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Baltimore's Holiday Events

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Amazing Experiences Sweepstakes 

The National Aquarium in Baltimore
www.aqua.org/win

Ever dreamed of working alongside our dolphin trainers or going behind-the-scenes in our rain forest or Australia exhibits? How about getting up close and personal with our new blacktip reef sharks? This holiday season, YOU could win one of five once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the National Aquarium!

Enter today at http://www.aqua.org/win

Window Wonderland 

Harbor East, November 15
www.harboreast.com

The Harbor East sidewalks will come alive and various shops and restaurants around the neighborhood will feature unique holiday windows decorated by some of the Baltimore area’s most talented local artists, turning Harbor East into a merry masterpiece for the holiday season!

 

The Polar Express 4-D Experience

National Aquarium Baltimore
(Shows daily. Times vary)
www.aqua.org

You are invited on an extraordinary 4D adventure this holiday season on THE POLAR EXPRESS! When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. THE POLAR EXPRESS 4D Experience is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.

A Carroll’s Christmas

Mount Clare Museum
(Thursday though Sunday 11-4 p.m.)
www.mountclare.org

Escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and experience a colonial American Christmas with the Carroll family at Mount Clare Museum House. See Mount Clare decorated for the winter holiday in traditional 18th and 19th century style with greens and dried plant materials accented with fruits, nuts, feathers and pine cones. All included with paid admission!

Power Plant Holiday Light Show Spectacular 

Power Plant
www.itsawaterfrontlife.org

Power Plant lights up the Inner Harbor this holiday season with an unforgettable display of lights, lasers, music and more! Sure to become downtown’s most electrifying attraction, you won’t want to miss this must-see event!

 

Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum,
www.borail.org

Celebrate the holiday season at Baltimore’s largest holiday display of toy and model train layouts. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive by locomotive to the Roundhouse at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 25. Weekend train rides and photo opportunities with Santa continue through December 18. Weekend train rides and photo opportunities are available with Frosty the Snowman through December 31. All ages enjoy indoor train carousel rides and crafts at Santa's workshop. 

Hampden For The Holidays 

Hampden
www.hampdenmerchants.com

The Hampden Village Merchants Association is making every Friday between November 23rd and December 21st a First Friday here in Hampden this Holiday Season! Participating merchants will be open later hours for your holiday shopping convenience - with many offering special events, sales, refreshments and more.

Miracle on 34th Street 

34th Street in Hampden
www.christmasstreet.com

One block in Hampden puts on a Christmas light display that is surely visible from space. Neighbors in this block of rowhouses string Christmas lights across 34th Street. 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. 

 

The New (old-time) Holiday Train Garden

Fire Museum of Maryland
www.firemuseummd.org

Watch antique O-Scale trains and a street car wind their way through the Baltimore neighborhood in front of a new wooded hillside, get your family picture with Santa, and take a stroll through two centuries worth of antique fire engines and a reconstructed 1871 fire house! 

 

Fell's Point Olde Tyme Christmas

Fell's Point
www.fellspointmainstreet.org

This year marks the 9th annual Fell’s Point Olde Tyme Christmas. Come to historic Fell’s Point for a weekend filled with good old holiday fun for the entire family. Don’t miss the lighted boat parade from the Broadway Pier, the traditional Christmas market, Christmas choirs, sleigh rides, breakfast with Santa and more!  

 

The Chanukah House 

The Chanukah House
www.thechanukahhouse.com

Experience the miracle of Hanukkah at the Chanukah House. Irwin Cohen has been decorating his house since the late 1980s. Visitors hail from places as far away as Israel and Russia. The house will be open for the whole month of December. 

 

 

Holiday Story, Snack, & Train Ride with Santa

B&O Railroad Museum
www.borail.org

Children and their families enjoy a snack of cookies, milk, and hot chocolate while listening to a classic holiday story by one of Santa's helpers. Then Santa leads the parade and takes an exclusive train ride with everyone! Space is limited; advance reservations required. Tickets are $12 each for B&O members and $18 for the general public. To purchase a B&O membership visit Membership. Tickets on-sale beginning Monday, October 29, 2012. Advance prepaid reservations required. To purchase tickets contact Dana Kirn at 410-752-2462 x 221. Please note that this event begins promptly on-time and tickets are non-refundable.

