Talbot Street Parade
Rain or shine Santa is coming to town! At 10:30 a.m. on December 14th, Talbot Street will be filled with Christmas joy from Perry Cabin south to Seymour Avenue. The parade will be complete with marching bands, antique cars and boats, fire engines, horses and more. Santa and Mrs. Claus will close out to the parade Saturday morning on the Eastern Shore. Find more information at christmasinstmichaels.org.
Lights on the Bay
One of the most popular Annapolis traditions is back for the whole month of December at Sandy Point State Park to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Drive through the holiday light displays along the Chesapeake Bay and experience the joy, wonder, and fun of the holiday season, all to support the SPCA. Lights on the Bay is a two-mile scenic drive with 70 dazzling animated and stationary light displays along our bay. Find more information and get tickets at lightsonthebaymd.org.
Tree Lighting at the National Harbor
Christmas magic always hits the National Harbor. Every night, enjoy the tree light show every half hour from sunset to 9 p.m. The show lights up the 60-foot RGB tree right on the water. The lights jump and dance alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band. On Saturdays through the end of the month, stick around for the festive firework show. Find more information and things to do at nationalharbor.com.
Easton Holiday Parade
On December 7th, Easton’s largest parade of the year will be parading down Washington and Harrison Streets at 6:30 p.m. A myriad of classic cars, marching bands, and holiday characters will showcase their very best of Christmas. Join the festivities, which will start in Thompson Park at 5:30 p.m. when Santa arrives followed by a tree lighting at 6 p.m. Find more information at discovereaston.com.
Photograph by John Parsons
Eastport Lights Parade
Why celebrate the season parading down the street when we can parade through the Annapolis Harbor? On December 14th, from 6 to 8 p.m., partake in Eastport Yacht Club’s tradition that takes place every year on the second Saturday in December. Through the night see boats appear out of the cold winter night illuminated with thousands of colored lights. Find more information at eastportyc.org.
Winterfest of Lights
Winterfest of Lights is celebrating 32 years in Ocean City through the end of the year! The walkthrough winter wonderland at Northside Park is open Wednesday through Sunday through December 22nd and open daily on December 23rd through 31st. See the 50-foot tree, Santa’s reindeer, 12 drummers drumming, and a field of lights all with a cup of cocoa in hand. Find more information at ococean.com/winterfest.
Photograph by Karmen Osei
Symphony of Lights
The Symphony of Lights has been illuminating Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia for over 25 years. Drive through more than 300,000 bulbs for a dazzling display of larger than life animated and stationary holiday creations. The drive through experience is open through January 4th but closed on December 1st through 3rd, 9th, 10th, 12th, and 31st for an opportunity to walk through for a true night to remember. Find more information at merriweatherlights.com.
Photograph by Jill Jasuta
Crab Basket Tree Lighting Dorchester
Each holiday season, a busy corner in downtown Cambridge is home to a 20-foot high tree made from nearly 200 bushel baskets that have been used to harvest Maryland blue crabs. The tree’s “ornaments” are used buoys that local artisans re-purposed into tree decor. Exact date of tree lighting tbd as of press time. Learn more at visitdorchester.org.
Christmas in St. Michaels Lighted Boat Parade
The Lighted Boat Parade is back in St. Michaels Harbor on December 14th at 6 p.m. as a part of 2024’s Christmas in St. Michaels festivities. The boats, which are decorated to illuminate the night sky, will parade around the harbor and are best viewed from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michael’s Harbour Inn, Marina and Spa, and St. Michael’s Marina. Find more information and a full route at christmasinstmichaels.org.
Parade of Light
Chabad of Anne Arundel County is hosting a Parade of Light on December 29th at 5:30 p.m. The car parade will begin at Safeway in Annapolis and conclude at City Dock, where there will be a Menorah Lighting at 5:45 p.m. This free event will include delicious hot latkes, fresh donuts, and hot drinks. Be sure to RSVP at chabadaac.com.
Crab Basket Tree Lighting
Lighting a tree is a holiday tradition, but one that looks quite different is in Queen Anne’s County. Queen Anne’s County Watermen’s Association is hosting a Crab Basket Tree Lighting Evening and Vendor Fair on December 7th at The Crab Deck in Grasonville. The vendor fair will begin at 6 p.m., when you will be able to look for decorations, unique stocking stuffers, gifts and more, all followed by the tree lighting. Find more information at visitqueenannes.com.
New Year’s Events
Annapolis – December 31st, 7 p.m. (Family Fireworks), and midnight at Susan B. Campbell Park
Discoveries: The Library at the Mall – Noon Year’s Eve December 31st, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Annapolis
Easton – New Year’s Eve Crab Drop during First Night Talbot, 9 p.m.
Rock Kent New Year’s Eve – December 31st, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at The Farmstead at Kent Island Resort, kentislandresort.com
Baltimore – December 31st, midnight fireworks and drone show at the Inner Harbor
Ocean City – December 31st, midnight at Northside Park and on the beach at Dorchester Street
