Countdown to Christmas 2025
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FESTIVAL OF TREES:
KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE
This three-day holiday celebration on Thanksgiving weekend at the Timonium Fairgrounds benefits the patients, students and programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute and kicks off the most wonderful time of the year for families throughout the region.
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BALTIMORE’S MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
Bob Hosier is the guy who started it all. When Bob was a teenager living in northeast Baltimore, he placed a string of lights on a tree in the family yard. Darlene Hughes’ family also decorated her home on 34th street, so it only seemed fitting that the two would meet, get married and start the tradition that is what everyone now refers to as the Miracle On 34th Street. Over the years many visitors from around the world have visited the lights on 34th Street and left messages in the books that the Hosiers leave on their porch for people to sign and share.
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The Caine Woods Christmas House
The Caine Woods Christmas House is located on Fountain Road at South Bay Drive between 136th and 139th Streets in North Ocean City, MD. The owner, Mark Jahnke, has won awards for the decorations, which he has been putting up since 2019.
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CHRISTMAS IN THE VALLEY
Deep in Harford County, right where the old Phillips Mill used to be in Forest Hill, Maryland, is where Lisa Phillips has created ‘Christmas In The Valley.’ Inside a barn that has been in the Phillips family for generations, the Phillips grandchildren will greet you and lead you to great local holiday shopping treasures.
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CHRISTMAS TOWN – PITTSVILLE, MARYLAND
Mike and Marsha Newton say “we live and breath Christmas.” Christmas Town helps local families with the donations received, bringing smiles and tears of joy to them. The Newtons have holiday displays illuminated from 5pm til 8pm weather permitting each evening during the holiday season at 6685 Friendship Road, Pittsville, Maryland. Please be safe when parking and please don’t turn around in neighbors driveways .
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Christmas Walk of Wonder – Ellicott City, MD
Bethany Church invites you to a unique Christmas experience. The Christmas Walk of Wonder is an outdoor journey through thousands of Christmas lights and a fanciful forest of themed Christmas trees telling the story of Jesus’ birth. A live animal nativity will bring Bethlehem to Ellicott City as attendees enjoy a live concert featuring Bethany Choirs, Student Bands, and Children’s Choir. The synthetic ice rink will be open for skating and concessions will be available with warm snacks and treats. Reservations are required to secure your path entry time. Suggested donation of $20 per family or small group.
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CRABS FOR CHRISTMAS
For more than 40 years, David DeBoy has given us “Crabs For Christmas.” Listen how his little Christmas creation was born, has become tradition for us all, and changed the way he spends his Christmas season….Hon!
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GERMAN CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN BALTIMORE
Christmas Village in Baltimore is a combination of an outdoor and indoor holiday festival at West Shore Park at the Inner Harbor. The event is modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany, like the famous Christkindl Market in Nuremberg. Vendors in wooden booths offer traditional European food.
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HOLIDAY BRASS BALTIMORE
The 20th annual Holiday Brass Baltimore Concert, November 28, 2023 7:30pm at The Cathedral of Mary of Queen, features music of the season for brass and organ, familiar carols, and the Highland Cathedral for bag pipes, organ and brass. Brass players from the National Capitol Region’s orchestras and Military bands perform with St. Paul’s Concert Chorale and soprano soloist Ms. Kelli Young.
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OCEAN CITY HOLIDAY TRAIN GARDEN
The Ocean City Holiday Train Garden is set up in the Ocean City Convention Center. Each evening it comes alive with scenes from the beach town as trains circle the scenery. It’s a great way to spend part of an evening with the family during the holidays in Ocean City.
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Kellnerville
A family holiday train garden rivalry between father and son over the years has produced hours of enjoyment for the Kellner family. Growing up, Brian Kellner was a “helper” each year when dad would set up the holiday train garden. Eventually Brian mastered the task and eventually his garden beat dad’s….with the love of the season of course.
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Gibbons “Civil War” Holiday Train Garden
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The Shops At Kennelworth Holiday Train Garden
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Jeff’s Christmas Light Show Spectacular!