 

29th Annual Merry Tuba Christmas

Harborplace Amphitheater
www.harborplace.com

More than 200 tuba and euphonium players perform a holiday concert. Participating musicians include players from Baltimore, as well as Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. The Heart of Maryland Chorus and the Baltimore Marching Ravens also participate.

 

40th Annual Mayor's Christmas Parade

Hampden
www.mayorschristmasparade.com

The attendance along the 2.5 mile route reached 25,000 people last year at the annual parade to view Santa Claus and about 160 marching units. The parade has the Baltimore Marching Ravens, Harley Davidson motorcycles, marching bands, the Boumi Temple performers, floats, and lots of fun!

 

MICA Holiday Art Market

Maryland Institute College of Art
www.mica.edu

This festive sale, featuring original work by more than 300 MICA students, alumni, faculty and staff, includes one-of-a-kind gifts including jewelry, illustrations, paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, mosaics, stationery, T-shirts, ceramics, textiles, book arts, toys and wrapping paper.

 

A Monumental Occasion

Mount Vernon Place
Event Listing

Mount Vernon Place celebrates the holiday season with the 41st annual lighting of the Washington Monument. A Monumental Occasion with pre-event festivities hosted by MIX 106.5 at 5:30pm in Mount Vernon. The official ceremony begins at 7pm with the official lighting at approximately 7:45pm.

 

World Holiday Traditions

National Aquarium in Baltimore
www.aqua.org

The National Aquarium's Cultural Series celebrates world holiday traditions! This event will feature Nutcracker Ballet Vignettes performances, live holiday jazz and an exhibit of Nativity scenes from around the world. Kids can make holiday cards to send to our service men and women. Don’t miss an appearance by our mascot, Puffin, the Polar Express train conductor, and the jolly bearded man in red himself, Santa Claus! All activities are included with Aquarium admission.

 

Sock monkey Saturday

American Visionary Art Museum
www.avam.org

Don’t let the holidays drive you bananas. Relax by making your very own sock monkey. Free but you must bring 2 pairs of clean socks and your own scissors to get in. Instructions, stuffing, sewing needles, thread, visionary baubles and camaraderie provided.

 

The Nutcracker Family Concert

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
www.bsomusic.org

Join the BSO and dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts as excerpts from this holiday classic come to life. Treat the entire family to the timeless tale of the Nutcracker and delight in some of the season’s most memorable melodies.

 

 

Vienna Boys' Choir

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
www.bsomusic.org

The world’s foremost boys’ choir will fill the Meyerhoff with the angelic charm and pure sounds that have brought crowds to their feet for more than 500 years. Don’t miss this spectacular concert featuring Austrian folk songs and waltzes, classical masterpieces, pop tunes, and holiday favorites.

 

Carolers on the Court

The Walters Art Museum
thewalters.org

Take a break from the hustle and bustle and join us for a festive afternoon filled with hot cocoa, holiday goodies and all around merriment! This year we welcome back Joyous Voices, and a-cappella caroling ensemble with an impressive repertoire of traditional Christmas melodies ranging from Medieval, Victorian and popular favorite. 

 

Better Baltimore Bed & Breakfasts Holiday Open Houses

Celie's Water Front, Rachael's Dowry & Scarborough Fair B&B
Event page

Come to a Holiday Open House and explore the foods and decor of 3 distinct members of the Better Baltimore Bed & Breakfasts association. This year we are making our Holiday Celebrations more homey with self guided open houses with our own prepared breakfasty nibbles and drinks with a portion of the Proceeds will benefit Moveable Feast! Tickets are $10 per person advance online sales and $15 at the door for the open houses at all 3 B&Bs.

