Weekends on Wednesdays

First Day Hikes in Maryland
This Weekend:

Cirque de la Symphonie (Baltimore)
Jack Everly, conductor Ring in the new year as Cirque de la Symphonie pairs world-class acrobats and gymnasts with music by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a one-of-a-kind experience. Classical favorites take on new meaning in an aerial ballet that features jugglers, balancing acts, contortionists and symphonic sounds.

1st:

Chestertown First Friday (Chestertown)
Meander the red-brick, tree-lined sidewalks of Historic Chestertown, while enjoying extended shop hours and arts and entertainment throughout Downtown. 

Rusted Root (Annapolis)
Genre: Fusion of acoustic, rock, world, and other styles of music, with a strong percussion section 

MD Park Service First Day Hikes (Annapolis)
Various hikes at all Maryland State Parks. See website for more information of each park's time, location and information.

First Day Hike (Baltimore)Start the year off right by enjoying the great outdoor! Join a park ranger for an easy hike observing nature's winter splendor.

First Day Hike: Under the Frost! (North East)
Join a Park Ranger on an invigorating two mile trek on the Pond Loop, learning more about the winter behaviors of Elk Neck's critters along the way.

2nd:

A Reading of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (Brandywine)
A troupe of professional and amateur actors bring the classic tale to life.

Downton Abbey Experience (Baltimore)
 Put on your best Downton Abbey attire to bid a fond farewell and celebrate the final Downton Abbey season premiere with a customizable, royal experience!

January First Saturday - Wine Down (Frederick)
Join us for our annual Wine Down in Downtown, a great way to "wind down" and relax in Downtown Frederick. Enjoy sips, snacks, shopping.

The Morrison Brothers (Annapolis)
Genre: Country, Pop, Rock

What's Cookin', Mr. Banneker (Oella)
Warm up in Mr. Banneker’s cabin and chat with costumed interpreters preparing a New Year’s dinner at the hearth. 

3rd:

Historic Antietam Station Open House (Sharpsburg)
Historic Antietam Station invited you to a celebration of Model Trains and open house of the Railroad Museum. Celebrate an integral part of Maryland's history with this family friendly event. 

Maggie's Music Celebration For the New Year (Annapolis)Genre: Celtic Music featuring Maggie Sansone, Robin Bullock and Special Guests Seth Kibel, Andrea Hoag and Matthew Bell.





Weekends on Wednesday

@ the Lyric Opera House
This Weekend:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Baltimore)
This faithful retelling features classic songs and characters so many fell in love with decades ago. 

26th:

'Twas the Night After Christmas 80's Party (Annapolis)
Rams Head on Stage---Genre: 80's hits. Christmas 80's Party with The New Romance! 


Dead Ringer, a comic, murder, mystery dinner show (Baltimore)
A Christmas themed comic, interactive murder mystery dinner show. 

Historic Houses of Worship Tour (Hagerstown)
Self Guided tour of 19 churches within a 5 block radius of Hagerstown City Square. Brochures available at the Visitor Welcome Center, 6 North Potomac Street prior to event and Washington County Historical Society (Miller House) 135 W. Washington Street the night of the event. Candlelight tour will include seasonal music and decorations with historical and architectural interpretation. Shuttle vans available. 

Kwanzaa Celebration (Oella)
Bring the whole family to learn about Kwanzaa and celebrate this holiday honoring family, community and culture. 

27th:

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (Annapolis)
Genre: Hard-core R&B, street-level rock

Stephen Kellogg w/Emily Hearn (Annapolis)
Genre: Americana, Folk Rock; ***All Ages Matinee***

Weekends on Wednesdays


This Weekend:

A Christmas Carol (Frederick)
Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas spirits in a traditional retelling of the Dickens classics. Presented by MD Ensemble Theater's Fun Co.

A Tuna Christmas (District Heights)
Parlor Room Theater presents "A Tuna Christmas." It’s the holidays in Tuna, Texas, 3rd smallest town in the state as 2 actors bring 20 characters to life. Fun & heartwarming.

Handel's Messiah (Annapolis)
Nothing equals hearing this piece live, including its famous “Hallelujah” chorus. Four extraordinary soloists join us for this beautiful set of concerts right in the heart of Annapolis.

