors can take a self-guided stroll through the lights on any evening throughout the season, though the city notes that performances and special activities will be reserved for designated event nights only.
Opening night itself comes with extra fanfare: festivities on Nov. 28 run from 4 to 7 p.m., kicking off a season that organizers hope becomes a lasting holiday fixture. Mayor Randy Taylor, in the announcement, said he's proud to welcome what he called a new holiday tradition to Salisbury City Park.
Seven Nights of Santa, Trains and Live Music
Beyond opening night, six additional special event nights are planned for Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19, each running from 5 to 7 p.m. Across those seven designated nights, visitors can expect live performances, visits from Santa, free train rides and other activities layered on top of the self-guided light displays.
Hungry visitors won't go without options on those nights — food from Mad Hatter and hot chocolate from Dunkin' Donuts will be available for purchase, though the core experience of wandering the lit-up park remains free for everyone.
Mike Dunn, president and CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee, framed the effort as a chance for local families to enjoy the holiday season close to home, according to the same announcement. The display is being described as the first year of what organizers intend to be an annual event, built with donations and sponsorships from local businesses and individuals alongside support from government and community partners.
A Tradition With a Complicated Past
Salisbury City Park has seen holiday lights before, though under different names and formats over the years. A 2018 report from DelmarvaNow.com described Wonderland of Lights as returning to Salisbury City Park.
The year before that, a 2017 DelmarvaNow.com report noted the park was set to get its first-ever ice skating rink over Thanksgiving weekend as part of that year's Winter Wonderland festivities. The tradition hasn't always run uninterrupted, either — a community column published by Bay to Bay News recalled that funding for the community tradition ran out in 2005, leaving the park dark that year.
This year's event features Pohanka as a corporate sponsor alongside civic backers. For now, the plan is simple: light up the park, open the gates for free, and let the holiday crowds decide whether it earns a permanent spot on Salisbury's winter calendar.
