It should be no challenge to find holiday-related events in Anne Arundel County. The season is rife with celebrations from the quirky (boat parades and scantily-clad Santa runs) to the traditional (Handel’s “Messiah” and menorah lightings.)
Here’s a sampling of the season’s best:
Sandy Point State Park’s Lights On The Bay kicked off earlier this month with more than 60 holiday lights displays along a 2-mile stretch of waterfront roadway. The $15-per-car admission raises money for the Anne Arundel SPCA, and the scenic drive is open from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly through New Year’s Day. For more information, visit lightsonthebay.org.
The Annapolis Shakespeare Company, 1804 West St., presents it’s version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Sally Boyett and Donald Hicken, for the second season.
Shows run Friday through Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. There are two special shows on Christmas Eve at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets and information at www.annapolisshakespeare.org.
The Downtown Annapolis Partnership joins the Annapolis Jaycees volunteer group to ring in the holiday season in downtown Annapolis at the Grand Illumination and annual tree lighting by the Market House Sunday.
This year’s celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. with dancing and carols by local school groups. Santa arrives to help light the tree about an hour later to help get everyone in the holiday spirit.
The Jaycees serve hot chocolate and candy canes, and children can decorate ornaments. The organization also will accept donations of unwrapped toys and nonperishable food for their annual Angel Tree program helping local families in need during the holiday season. The show is over by 7 p.m.
For more information, visit downtownannapolispartnership.org.
Midnight Madness is three nights of nighttime shopping in Historic Downtown Annapolis with streets and storefronts adorned with holiday decorations, garland, bows and lights plus street performers, in-store refreshments, entertainment and more.
Stroll and shop along Maryland Avenue, State Circle, West Street, Main Street, Market Space, Randall Street and Dock Street from 6 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, and until 11 p.m. Dec. 20.
“Midnight Madness nights are fun evenings to shop with friends,” said Erik Evans, executive director of the Downtown Annapolis Partnership. “Listen to the musicians lined up along the sidewalks, get a drink in your favorite pub, check out the alpacas and take your picture under the holiday light canopy on West Street, in Snowflake Alley on Main Street or in front of the Christmas tree by the Market House.”
There will be free parking at Calvert Street garage, St. Johns Street, and special rates at other city garages. The circulator bus will be picking up and dropping off at the garages.
Smack in the middle of Hanukkah on Dec. 6, Menorah Parade and Lighting at City Dock puts the festival of lights on wheels. A motorcade leaves from the Safeway at 2635 Housley Road at 6 p.m. and heads downtown. Once it reaches City Dock, the celebration will light a giant menorah and feast on hot latkes.
For more information, including reserving a magnetic menorah to attach your car, visit chabadaac.com.
Live Arts Maryland presents two holiday concerts with A Celebration of Christmas at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts on Dec. 7 and a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 22 at St. Anne’s Church.
At A Celebration of Christmas, the Annapolis Chorale and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra perform favorite holiday tunes, like “White Christmas,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Sleigh Ride.” There’s an audience sing-along, too. The concert costs $58 for balcony seats at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St.
Portions of Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed Dec. 22 by the Chamber Chorus, Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists. The performance includes large-screen displays of images, translations and biblical quotes. Tickets cost $18-$51.
Both performances are at 8 p.m. Information and tickets, visit liveartsmaryland.org.
The Glen Burnie Christmas Tree Lighting is on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at 19 Crain Highway. The Glen Burnie Improvement Association’s annual event features the illumination, followed by a celebration inside the community hall with hot chocolate and cookies, Christmas crafts and tunes, and a visit with the Jolly Ol’ Elf himself. Children can also write letters to Santa.
For more information, call 410-766-6760.
The Naval Academy Band presents its Holiday by the Bay concert, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Chapel. Various ensembles of the band will play traditional and contemporary seasonal tunes conducted by Lt. Cmdr. Patrick K. Sweeten. There’s even an appearance by Santa Claus, who will be on hand to deliver candy.
