Happy Thanksgiving! The Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to surround yourself with the people you care about. After you’ve filled up on turkey and stuffing, make the most of your long weekend (and maybe even work off some of that food!). For a list of more fun happenings this weekend, visit our online calendar at Whatsupmag.com. Here are a few activities to enjoy with family and friends this weekend
Annapolis
A Christmas Carol – AnnapolisbrShakespeare Company
Friday,brNovember 23rd, 8 p.m.; Saturday, November 24th, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday,brNovember 25th, 2 p.m.
Annapolis Shakespeare Company presents A Christmas Carol. This originalbrproduction of a classic holiday story is a special way to share the magic ofbrthe season with family and friends.
AmericanbrIndian Heritage Day – Historic London Town and Gardens
Friday,brNovember 23rd, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Historic London Town and Gardens is happybrto welcome the Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians for American IndianbrHeritage Day. An annual holiday for the state of Maryland, American IndianbrHeritage Day is a celebration of the living culture of native people in ourbrstate.
Saturday,brNovember 24th, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Small businesses are what give communitiesbrtheir unique flavor. These locally owned restaurants, boutiques, galleries, andbrshops can be found nowhere else. Shop and dine in small, locally ownedbrbusinesses throughout downtown Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. This is yourbrchance to show local business owners that you appreciate the unique shoppingbrand dining experiences they offer when you visit them on this day.
The GrandbrIllumination – Downtown Annapolis
Sunday,brNovember 25th, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
The Downtown Annapolis Partnership joinsbrthe Annapolis Jaycees to ring in the holiday season in downtown Annapolis.brEnjoy dancing, carols by local school groups, hot chocolate and candy canes,brand ornament decorating. Plus, Santa will make a special appearance to helpbrlight the tree and get everyone in the holiday spirit. The Jaycees will bebraccepting non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys for their Angel Treebrprogram, which supports local families in need during the holiday season.
Eastern Shore
Santa’sbrArrival and the Kent County Christmas Parade – Downtown Chestertown
Friday,brNovember 23rd, 6:30–8:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 24th, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Join Kent County as they kick off thebrholiday season. It’s a tradition that Kent County families and friends lookbrforward to each Thanksgiving weekend. The festivities begin Friday night in downtownbrChestertown with the Community Marching Band playing holiday favorites, Santabrand Mrs. Claus’ arrival atop a fire truck, and the town turning on the holidaybrlights. Saturday morning, head to High Street for the annual Holiday Parade,brwhich includes bands, fire trucks, floats, classic cars, and more.
Createdbrin Caroline Arts Tour – Downtown Denton
Friday,brNovember 23rd through Saturday, November 24th
Don’t fight the crowds on Black Friday andbrSmall Business Saturday. Instead, find unique, handmade gifts for your holidaybrgiving, and support local small businesses while you enjoy a pleasantbrself-guided driving tour of Caroline County’s amazing and unique artists andbrartisans. From fine arts to hard cider to all things lavender, experience thebrbest of Caroline’s own.
Festival ofbrTrees – Tidewater Inn, Easton
Friday,brNovember 23rd through Tuesday, November 27th
Join the Friends of the Hospice for thebr33rd Festival of Trees, benefiting Talbot Hospice. Festival events includebrtours of beautifully decorated Talbot County homes, Candy Cane Lane children’sbractivities, holiday shopping, and a mother-son and father-daughter dance.
ChestertownbrAntiques Show & Sale – Washington College, Chestertown
Friday,brNovember 23rd, 4–7 p.m.; Saturday, November 24th, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday,brNovember 25th, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Now in its 55th year, the ChestertownbrAntiques Show & Sale is a high point of the Thanksgiving holiday.brHighlights include restored oil lamps, vintage American flags, antiquebrfirearms, vintage documents, and much more. Nationally recognized art andbrantiques appraiser Todd Peenstra will be on-site throughout the weekend.brProceeds benefit the Kent Association of Riding Therapy.
CambridgebrChristmas Tree Lighting – Spring Valley, Cambridge
Saturday,brNovember 24th, 5:30 p.m.
Bring the family and kick off the holidaybrseason with Cambridge's annual Christmas tree lighting. The festive eveningbrincludes music, a visit from Santa Claus, and plenty of Christmas cheer.brEntertainment provided by the Maple Elementary Marching Band and the CommunitybrMass Choir.
WesternbrShore
Symphony ofbrLights – Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, Columbia
Nowbrthrough December 30th, 6–10 p.m.
Enjoy a drive-through spectacle of morebrthan 100 larger-than-life holiday light displays during Symphony of Lights. Lightbrdisplays, both animated and stationary, glow with a total of 300,000 LED lightsbron a 1-mile scenic drive through downtown Columbia. Symphony of Lights benefitsbrHoward County General Hospital.
Festival ofbrTrees – Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium
Friday,brNovember 23rd through Sunday, November 25th, 10 a.m.
It’s beginning to look a lot like thebrholidays! Santa, Rudolph, the elves, and their friends at Kennedy KriegerbrInstitute are preparing for the East Coast’s largest holiday-themed festival,brFestival of Trees! The Maryland State Fairgrounds will transform into a winterbrwonderland with decorated trees, a gingerbread town, shopping, holidaybractivities, and non-stop entertainment for children of all ages.
Becoming:brAn Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama – Capital One Arena, Washington,brD.C.
Sunday,brNovember 25th, 8 p.m.
Attendees will hear firsthand Mrs. Obama’sbrintimate reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private,brthat have shaped her, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to herbryears as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to herbryears spent at the most famous address in the world.