 

Authentic Baltimore Holidays Bus Tour 2012

Celie's Water Front, Rachael's Dowry & Scarborough Fair B&B,
Event page

The heritage area and the Carroll Museums invite you to steep yourself in charm, history, and the holiday spirit with a tour of seven Authentic Baltimore B&Bs decorated in their holiday finest. Lunch and transportation included.

Click here for event details and to secure your registration today!

 

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker

Hippodrome Theatre at The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
www.nutcracker.com

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker 20th anniversary production overflows with holiday delight! See the spectacular all new “Dove of Peace” where 2 dancers become one stunning bird, a Christmas tree that grows 7 stories tall, 40 top Russian dancers, falling snow, charming silk puppets and more all set to Tchaikovsky’s complete score. *Due to the nature of live entertainment performances, prices, dates, times and artists subject to change. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

 

A Christmas Carol

Lyric Opera House
www.lyricoperahouse.com

When Charles Dickens wrote his “ghostly little tale” in 1843, he couldn’t know that A Christmas Carol was destined to become one of the most beloved holiday traditions of all time. By telling this fable illustrating the unfairness of the Industrial Revolution and the necessity for brotherhood and unselfishness, Dickens gave the world one of its most enduring Christmas stories.

Breakfast with Santa and Friends

Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
www.marylandzoo.org

Guess who’s making a stop at The Maryland Zoo? Join us for a holiday tradition the entire family with enjoy on the Zoo’s historic Mansion House Porch. Feast on a catered, hot breakfast and have your photo taken with Santa (and his little animal ambassador elves). Advance tickets are required and this event is expected to sell out quickly.

Dragons and Dreidels – Christmas Day at the JMM

The Jewish Museum of Maryland
www.jhsm.org

Spend Christmas Day in the traditional, Jewish, way by enjoying delicious kosher Chinese food, learning to play mahjong, and making crafts. This will be the last program in conjunction with the exhibit, Chosen Food: Cuisine, Culture and American Jewish Identity. 

Kwanzaa Celebration 2012: And A Child Shall Lead Them

Reginald F. Lewis Museum
www.rflewismuseum.org

The festival, led by children and community elders, includes an African Marketplace to peruse gift items, musical performances, craft activities, and a Kwanzaa ceremony with story-telling by the Growing Griots. In conjunction with the Growing Up AFRO exhibition. Special admission: $5. 

 

Midnight Noon New Years Eve Celebration for Families

Maryland Science Center
www.mdsci.org

Does the Ball Drop before your Bedtime? Not this year! Join the Maryland Science Center in its 4th annual New Year's Eve celebration at Noon for Midnight Noon. Make your own party hat and noisemaker, then get ready to dance the day away to the sounds of popular kids band–Milkshake as they take the stage at 11:30am. The entire Science Center will be open and ready for you to explore. All activities are FREE with paid admission. 

Noontime New Year: Superhero Fun!

Port Discovery Children's Museum
www2.portdiscovery.org

Countdown to the New Year at 12 noon at Port Discovery! Kids can get in on the excitement of New Year’s Eve before bedtime at our Annual Noontime New Year featuring Eric Energy! Join us as we celebrate super heroes and super powers! Come dressed in your favorite costume as we decorate numbers and make sound makers for our noon countdown, complete with a juice and cookie toast! Enjoy a SUPER sized number of performances, activities, and more.

11th Annual New Year’s Eve Deck Party

USS Constellation - Pier 1
www.historicships.org

Toast the New Year aboard USS Constellation at the annual New Year’s Eve Deck Party. Sip champagne at midnight and watch the fireworks high above the Inner Harbor crowds. Festivities include resolutions and party favors, giveaways, special tours and cannon firings all night. Proceeds benefit education programs, restoration projects and future exhibits at the Historic Ships.

Baltimore's New Year's Eve Spectacular presented by the Baltimore Orioles 

Baltimore's Inner Harbor
www.bop.org

A celebration offering a night of a variety of live music and the countdown to 2013 with live music starting at 9pm at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater, and a fireworks display that is the largest in the region- turning the sky over the Inner Harbor into a multitude of colors. The choreographed fireworks show starts at the stroke of midnight, 12am.