Postcard from Ocean City, Md.

Light displays in Ocean City stretch along a one-mile path.

As the nights grow longer, the darkness gives way to holiday lights. Before  we ring in the new year, I’ll probably see a half dozen holiday displays.

On Thanksgiving weekend — not Black Friday weekend 😦 — my family took in the first of this season. The Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City, Md., is hugely popular. Visitors pile onto a tram for the mile-long trip through Christmas scenes, the 12 days of Christmas, a few story book scenes and a Hanukkah menorah at Northside Park at 125th St. Some lights are set near water that provide lovely reflections on a windless evening. The lights are on every night through January 3.

A few words of advice….

Unless you’re bringing your small children, plan to go late. We arrived at 8 p.m. and we waited in line nearly an hour. At 9 we would have gone right in. (In fact, when we saw there was no longer a line, we bought a second ticket for another ride around the displays.)

Tickets are $5. Cash only. Buy them at the park or ahead of time at the Convention Center at 4001 Coastal Highway. Planning ahead will save you lots of time. The line for those with pre-purchased tickets was non-existent.

Bring your camera. There are cool Instagram spots for family pix in addition to the light displays.

Santa is in the house. The heated pavilion where you wait for the tram has a gift shop, cocoa kiosk and Santa’s house. So remember your list for old St. Nick.

Happy Holidays.