Christmas Village in Baltimore
Käthe Wohlfahrt

Merry-land Holiday Festivities

Get into the spirit of the season with these festivities full of Maryland cheer

There’s no place like Maryland for the holidays! Get into the spirit of the season at Holiday Celebrations, great holiday Train Events, memorable Performances, dazzling Light Displays and spectacular New Year's Eve Celebrations.

Make this year's holiday season extra special by taking advantage of our "Welcome Home for the Holidays" Deals and Hotel Packages.

Christmas Village in Baltimore
Käthe Wohlfahrt
1 of 18
1
Christmas At Gaylord National, National Harbor

Experience So Much Christmas with dazzling displays, tempting treats, holiday shows, and festive activities. ICE! features beloved scenes from The Polar Express™ brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures.

Whether you're staying overnight or visiting for the day, it's the ultimate way to create lasting holiday memories together!

Gaylord Atrium at National Harbor Decorated for the Holidays
Gaylord National Harbor
2
Christmas Village in Baltimore

Baltimore's largest Christmas attraction will return to West Shore Park starting with previews in November, and then officially open from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Christmas Village’s iconic Glühwein Pyramid is even more efficient this year with the addition of a fourth register, designed to reduce wait times for thirsty visitors. For those looking to avoid crowds altogether, weekdays remain the best time to enjoy the market with shorter lines.

Glühwein Pyramid Baltimore Christmas Village
Christina Kalff
3
Christmas in St. Michaels

Events include the Tour of Homes, the Talbot Street Parade, the Boat Parade, Marketplace, Santa, Breakfast with Santa, the Ornament, and the Old Fashion Christmas Dinner. Advance reservations required for certain events. Check out the website for more details on each event.

St Michaels stores decorated for the holidays
Kevin Moore
4
Dorchester County Christmas Parade

Parade is held annually on the first Saturday in December each year. Once hailed as the 'largest nighttime parade', the parade continues each year as a timeless tradition throughout the decades. Each year brings something new and exciting, but always present are the glittering lights, sounds of music, Holiday cheer, and laughter. This year's parade will not disappoint. 

Christmas Parade in Cambridge
Jill Jasuta/Dorchester Tourism
5
Candlelight Tours of Frederick

Some of Frederick's most highly anticipated holiday traditions are seen by flickering light. Visit the National Shrine of
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, museums, historic homes, and other places of worship to experience the county's heritage and culture draped in decorations for the holiday season.

Candlelight House Tour
Visit Frederick
6
Christmas on the Square and Annual Tree Lighting in Leonardtown

The Town of Leonardtown will ring in the holiday season with a modified "Christmas on the Square and Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony."  Event activities include Santa's arrival at 7pm and the lighting of the Town Christmas Tree! 

Christmas tree lighting
7
Monument Lighting
Baltimore

Illuminating the historic Washington Monument is a joyous holiday tradition. The night includes caroling, food and good cheer. Fireworks cap the evening marking the official start of the holiday season.

fireworks and lighting of the Monument
Downtown Partnership Baltimore
8
Midnight Madness - Historic Ellicott City

Our 70+ one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants have decked their halls, and stocked their shelves with treasures to make your holiday merry and bright.  Find sidewalk sales, festive cocktail & food offerings, plus specials galore. 

Main Street Ellicott City
9
Christmas in Crisfield

Join Crisfield for their Christmas in Crisfield event on November 29th to kick off the holiday season! Come see the lighting of the official crab pot Christmas tree, enjoy live music, shop from various vendors, ride in carriages, and more at this family friendly event!

Celebrate Christmas at Crisfield's Christmas Parade on December 5th! Enjoy the floats, candy, and an appearance from Santa Claus!

Crab pot  Christmas tree
delmarvanow.com
10
Midnight Madness in St. Michaels

Each year, the town of St Michaels is transformed into a picture perfect holiday postcard, the shops, restaurants and B&B’s are decorated with stunning greenery, lights and festive cheer. The holiday spirit is felt throughout town, which makes coming to St Michaels during the holiday season a special experience, year after year, and provides a wonderful backdrop to shop for the holidays. Stored will be open late with special sales all day and night.

Holiday shopping
StMichaelsMd.org
11
Midnight Madness - Annapolis

A Historic Downtown Annapolis holiday tradition that encompasses the charm and character of our most beloved memories of Norman Rockwell and Charles Dickens. We will adorn the streets and participating storefronts with holiday decorations, trees, garland, snowflakes, bows, and lights to create a Downtown Winter Wonderland.