North Pole Adventures (Baltimore)
Join special guests Frosty the Snowman and Santa for train rides along with model train layouts, craft stations with rocket powered sleighs, and much more for the entire family!

Wake Up, Brother Bear! (Bethesda)
This audience-favorite show is back from hibernation! Join Brother and Sister Bear as they experience a full year of seasons. See a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an slippery fish, and ice skate on a pond. Children may join the action with a small bag of props that help create the magical. 

18th:

Morgan State University Choir Christmas Concert (Baltimore)
The renowned choir, led by conductor Eric Conway, joins the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a night of holiday favorites. 

Borromeo String Quartet (DC)
Library of Congress--Thomas Jefferson Bldg.-Free, tickets required
The quartet performs all six Bartok quartets on the Library's Stradivari instruments. At the Coolidge Auditorium

Festive Friday in Downtown (Columbia)
 Fire & Ice Friday will include a live ice sculptor, Harper’s Choice Middle School Choir, and Charm Performance fire and hoop dancers. 5-8pm Free

19th:

Charm City Ballet "A Christmas Carol" (Baltimore)
An original full length ballet of the Dickens' tale. The Baltimore Sun has chosen this production of A Christmas Carol as a Critic's Pick!! 

Holiday Indoor Flea Market (Westminster)
200+ spaces of crafts, flea market items, collectibles, and treasures. There will be food available ... so make a day of it, and finish your holiday shopping! 

Home Alone: Movie and Music (Baltimore)
Conductor Nicholas Hersh leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Choral Arts Society in a live score accompaniment of the classic 1990 film. 

Luminaria Night Celebration (Vienna)
Vienna, a 300-year-old town on the Nanticoke River, will be glowing with 1,500 luminarias. Ride the free tram, visit with Santa, enjoy entertainment at the churches, and discover treats and the button factory at the Vienna Heritage Museum. Tour ($5) historic homes including the old Customs House and Ferry Toll Collector’s House. tour begins (5:00 - 9:00pm) at the Vienna Heritage Museum. 

The Ugly Sweater Run (Baltimore)
The Ugly Sweater Run is rolling through Baltimore, December 19th, 2015! Sign up with code "VISITMD" for $10 off registration! 

Winter Solstice Campfire (Oella)
What will you do on the longest night of the year? We’ll have a campfire, hot chocolate, short hike through the winter woods. Join us! 

Winter Solstice Hike to Orange Grove (Elkridge)
Start at the Carriage House at Belmont as naturalists lead you through forest to one of the most scenic areas of Patapsco Valley State Park, Orange Grove. 

2nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony (West Friendship)
Come join us as we delight to the arrival of Santa Claus to light our Christmas Tree while enjoying the sounds of the season from local Choral Groups.  Stay to whisper your Christmas wishes in Santa’s ear.  Living Farm Heritage Museum 5-7pm Free

20th:

A Service of Lessons and Carols (Upper Marlboro)
A traditional service featuring music & seasonal readings. 

Festival of Lessons and Carols (Cumberland)
Mountainside Baroque presents an ecumenical festival featuring seasonal music, traditional carols and readings by local clergy and officials. 

Capitol Steps (Annapolis)
Genre: Comedy, Political Satire

Snowflake Tour of Charles Village Homes (Baltimore)
Tour festively decorated historic homes of Baltimore's Charles Village (one of America's most beautiful neighborhoods). Ticket includes free admission to Johns Hopkins Homewood Museum. Owners treat guests to cider & cookies. 

Weekends on Wednesdays

Union Square Christmas Cookie Tour
This Weekend:

'Tis the Season with Brian Stokes Mitchell (Baltimore)
Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon Brian Stokes Mitchell joins BSO SuperPops to warm your heart with traditional & contemporary holiday favorites.

A Great Small Town Christmas & Winter Fest (Oakland)

Visit Santa, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, find unique gifts and check out all of the luminated ice sculptures as they line the streets of downtown Oakland!

Annual Christmas Open House at Ladew Gardens (Monkton)

"The Colors of Christmas" Floral designers decorate the rooms of the Manor House. There is an exceptional Greens Sale and seasonal music. Cafe is open for lunch.

