Holiday Fun Along the Chesapeake Waterfront
From crab basket Christmas trees to lighted boat parades, it’s hard to beat the holidays on the Chesapeake Bay. Be sure to check event websites for any updates or weather cancellations before heading out.
Upper Bay
34th Annual Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats: December 3. A spectacular display of decorated boats will parade through the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. Find a spot at the Inner Harbor Promenade or choose a waterfront restaurant to watch from. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Anchorage Marina and lasts until 8 p.m.
Bear Creek Lighted Boat Parade: December 3. Starting at 5 p.m. at Hard Yacht Café in Dundalk, MD. Visit the Bear Creek Sailing Association Facebook page to register your boat.
Christmas in Chesapeake City: December 10. On December 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Poplar Hall presents the Christmas Parade of Horses and Market. The day begins with an amazing parade of horses directly through and around Historic Chesapeake City, MD. Afterwards, enjoy an all-handmade artisan Christmas market, bagpipers, a European Father Christmas, and so much more. The Chesapeake City Candlelight House Tour takes place the same day from 6 to 9 p.m. Learn more at chesapeakecity.com.
Middle Bay
St. Mary’s County Exhibits. From November 27 through January 1, guests can enjoy tours through a family-friendly retro holiday exhibit in the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and keeper’s quarters in Piney Point, MD (facebook.com/1836light). And at the St. Clement’s Island Museum, December 1 through January 1, there will be a holiday exhibit featuring antique and collectible dolls, classic trains, and other retro toys in Colton’s Point, MD (facebook.com/SCIMuseum).
Midnight Madness in Annapolis. The streets and storefronts of Historic Annapolis will be adorned with holiday decorations and lights to create a Downtown winter wonderland. Visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space, and Dock Street from 4 p.m. until midnight. Dates include December 1, December 8, and December 15 (shops only open to 11 p.m.). downtownannapolispartnership.org/midnight-madness
Alexandria Christmas Walk Parade and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: December 3. The 51st annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade takes place December 3 at 11 a.m. Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, as well as terriers and hounds.
Dozens of brightly lit boats will cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Alexandria City Marina. The duration of the parade can vary from 30 minutes to an hour based on total participants, cruising speeds, and river conditions. Find directions and parade viewing areas at visitalexandria.com/holidays/boat-parade. Dockside festivities start at 2 p.m. at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront at Waterfront Park including a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, food, activities, and more.
The District’s Holiday Boat Parade: December 3. Celebrate the holidays with this iconic Washington, DC, event (it’s the 30th anniversary!) that features over 60 beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. Enjoy activities through The Wharf from 6 to 9 p.m., including a waterfront beer and wine garden, s’mores, and live music. Boats arrive in the Washington Channel at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks salute at 8 p.m. and live music on the District Pier Stage from 8:15 to 9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and will take place rain or shine. wharfdc.com
“Crabby Christmas” Parade: December 3. The 73rd Annual Cambridge-Dorchester County Christmas Parade takes place Saturday, December 3 in Cambridge, MD. The parade is hosted and brought to the community by a small group of community volunteers for their love of community and the holiday season. The parade is 100 percent donor funded by local businesses, charities, and the community at large. Each year brings something new and exciting, and this year’s theme is “Crabby Christmas.” The parade route begins at Long Wharf, progresses down High St., turns left onto Poplar, straight down Race St., and ending at Washington St. by Haddaways. Lineup begins at 4 p.m. and the parade kicks off at 5 p.m. You can find a map of the parade route at christmasparade.org.
Rock Hall, MD
In the town of Rock Hall, you’ll want to mark December 3 on your calendar as Santa arrives to light the basket tree at 5 p.m. And on December 10, the Rock Hall Holiday Market takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stay tuned for more details at rockhallmd.com.
Holiday Gift Making Workshops at CBMM
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum(CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD, will host a few Gift Making Workshops in December. Projects are designed for students in grades 6-9 and vary from beginner to intermediate skill levels. Projects will be revealed at the first session of each workshop, and participants must attend all days in a given session to complete it. Transportation will be provided from the Easton YMCA and St. Michaels Middle/High School and back to the Easton YMCA. Next up: December 5-7 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Rising Tide Annex Workshop at CBMM. Theme: Mystery Box. The final session takes place December 12-14 with a theme of “Sensational Scraps.” Workshops are free. Learn more and register at cbmm.org or email [email protected].