You just cannot drive past 206 S. Camp Meade Road without stopping. Jeff’s Christmas Light Show Spectacular features everything from creative holiday decorations, to snow, to a Christmas Market and even special guests on selected nights. Check out their web page and plan a visit.
Jeff’s Christmas Light Show Spectacular! | Linthicum Heights, MD
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A Jon & Janine Miller Maryland Christmas
Jon Miller is known primarily for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball. Jon was the Play by Play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles from the 1983 season through the 1996 season, during which time he and wife Janine lived in Baltimore County’s Lutherville subdivision and shared many Christmas memories together with family and friends. Jon has since been a play by play announcer for the San Francisco Giants, as well as for ESPN from 1990 to 2010. Jon Miller received the Ford C. Frick award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
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LESSENS AND CAROLS AT ST. PAUL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ELLICOTT CITY
Lessens and Carols is an annual tradition at St. Paul’s in Ellicott City, Maryland where the children of the parish take center stage to experience their faith in a living moment by telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a way for them to learn about the Nativity of Christ, which is core to all of Christian faith.
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LUTHER CORNISH & CHRISTMAS EVE ON TAYLOR’S ISLAND
It has been more than 60 years since Luther Cornish and his family first put a glow on the faces of Taylor’s Island residents on Christmas Eve. The community saves the date each year just to hear Luther sing and lead his ever growing family in holiday song. See you Christmas Eve at Boats & Hoses on Taylor’s Island.
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THE MERRIWEATHER SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS
Over the years, millions of dollars have been raised for Howard County General Hospital each Christmas season on the grounds of Merriweather Post Pavilion. The Merriweather Symphony of Lights is now a time-honored magical tradition. Listen as you learn how many lights make up the displays. Oh, and enjoy the “oohs and ahs”!
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Padonia Swim Club Winter Wonderland
The Padonia Swim Club, on Jennifer Road in Cockeysville, has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the holidays. You can take a Holiday Wagon Ride around the 30 decorated acres. Catch the tree lighting show at the castle on selected nights with local celebrity tree lighters. There are “Meet & Greets” with Santa as well as other holiday friends around the park. Beau & Tinsel, Maryland’s famous talking reindeer, will meet guests at their holiday home. Catch the magical snowfall and warm up at the Ski Chalet Grill.
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SANTA’S ELDERSBURG HELPER
Do you know where Santa’s mail stop # 118 is? It’s in Eldersburg, Maryland. Santa’s helper Neal is in charge of it. He has a direct pipeline to the North Pole. It’s Neal’s job to get children’s wish-lists to Santa. Hear how he has been doing that for more than 40 years. HINT: It’s all about the database!
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SCHELLVILLE: A CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
Want to have a snowball battle no matter what the weather? Experience a sledding hill in the snow? How about a train ride around the village, or a trip through the Christmas tree maze? Of course, everyone wants to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in their Chalet! You can do it all every evening during the holiday season at Schellville. Listen as we take you on a special audio tour.
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SANTA DON & MRS. SUSIE CLAUS FROM CAMBRIDGE
Don Bartley was watching the news one night and heard a report that there were fewer Santa Clauses. On Christmas Day 2021 he decided to grow his white beard back and thus began the journey for Don and Susie Bartley, who are now known as Santa Don & Mrs. Susie Claus. They even went to Santa school together.
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Winterfest of Lights – Ocean City, MD.
Get ready to embark on a journey into the enchanting spirit of the holiday season at the Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City, MD. Enjoy a walk-through winter wonderland experience and explore the 58-acre Northside Park. Northside Park 200 125th St, Ocean City, MD 21842
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Winter City Lights – Olney, MD
Bring your family and friends for a festive & memorable holiday season night out. Get your Winter City Lights tickets and plan a magical night filled with dazzling lights, festive shows, and holiday fun for all ages. There is an 8 Lane Tubing Hill and plenty Smore’s and hot chocolate.
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