Carbon Leaf (Annapolis)

Genre: Indie Rock, Folk Rock, Roots Rock, Indie Folk (3 shows w/a Dec. 12, *** All Ages Matinee*** at 3pm) 

MICA Art Market (Baltimore)
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) presents its annual MICA Art Market! At this festive sale, holiday shoppers and collectors can discover work by emerging and established artists and designers just in time for the gift-giving season. Fine art and handmade objects by approximately 275 MICA students, alumni, faculty and staff will be on sale. Original gifts include jewelry, illustrations, paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, mosaics, stationery, T-shirts, ceramics, book arts, toys and wrapping paper. 

Charles County Holiday Trail (La Plata)
Comprising many of the area’s cultural attractions, the Holiday Trail offers locals and tourists alike an opportunity to get into the spirit of the season during an activity-packed weekend. From December 10-13, two contemporary sites and eight of the area’s historic sites will open to the public and invite visitors to travel back through centuries to experience everything from Christmas in Earl

Christmas in St. Michaels (St. Michaels)
St . Michaels offers a holiday weekend of family fun on Dec. 11-13. For more information, visit christmasinstmichaels.org or call 410-745-0745 

Marvel Universe Live! (Baltimore)
Marvel Universe Live Assembling to Save the Universe come out to see all your favorite heros. The Hulk, Caption America, Spiderman, Thor, Black Widow and more. 

Outside Mullingar (Baltimore)
Set against the rolling hills of Ireland, Outside Mullingar is the unlikely love story of Anthony and Rosemary – two introverted 40-something neighbors, whose families are in a bitter land dispute.

Holiday Spectacular (Baltimore)
A concert of holiday music, dance, special lighting, sing-a-longs, a visit by Santa Claus & other surprises will take place during the Holiday Spectacular. Mercy High School

Holiday Train Garden (Mt. Airy)
The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company proudly announces it's Annual Holiday Train Garden. It is located on the lower level of the Fire Station. Open Saturdays and Sundays from December 5th until January 3, 2016. Hours are 12:00 p.m until 5:00 p.m. Please park in the lower lot in the rear of the Fire Station only.

Holidays at Hampton (Towson)
Tour this 1800s Towson Mansion where Jim Thomas performs historic African-American spirituals & a park ranger recounts Christmas in the Big House; Christmas in the Quarter. 

The Nutcracker (Towson)
Each year Baltimore Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at Goucher College Kraushaar Auditorium featuring world renowned guest artists, professional dancers, and more!

The Nutcracker (Annapolis)
Ballet Theatre of Maryland at MD Hall--Join us for the most famous Holiday Party of all time, battle against the wicked Rat Queen, and experience your dreams coming true!

The Nutcracker (Frederick)
The stunning artistry of Maryland Regional Ballet and the beloved Tchaikovsky score combined. 

11th:

Angels and Demons (Annapolis)

Annapolis Opera--A concert showcasing the many saints and sinners of the operatic repertoire. 

Mistletoe Meltdown (Baltimore)
Baltimore’s Biggest Holiday Show, Mistletoe Meltdown will highlight four national acts at Towson University. The concert will feature: Robin Thicke, The Vamps, and more! 

Celebration of Christmas (Annapolis)

A beloved local tradition and the longest-running holiday event in the region, this concert includes lots of your favorite carols “being sung by a choir” – a very big choir. 

Kris Kringle Procession (Frederick)
Welcome the holiday season with Old World Charm with this walking parade that ends with lighting the city Christmas tree. 

12th:

A Colonial Christmas! (Baltimore)
Join us for a wonderful night of music, revelry and history as we celebrate Christmastide, Colonial American-style! We'll play music, we'll talk about history & enjoy an old time Christmas! 

Charm City Craft Mafia - Holiday Heap (Baltimore)
Juried show featuring our area's best indie crafters peddling their wares for you holiday shopping needs. Food and beverage sales, music, free craft activities for the kids and plenty of free parking. 

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade (Annapolis)
Families & friends collect at favorite viewing spots to witness this yearly spectacle & celebrate the holiday season. The Parade of Lights is a signature event. 

Family Plantation Christmas (Hollywood)
Celebrate your favorite Christmas traditions with Historic Sotterley Plantation! Come out between 10 am and 4 pm on December 12th, 2015 to enjoy: Santa & Mrs. Claus, Horse-drawn Carriage Rides, Children’s Crafts & Activities, Santa’s Secret Shop, Hay Rides, Sotterley Garden Guild’s Greens & Gifts Sale, Elves Mall, Live Seasonal Music, and more! Join Sotterley in celebrating the most wonderful time of the year!