As with all Naval Academy Band performances, the event is free and open to the public.
Plan to arrive early to get through security, and take the available shuttle from Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/USNAband or call 410-293-1262.
The second Saturday in December it’s the 36th annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, one of the city’s signature events. Around 30 boats float around Annapolis Harbor, decorated to the mast tops with lights and displays both traditional and whimsical. Boat owners spend days decorating their craft for the parade and vie for prizes and bragging rights until next year.
The two-hour show starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 around the harbor and up Spa Creek above the bridge. Get there early to find a prime viewing spot, or board the Harbor Queen to take it all in. Just bring a donation of nonperishable food or make a donation to climb aboard. Beverages and food available on board.
Find more information about the free event at www.eastportyc.org/lights-parade.
The Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present “The Nutcracker,” the two-act ballet bringing to life the magic of Christmas.
Ticket holders for the two Sunday matinees, on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, are invited to a Sugar Plum party an hour before the performances with holiday treats, crafts, a holiday sing-along and an appearance by Santa.
The annual event runs for six performances at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts on two weekends, Dec. 8-9 and Dec.15-16. Information and tickets at www.balletmaryland.org.
Area fire departments and close to 1,000 volunteer hours make the annual Santa Run possible every year. Fire trucks cruise through Annapolis and environs on Dec. 9 collecting wrapped toys for the area’s needy children. It is both a celebration of the giving spirit of the season and an exciting event for children who come out to see Santa aboard the fire trucks that make runs through area neighborhoods in a well-choreographed effort.
“I cannot say how special it is to see the look on a young child’s face to see Santa arrive — to just sit on his lap and talk to him. The way their eyes get as big as saucers is warming to the heart,” Santa Run chairman John Muhitch said.
Once the toys are collected they are sorted by more volunteers and then delivered to homes across the area.
For the fire truck routes and schedules, visit www.annapolissantarun.com.
The Chesapeake Arts Center presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with a twist on Dec. 14 as the Front Porch Orchestra from Easton presents “A Bluegrass Nutcracker.”
The seven-piece group plays the entire Tchaikovsky orchestration, bar for bar, with bluegrass flair. Spokesman and guitarist Ray Remesch said the performance also includes a narrator who tells part of the story in between sections of the score.
Tickets are $15, and performances take place at 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park. Information at chesapeakearts.org.
The Annapolis Santa Speedo Run started 12 years ago and since then it has collected over 5,000 toys and books for children in the area.
Would be Santas, and Santa-ettes, gather around at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 15 by O’Brien’s, 113 Main St. to begin psyching, sipping and otherwise preparing for the “run” up Main Street.
The trip starts at 12:30 p.m., just after the shy peel off their outer layers down to speedos, bathing suits and Santa-like accoutrements. The not-so-shy arrive scantily festooned and ready to go, though thongs are discouraged.
A $25 entry fee comes with a T-shirt, and participants should bring a toy or book to donate. The Salvation Army is on hand to collect those items to be distributed to needy kids.
See www.santaspeedorunannapolis.com for more information.
Stock up on African-American literature at the Kwanzaa Holiday Book Fair and Author Showcase on Dec. 15. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, 1101 Smithville St., shoppers can peruse new and used books about black life and culture, and local authors will be on hand to sign them. The fair is free, but $10 gets you a swag bag and a book published by the event organizer, Our Legaci Press.
For more information, visit ourlegacipress.com/kwanzaa-book-fair.
The Annapolis New Year’s Eve Celebration starts early.
Family activities fill the day, while music and dancing fill the night at this annual celebration welcoming the New Year. For the third year, kids’ activities will take place on Weems Whelan Field behind Maryland Hall and Bates Middle School. Activities will include kids’ crafts, obstacle courses, moon bounces and music performed by kids’ rock bands. The afternoon festivities wrap up with fireworks at approximately 5:15 p.m.
The second round of festivities includes live music and dancing at Susan Campbell Park at City Dock beginning at 8 p.m. with the band Radio City leading the fun. It ends at with midnight fireworks.