Residents and visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space and Dock Street from 4 PM until Midnight to support our local businesses. When we Shop Local, we reinvest in our community and help our downtown businesses thrive. Check out all the stores, galleries, and boutiques throughout the downtown area.

Annapolis during the Holidays
stadiumswithmysons@Instagram
12
Holiday Happenings in Chestertown

Santa's Arrival & the Lighting of Chestertown
Welcome Santa back to Chestertown by firetruck to Fountain Park. Kids can meet with Santa at a safe distance and get their picture taken. The Fountain Park Christmas Tree will be lit to open the holiday season.

A Dickens of a Christmas Weekend
As an arts-rich community with strong literary, musical, and theatrical talents, Chestertown invites visitors to enjoy a memorable weekend filled with authentically themed holiday fun. The charm of our historic 313-year-old river town will be the backdrop to a lively display of Dickens-era holiday attractions: carriage rides, street theater, live music, food vendors, decorated house tour, and more!

Christmas Parade
Kick off the holiday season with Chestertown's annual Parade! One of Kent County’s favorite holiday traditions! Line up on High Street to see all of your favorites ring in the holiday season. The annual parade will begin at Dixon Drive and commence at the intersection of High and Spring Street. Enjoy marching bands, classic automobiles, floats and your favorite holiday characters.

people dressed in holiday costumes
13
December Saturdays in Downtown Frederick

First Saturday means holiday lights, late-night shopping and dining. During each of the first three Saturdays in December, celebrate the holiday season by shopping and dining local. Shopping with an independent retailer, eating at a local restaurant, and supporting local artists really matters. 

Whether you’ve lived here for years, or you’re a first time visitor, First Saturday (and every Saturday in December) is a great time to discover something new about our beautiful downtown.

Downtown Frederick with Holiday Lights
Visit Frederick
14
Annual Solomons Christmas Walk
Lighted Boat Parade

The museum is open and free to the public from 6-9pm. Enjoy musical entertainment, Santa, the Otter mascot, holiday crafts, model train display, and shopping in the Museum Store.  Christmas celebrations kick off with the fabulous Lighted Boat Parade at 6pm, weather permitting.  The Lighted Boat Parade, begins at dusk at the Solomons Yachting Center and ends along the Riverwalk at approximately 7:15pm.  Sail and power boats are welcome. The parade can be viewed from many places in Solomons and from the Patuxent Riverwalk.

Calvert Marine Museum
15
Open Air Yuletide Festival & Holiday Marketplace, Earleville

Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy old-fashioned holiday fun for the whole family at Mount Harmon’s Yuletide Festival! Event features Yuletide Manor House Tours and great holiday shopping with handmade Holiday Wreaths, Decorations & Greens Sale, Holiday Artisan Marketplace in Carriage House Visitor Center, Live Plant & Tree Sale, Hearth Cooking & Wassail in the Colonial Kitchen, and Yuletide Food Court & Open Air Tavern!

 Mount Harmon Plantation
Friends of Mount Harmon
16
Colonial Cocktails: Yuletide
Historic Londontown

Toast the Yuletide season with some chocolate port, alongside an array of this year's greatest hits from our monthly Colonial Cocktails program. Enjoy special access to our 18th-century brick tavern as you learn a little bit about what Christmas was like for all London Town citizens. 21+ and pre-registration is required.

Historic Londontowne and Gardens
17
Parade Of Light
Annapolis, Parade from Housley Rd to City Dock for Lighting

Join Chabad Anne Arundel County for the annual Menorah Car Parade. The parade departs Safeway (2635 Housley Rd, Annapolis). Parade participants arrive by 5pm. At approximately 5:45pm, event organizers kindle a giant Menorah and celebrate the Festival of Lights at City Dock. Individually wrapped chocolate gelt (coins), prepackaged latkes, and Chanukah kits will be given out while supplies last. All are welcome!

Parade of Light
Chabad of Anne Arundel County
18
Honor African-American Traditions and Heritage During Kwanzaa

Honor African heritage and rich African-American culture and traditions during the seven days of Kwanzaa.  Join celebrations at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center and virtually at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis. 

Candle Light Ceremony with Sankofa Dance Theater
Jane Yoon