Lisbon Ole Fashion Christmas Parade (Woodbine)
Hundreds of decorated horses, mules, wagons, carriages and stagecoaches will fill the streets of Lisbon with Christmas spirit in one of Maryland’s best holiday family events. 

Merry Madness (Westminster)
Come enjoy Starlight shopping in Downtown Westminster. Horse & carriage rides, stargazing, caroling, s'mores and roasting marshmallows.

Soaring with Santa (Savage)
Terrapin Adventures--Join Santa for a high-flying adventure on our kid friendly course with 22 different fun elements that you can walk, balance, swing, zip, and crawl through.

Sock Monkey Saturday (Baltimore)
AVAM's huge sock monkey making extravaganza is FREE to attend, but you must bring your own socks (2 pair, clean & colorful) and scissors to get in. Instructions, stuffing, sewing needles, thread, visionary baubles and camaraderie will be provided. 

Hometown Holidays (Brusnwick)
Holiday celebration throughout downtown Brunswick. Breakfast with Santa, downtown eating and shopping, carriage rides, children's party.
Candlelight Tour of Havre de Grace (Havre de Grace)
Visit beautiful, historic Havre de Grace to see some amazing homes ready for the holidays! Join us for our 43rd Annual Tour.
13th:
The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. Join professors Joel Goodman & Alex Storrs with their high-powered telescopes & cool space artifacts 
The Peabody Renaissance Ensemble will be joined by the Baltimore Baroque Band in a varied program of Renaissance, Baroque & Sephardic music.
Senator Theatre--Ring in the holidays with this FREE screening of the timeless holiday classic film and food drive to benefit the GEDCO Cares Food Pantry! Experience this film as it was meant to be – on the Big Screen!
The Union Square neighborhood's most popular event is the Cookie Tour. Start at 1401 Hollins St. and visit a number of fine 19th century home. Visit some 30 historic homes for the 30th Annual event. 
The Walters Art Museum--In the spirit of the season, come enjoy a tour examining religious art that celebrates the story of Christmas. 

Weekends on Wednesdays


This Weekend:

12 Hours of Christmas & Santa's Arrival (Sykesville)
On Dec 4, stores will be open late, there will be a festive atmosphere with raffles & refreshments. On Dec 5, pictures with Santa, free hot cocoa and fun!

Home Alone at the Senator Theatre (Baltimore)
Bring the whole family out to the historic Senator Theatre to celebrate 25 years of holiday hijinx and hilarity with this hit family comedy! Experience this classic as it was meant to be – on the Big Screen! 

Miracle on 34th Street (Baltimore)
 Inflatable snowglobes, musical trains and blinking angels adorn homes. A few even allow visitors to peek inside. The lights are on every night from Thanksgiving weekend to January 1st, including all night on Christmas Eve. FREE. 

Bellwether Open House and Quilt Sale (Lothian)
Quilt sale of Bellwether's Amish hand quilters work; their immaculate hand stitching will amaze you. 

Chestertown WinterFest (Chestertown)
A festive First Friday kicks off a weekend filled with family-friendly fun, including crafts, concerts, theater, trains and fashion. 

Christmas in the Village (Grantsville)
Candle luminaries around fire-warmed studios and historic museums. Purchase gifts, kids activities, choral music & more. 

Christmas Village in Baltimore (Baltimore)
German Christmas sails into Baltimore – come and enjoy an authentic German Christmas market from Thanksgiving through December 27 in the Inner Harbor.

Holiday Pottery Sale (Towson)
The ceramic students and faculty present functional and fine arts ceramic works for sale. Hand crafted items include raku, stoneware, wood fired pottery, clay, blown glass, jewelry. 

4th:

Centreville Christmas Parade (Centreville)
A holiday tradition! The two-mile parade route weaves throughout Centreville and begins and ends at Queen Anne's County High School.

Crisfield Christmas Parade (Crisfield)
Christmas parade down Main Street in Crisfield

Chestertown First Friday (Chestertown)
Meander red-brick, tree-lined sidewalks of Historic Chestertown, enjoy extended shop hours and arts & entertainment. Luminary bags, Santa & caroling. 

