Winter Fun in Maryland - 2015

Here are some ideas to enjoy the winter and holiday season in Maryland.  All ideas are family friendly and most I have personally enjoyed. Unless otherwise stated, the descriptions are from the event websites.
 
 
Gaylord Hotel and ICE 
Marvel at more than 2 million twinkling lights, amazing nightly snowfall and beautiful dancing fountains at Gaylord National’s Christmas on the Potomac. 

ICE Pictures from my
Family's trip a few years ago.

 


The Water show is awesome.

Back this year is ICE! with a new theme featuring Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town! Learn how Santa Claus started giving toys to good girls and boys in the retelling of the classic television special.
 
 
 
 

This was from ICE!
When it had a Grinch theme.
The theme changes each year.

Enjoy a special bonus area – The Frostbite Factory – a LIVE ice carving zone. And, don’t forget about Gingerbread Decorating Corner, The Elf on the Shelf^® Scavenger Hunt and much more to get you in the spirit of the season!

It snows INSIDE!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*Personal Note - The ICE! experience is amazing, but if you do not have it in your budget, just a visit to the Gaylord is beautiful with the water and lights show.   You do not have to stay there to enjoy the show.
 
 
Chesapeake City's Winterfest of Lights

Photo from Chesapeak's Site.

 
The Second Annual Chesapeake City WINTERFEST opens with flourish on Sunday, December 1st with a late afternoon concert of holiday music, singing of Christmas carols, and a flurry of new and exciting holiday happenings. Chesapeake City’s season-long Victorian Christmas celebration takes place on both sides of the C&D Canal with a blizzard of holiday lights and spectacular lighted displays along the north and south waterfronts.


Photo from Chesapeak's Site

Come see the lights. Listen to the carolers. Bring the children to Santa’s Workshop in historic Franklin Hall. See the beautifully decorated homes and porch decorating competition. Listen to holiday music concerts in Pell Gardens. Visit the quaint shops and celebrate the season in world-renowned restaurants while in town. Winter-warming beverages and holiday bites are available at the Canal Creamery, a cozy stop along the waterfront next to Pell Gardens. There is also an outdoor Skating rink open through February.
 
 
 National Harbour
National Harbor is your must see destination for all things holiday:


Photo from the National Harbor
Facebook Page

Whether enjoying the festive lights and a wintry stroll with your family, knocking out all of your holiday shopping in one trip, delighting the kids with a visit from Santa on The Carousel, or indulging a cozy date night with your other half — National Harbor is your holiday headquarters. 

Photo from the National Harbor Site
 

 
 
 

You can also enjoy a trip around the Capital Wheel, a year round  Ferris Wheel giving a bird's eye view of the Capital.

Baltimore's 34th Street 
As per Wikipedia,  in Baltimore, Maryland, Miracle on 34th Street is a display of holiday lights that takes place annually on the 700 block of 34th Street (between Chestnut Avenue and Keswick Road) in Baltimore's Hampden community. The display, which involves the residents of most of the houses on the block, started in 1947, and takes place between late November and early January, celebrating its 69th year this Christmas.^[1] The location at the time of year becomes a major tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world, sometimes drawing more than 1000 visitors on a single evening.

A photo from my visit a few years ago.

*Personal Note - The Parking and the street get crowded, but I think everyone should go at least once. It is amazing that all of these families get so much into the spirit and have done so for decades. The lights are not limited to the outside. Some houses have adorable decorations that you can see from the porches or windows.
 
 
 
 The National Christmas Tree and State Trees
The National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony takes place each year on the grounds of the Ellipse, south of the White House. With musical performances, and a message of hope and peace, this event kicks off the annual National Christmas Tree program, which runs until January 1st.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas Tree on the grounds of the Ellipse. Every year, we continue that tradition, with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. In 1954, 56 smaller trees were planted around the National Christmas Tree, representing the 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. Each year, these trees are decorated by organizations from every state.

The National Christmas Tree Program continues until January 1st and is free to the public. The trees and their decorations are the main attraction, but the program also includes musical performances, a model train, and Santa’s Workshop. All trees are lit from dusk until 11 pm. Musical performances are performed weeknights between 6 pm and 8:30 pm, and weekends between 4 pm and 8:30 pm. The model train runs from 11 am to 11 pm. Santa and his elves are in the workshop at select times throughout December. More information on these hours can be found here.