Christmas in St. Michaels: December 9-11
This year’s events include a lighted boat parade and festive Talbot Street Parade (Saturday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m. from Perry Cabin south to Seymour Avenue), a home tour, breakfast with Santa, holiday music and meals, a Santa dash, marketplace and sweet shop, and a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour. The Lighted Boat Parade takes place December 10 at 6 p.m. around St. Michaels Harbor. This is a judged competition for bragging rights. Find a map of the parade route and a registration form at christmasinstmichaels.org. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will open its campus to view the lighted boat parade and admission is free after 4 p.m. (The exhibition buildings will be closed, but the bathrooms will be open. Please, do not leave trash behind.) All proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition collector’s ornament and other products directly benefit local, nonprofit organizations in the community.
Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade: December 10
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the parade! 6 to 8 p.m. in Annapolis Harbor. The city will be extremely busy the night of the parade and traffic movement will be limited before, during, and after the parade. Please note: the Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to vehicles crossing between downtown Annapolis and Eastport periodically from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Find a parade route, viewing locations, parking, and public transportation information at eastportyc.org/lights-parade. You can also find decorating tips and a registration form at the same link. Skippers must register and attend the Skipper’s Meeting Thursday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at Eastport Yacht Club (EYC). The parade is open to anyone with a lighted boat, power or sail, EYC members and non-members.
Solomons Christmas Walk: December 10
This year, Solomons, MD, celebrates its 41st Christmas Walk! The Christmas tree in the Solomons Riverwalk Gazebo will be lit at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 9 (the 15- to 18-foot tree will arrive Monday, November 28). At the gazebo, you’ll also find Santa’s mailbox for letters to Santa, and the island will be decorated with lights and banners. The deadline for judging the Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Business is Saturday, December 19. Decorated houses and businesses in Solomons/Dowell will be scored and voted on by the public on the Solomons Business Association Facebook page (facebook.com/solomonsbusinessassoc). Other events include the Patuxent High School Jazz Band, professional pictures with Santa, refreshments, cookies, and of course, the lighted boat parade.
The Solomons Lighted Boat Parade will be held on December 10, weather permitting. Lighted sail and powerboats of any shape and size are welcome. The captain’s meeting is at 5:45 p.m. at the Solomons Yachting Center dock office (next to the fuel dock) and the parade starts at 6:30 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. at Solomons Island Yacht Club. To register, visit solomonsmaryland.com or call the fleet captain at Solomons Island Yacht Club at (887) 256-6272 or email [email protected].
Lower Bay
Christmas in Onancock: December 2-December 11. Events vary, from Holiday Wine Wednesday to a tree lighting (Friday, December 2 at Ker Place at 6 p.m.) and holiday movie screenings but boaters will want to mark Saturday, December 10 on their calendars because Santa arrives by boat at the Wharf at 11 a.m. The 10th also features a holiday artisan market, Christmas homes tour, caroling, a music festival, and more. The Onancock holiday parade takes place Sunday, December 11 at 5 p.m. Learn more at onancock.com.
Christmas in Yorktown. The holiday fun kicks off with Yorktown’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Friday, December 2. This community tradition goes all the way back to 1945. Everyone is invited to gather at the Yorktown Victory Monument by 6:30 p.m. for live music including a performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. From there, the procession will make its way from the Victory Monument to Riverwalk Landing, where the tree lighting ceremony will begin.
One of the most anticipated Yorktown holiday events every season is the Christmas Market on Main, which has been extended to two days (December 3 and 4). Close to 100 vendors line the street selling everything from nautical paintings to handmade soaps to Christmas wreaths. The Town Crier will ring in the market at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a performance from the Fifes and Drums of York Town to officially open the market. Then, Santa Claus himself will ride in on York County’s first fire truck, before mingling with the crowd to greet families. Expect strolling musical entertainment throughout the day to add to the festive atmosphere.
The Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade takes place December 3. Pre-parade festivities start at 6 p.m. and include caroling around a beach bonfire, a musical performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, and complimentary hot cider. The boats will finish out the evening, as they make their way down the river in a dazzling show of lights that starts at 7 p.m.
Other events include Cookies with Santa (December 4), An Enchanted Evening on Main Street (a nighttime Christmas market December 9 from 5 to 9 p.m.), Yorktown Market Days – Mistletoe Market (December 10), and more. For more information, visit visityorktown.org.
Hampton Lighted Boat Parade: December 10. The Hampton River will come to life as a fleet of decorated boats parade past the Downtown Hampton waterfront. The parade runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Following the parade, Santa will join the fun dockside from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. to provide one last chance for your family to visit with him! This event is free and open to the public. Learn more and register your boat at downtownhampton.com/lighted-boat-parade-main.
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