A list of our favorite events around Annapolis, Eastern Shore and beyond for the month of January. Event dates may be subject to change.
What’s Up? Media’s Bridal Expo
Get everything checked off your wedding to-do list! The region’s top wedding photographers, DJ’s, florists, cakes, coordinators, officiants, caterers, makeup artists, videographers, and more will be at the Graduate Annapolis hotel on January 21st from 1 to 4 p.m. for the premier annual expo. The day will also include networking, food, drinks, and more. Get your free tickets here.
Super Plunge
The Annual Maryland Polar Bear Plunge kicks off the 2024 plunging in the Chesapeake Bay with the Super Plunge on January 26th through January 27th at Sandy Point State Park. Festivities and various plunges continue each day through February 3rd. The Polar Bear Plunge raises money for Special Olympics Maryland. The Super Plunge is special because it shows support for the 15,588 Special Olympics Maryland and Unified teammates with plungers raising $10,000 and plunging in the chilly water every hour for 24 hours. Last year, Super Plungers raised a record-setting $637,000. Find more information at plungemd.com.
Frost and Flame
The enchanting Frost and Flame Festival will be at Annapolis Town Center on January 19th and 20th. This nautical-themed fire and ice event will meld the cool elegance of ice with the fiery fervor of flame. Prepare to be captivated by a unique fusion of nautical culinary delights, mesmerizing performances, and interactive experiences to ignite your senses. There will be plenty of food trucks and activities, entertainment, fire dancers, ice sculptures, aerialists, glass blowing and blacksmith displays, smores, and more. Admission is free but tickets are required for a headcount. Find more information and reserve tickets at annapolistowncenter.com.
Maryland Yule Ball
The Annual Yule Ball will be hosted on January 6th at the Double Tree Hotel in Annapolis. This is the perfect event to celebrate the end of the holiday season in your finest 16th to 19th century attire. The night will thrive with music, dancing, buffet dinner, cocktail hour, and a beautiful setting. Find more information at mdyuleball.com.
Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Program
On January 11th, the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Program will be held at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover. Maryland Governor Wes Moore will speak, as well as U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman John Sarbanes, County Executive Steuart Pittman, and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. There will be 10 honorees acknowledged at the event whose leadership in civil rights has helped keep Dr. King’s legacy alive. Proceeds from the event help pay off the debt incurred by building the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers Memorial. Tickets are available for purchase at mlkjrmd.org.
An Armed Forces Salute
Londontowne Symphony Orchestra’s annual January performance will be held on January 20th at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall in Annapolis. An Armed Forces Salute will feature vocalist Parijita Bastola, who was recently featured on NBC’s The Voice. The program will include patriotic works by American composers along with guest conductors Commander Diane Nichols and Mr. Greg Pascuzzi. Find more information and order tickets at marylandhall.org.
The Sinatra Experience
The Sinatra Experience starring Dave Halston is coming to Bowie Center for the Performing Arts on January 20th. The evening will be filled with music, laughter, and a zesty lineup of Frank Sinatra’s most popular songs. Halston and his world-class band will be bringing the Sinatra sound and swagger to the stage with a swanky Vegas vibe. Get your tickets at bowiecenter.org.
The Gin Game
Compass Rose Theater is performing The Gin Game from January 19th through February 18th at Maryland Hall in Annapolis. Fonsia and Weller are two residents at a retirement home who play repeated games of gin rummy, which are revealed to be metaphors of their lives. Their hilarious feisty games reveal the laughter, tears, and intimate details of their long lives and the bittersweet realities of their most challenging chapter. The Gin Game is the winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Order tickets at marylandhall.org.
Monster Jam
Monster Jam is coming to Baltimore with multiple shows January 19th through 21st at CFG Bank Arena. Monster Jam is one of the most unforgettable motorsports experiences in the world. World champion athlete drivers will tear up the dirt with their 12,000-pound trucks in competitions of speed and skill. There will also be a Monster Jam Pit Party on Saturday and Sunday to see the massive trucks up close, meet the drivers, crew, and more. Order tickets at cfgbankarena.com.
Chesapeake Bay Boat Show
The Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County is bringing the Chesapeake Bay Boat Show to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on January 19th through 21st. The show will feature over 30 Maryland boat dealers who will be showcasing new boats and marine equipment, sport fishing boats, ski boats, cruisers, and more. There will be food and drinks, educational seminars, and plenty of reasons to enjoy the day. Find more information at thechesapeakebayboatshow.com.
Dancing With the Stars Tour
The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill is hosting the tour of one of our favorite competitions: Dancing with the Stars. After selling out many shows last season, the production is back on tour this winter with a dazzling, high energy, brand-new live show. Experience the breathless excitement, athleticism, and artistry that you see in the ballroom up-close! The show will be at 8 p.m. on January 12th. Find more information and tickets at mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.
Paw Patrol
The pack is back and on a roll from their lookout tower in Baltimore! Paw Patrol is live at The Hippodrome in Baltimore for five performances this January. Come see Mayor Goodway get everything in shipshape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay on January 26th through 28th. Performances will be at 6 p.m. on January 26th, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on January 27th, and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on January 28th. Order tickets for the kiddos at baltimore.broadway.com.
Penguin Swim
Atlantic General Hospital’s 30th Annual Penguin Swim is back on January 1st at The Princess Royale Oceanfront Hotel in Ocean City. Dunk your penguin tail in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean to support our community’s healthcare heroes. It has been a tradition on the beach to raise funds to help the hospital provide the excellent quality care the community depends on. All proceeds benefit Atlantic General Hospital Foundation. The swim starts at noon. Register at aghpenguinswim.org.
East Coast Commercial Fishermen’s & Aquaculture Trade Expo
The 49th East Coast Commercial Fishermen’s & Aquaculture Trade Exposition will be at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, January 12th through 14th. This event, hosted by the Maryland Watermen’s Association, works continuously to ensure the future of independent watermen and seafood business throughout the state. The weekend will have seminars, vendors, entertainment, and more. Find more information at marylandwatermen.com.
“1964” The Tribute
One of the most renowned Beatles tribute bands is coming to the Avalon Theatre on January 12th at 7 p.m. “1964” focuses on the early years of the Beatles, when they started playing for a live audience. The Fab Four toured the world in the early 1960s, but only a few remain who actually saw them live. But help is on the way! “1964” recreates the magic of those live Beatles’ performances with artful precision and unerring accuracy. Get your tickets at avalonfoundation.org.
Cambridge Ice & Oyster Festival
The 3rd Annual Cambridge Ice & Oyster Festival will be back on January 12th and 13th. Enjoy two days of interacting with amazing ice sculptures, eating oysters, live music, and plenty of family fun. Last year’s event included 50-plus ice sculptures and over 8,000 visitors. This year the plan is to be even bigger and better. The festival will be in Downtown Cambridge from Cannery Way to Blue Ruin. There will be ice thrones, slides, games, and more. Find more information at iceoysterfest.com.