*Personal Note - Sometimes it is easy to forget how lucky we are to live so close to the Nation's Capital and connected historical sites and events.  While this may not be as exciting as the zoo for kids, it is a cool event to experience. Also, the drive into and out of DC is beautiful this time of year if you take the right route where you can see our nations monuments lit up.



 Annual Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Park
 

Photo from Watkins' Site

This spectacular holiday drive-through event features more than one million twinkling lights and is sure to leave families dazzling in amazement. Be sure to look for the many new Wizard of Oz lighting dipslays!

Photo from Watkins' Site

*Personal Note - The CASH ONY prices are per vehicle, so get more bang for your buck by going with another family.
 
 
 
 

 


Annmarie Garden In Lights in Solomons Island
Winner of Maryland Life Magazine's Finest Holiday Tradition Award, Annmarie Garden In Lights is a magical tour that takes visitors on a beautiful trip through the glittering woods. As you stroll the protected path, you will be transported to a fantastical place of spectacular lights and amazing "light sculptures." Guests will be surrounded by mythical beasts, wild animals, airplanes, pirates, princesses, circus performers, dinosaurs, and more. Because all the "light sculptures" are made at Annmarie, the designs are one-of-a-kind; nothing in this show is commercially available. It is all made just for visitors to Annmarie Garden In Lights! Enjoy the "Holiday I Spy Game," nightly entertainment, special discount nights, sweet treats, and other fun activities.

Photo from Garden Site.

Start your tour in the Arts Building where you will also find the Ornament Show & Sale, nightly entertainment, exhibits, and the Holiday Cafe. And don't forget to ask for a "Holiday I Spy" program. This year, the "Holiday I Spy" game will feature a green shamrock hidden in each vignette. Try to find all seven shamrocks! Scroll down to see the complete schedule of nightly entertainment and activities.

Christmas Village in Baltimore

The new Baltimorean Holiday tradition!

After a tremendous success of Baltimore's sister market - Christmas Village in Philadelphia, which developed within the 7 years of its existence into one of the world's 10 best Holiday markets - Baltimore got it's own version of a German style Christmas Village in 2013.

In 2015, Baltimore's original German Christmas Market will return to West Shore Park/ Inner Harbor on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Closing day for the season will be December 27 - the last Sunday of the year, which will give visitors an additional Homecoming Weekend to enjoy! The regular opening hours will be Sun - Thur 11am - 7pm and Fri - Sat 11am - 8pm, with the first three Tuesdays in December (Dec 1, Dec 8, Dec 15) and Christmas Day (Dec 25) being closed days!

 A lot of exciting events and attractions are waiting for our visitors! The well-known and beloved weekend events such as the Opening Ceremony with the Christkind from Nuremberg along with the official Tree Lighting Ceremony and the German American weekend will be back and other new events such as the Homecoming Weekend will be added.

If you want to beat the crowd and enjoy Christmas Village for free, come down to the Inner Harbor on a weekday and enjoy our new Winetasting events, daily Happy Hours, Kids Fridays and daily live performances by locals artists at our stage presented by Condor!

Zoo Lights
Both the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and National Zoo in Washington, D.C. have great light displays and connected activities during Decemeber. 

Photo of the National Zoo from thier website.

Entrance to the national zoo is free, but activities can require paid admission. The Maryland zoo does have an admission fee, but it is reduced in December and may include some events such as Santa Saturdays.





 Outdoor Skating 



Photo from the rink in Glen Burnie
 from thier site.

At various Locations in Maryland, you can find outdoor ice rinks. You can find them in Baltimore, Rockville, Silver Spring, Glen Burnie, Quiet Waters (Annapolis), Solomons Island and Wisp (Garrett County). 









Photo from the rink at Quiet Waters from thier site.

In the past, there has been a rink at the National Harbor, but I am still trying to see if that tradition is continuing this year.



The State of Maryland may not be large, but there is alot of fun in our little state. Get out there and Enjoy it!