Deer Creek Chamber Singers Winter Concert (White Hall)
Ring in the season with the Deer Creek Chamber Singers as they present a traditional Christmas concert including a rousing sing-along. 

Midnight Madness in Historic Ellicott City (Ellicott City)
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Start a new family tradition as you sip hot cider while strolling the town, listening to carolers and visiting our unique shops decorated for the holidays. Shop local this season and find that perfect gift at more than 50 shops, galleries and artist studios.

5th:

A Main Street Christmas (Mount Airy)
Holiday festival includes tree lighting ceremony, family activities, twinkling Santa parade, concert of church choirs. 

Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination (Sharpsburg)
More than 23,000 candles on the battlefield representing casualties from the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. 

Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats (Baltimore)
Hosted by the Fell's Point Yacht Club, December's annual boat parade sees more than 50 pleasure craft making their way from Baltimore's Inner Harbour to Fells Point. All boats are festooned with holiday lights and other colorful decorations. 

Bethesda's Winter Wonderland (Bethesda)
Celebration featuring holiday performances, a live ice sculpting presentation and a visit from Santa Claus. 

Fell's Point Old Tyme Christmas (Baltimore)
See St. Nick arrive by tugboat, have breakfast with St. Nick, listen to carolers, view decorated storefronts. 

First Fossils at Bear Branch Nature Center (Westminster)
Meet a real paleontologist, participate in hands-on activities, and touch and explore real dinosaur bones and fossils!

Jingle Bell Run/Santa Stroll (Brunswick)
Stroll or run with Santa and receive a jingle bell in this family fun run. Followed by costume contest, refreshments and tree lighting. 

Midnight Madness in St. Michaels (St. Michaels)
Great shops open 'til Midnight! Refreshments, snacks and special sales! With every purchase you'll receive raffle tickets to WIN PRIZES at Midnight! 

Olde Tyme Holiday Parade (Easton)
oin our Easton community and Easton Business Alliance for a First Weekend Event to celebrate and kick off our Holiday Season! There will be tree-lighting, caroling and the big-man himself - Santa! 

Paula Poundstone (Annapolis)
Genre: Comedy--She is a regular on the NPR's show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me

State House Holiday Concert (Annapolis)
Experience Maryland's historic State House-the oldest in continuous legislative use in the nation. Enjoy youth choruses and musicians by the glow of the official State Christmas tree.

The Great Crab Pot Tree Lighting and Boat Parade (Tilghman)
A ubiquitous symbol of the waterman’s life, crab pots are plentiful this time of year with crabbing season at an end and oyster season well under way. The idea of a crab pot tree is not exactly original, but it’s a project that seems well suited for Tilghman Islanders. 

Italian Holiday Family Festival (DC)
Smithsonian American Art Museum--The event featurs performances by The Italian Fairy and the Flusso Dance Project, seasonal music by The Capital Hearings and traditional Italian bagpipers, plus craft activities, face painting and more. Presented in partnership with Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute. At the Kogod Courtyard.

6th:

Bel Air Christmas Celebration (Bel Air)
Annual event to kick-off the holidays with stilt-walkers and acrobats, marching bands, dancers, floats and music. Enjoy the Living Christmas Tree and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus! 

Children's Holiday Open House and Tree Trimming Party (Shady Side)
Crafts, food and fun! Santa will visiting 1:30-2:30. Enjoy a reading of "The Night Before Christmas.” Come on down to the Avery waterfront! 

Local Lens:  The Muslim Experience in Baltimore (Baltimore)
This panel discussion opens an important dialogue with Baltimore’s Black and Latino Muslim communities. Location: The Walter's Art Museum

Chocolate Binge Festival (Annapolis)
Throw on your ugly sweater and get to the artsy first block of West St. to "Satisfy your sweet-tooth" during the Chocolate Binge Festival and Holiday Light Canopy lighting. The day is loaded with family friendly fun. There is a giant gingerbread house moon bounce for the kids, you can roast marsh mellows and make s'mores at the fire pit in the middle of West Street with Sparky from the Annapolis Fire Department, get your picture taken with Lady Godiva, get a balloon animal, and visit Santa. Santa will also be collecting toys, coats and hats for the We Care and Friends Holiday Party for the areas homeless and kids in need.