Get away from the hustle and bustle of the mall and enjoy the holidays in a quieter setting. Delmarva small towns offer boutique shopping, holiday tree lightings and parades, amazing light displays, festive libations and comfort food to warm you up.
Check out our December events to get you in the holiday spirit.
Through January 1
Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City
Sunday – Thursday 5:30pm to 9:30pm, Friday – Saturday 5:30pm to 10:30pm, Northside Park, 200 125 Street, $5 for 12 years old and older, 11 years old and younger free. Tram ride through colorful and festive light displays, enjoy the Christmas Village and meet Santa.
December 1
Holiday Open House at Ocean City Life Saving Museum
813 South Atlantic Avenue, in the Inlet, free event, explore the history of Ocean City, Bunk Mann “Ghosts in the Surf” book signing.
December 4
Red Doors Christmas Cabaret at Ocean City Performing Arts Center
5:30pm, $10 per person holiday celebration songs and dancing.
December 5
Berlin Christmas Parade
7 pm – 9pm, Downtown Main Street
Celebrate the holiday season as people fill the streets to watch the marching bands, dance teams, fire companies and local organizations floats while awaiting the arrival of Santa. Shuttle available from Berlin Intermediate School. Event by the Town of Berlin.
December 6
Christmas Open House at Gallery 107 in Seaford
5-8pm
Unique one of a kind gifts and art classes for kids and adults.
December 6
First Friday Opening at the Ocean City Center for the Arts
The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to a free opening reception and special holiday artisan fair on First Friday, Dec. 6 from 5 – 7 pm at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th St. Five new art exhibitions will open, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. The holiday artisan fair, which continues on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., offers unique, handcrafted gifts made by local artists. More than a dozen artisans will offer their work including glass, jewelry, textiles, baskets, ceramics, mixed media, and more.
December 6
Crisfield Christmas Parade
6:30 pm – Main Street
The Crisfield Christmas Parade is bigger and better than ever! The parade will start December 6th at 6:30 pm at the Crisfield Library, 100 Collins Street, and continue down Route 413 to 11th Street. Singer Jewelie Brumley will perform at reviewing stage at N 10th and Route 413 (Main Street) next to the Customs House after the parade. An Opening Reception will be held for artist Cheryl Wisbrock at The Bay Gift Vault, 952 W Main Street from 4-7 pm. Downtown shops will be open late and serving free refreshments.
December 6-7
Denton Holiday Marketplace
Friday, 12pm – 7pm, Saturday, 10am – 4pm
The Holiday Marketplace is a great place to do your holiday shopping. You’ll find handmade items, including hand-carved decoy ducks, baked goods, journals, wreaths, jewelry and more! A special reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” will take place Friday evening at 6pm by Keith Shaffer at the Visitors Center. On Saturday, enjoy live music by Ampersand from 11am – 1pm at the Visitor Center.
Wharves of Choptank Crossing Heritage Center, 3 Crouse Park Lane, Denton
Luck and Love Homestead, 10 S. 3rd Street, Denton
DowntownDenton.com
December 6-8
Chestertown’s Annual Dickens Festival
Non-stop entertainment, authentic British foods, hand-crafted gifts, a holiday house tour, and a Victorian streetscape to transport visitors back to 1840’s London.
December 7
Downtown Seaford Association Annual Christmas Parade
Step-off at 7pm, Downtown Seaford (Pennsylvania, High St, Market St)
December 7-9
Crisfield’s Christmas Shopping Fair
9 am to 1 pm – Crisfield Elks #1044
Shop locally! We will have lots of handmade crafts, floral arrangements, wreaths, baked goods and tasty treats. There will, also be small business vendors on site.
December 7 – January 18
Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibit at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield
Thursdays & Fridays, 12 pm to 5:30 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm
3 9th St, Crisfield, MD 21817
The Smithsonian’s Water/Ways exhibition dives into water–an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally, and historically. This free exhibit is sponsored by PNC Bank.
December 7
Ocean City Christmas Parade
11am from Old Landing Road north to 120th Street-free event, kid friendly.
December 7
The Oak Ridge Boys’ Christmas Celebration Tour
The Grammy Award-winning group will play their Shine The Light On Christmas show at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center
December 8
Pictures with Santa at Every Fiber Coffee
12 – 2pm, 306 High St, Seaford
December 8
Mid Atlantic Symphony
Ring in the Season at the OC Performing Arts Center with a festive selection of holiday music highlighting music from the big band orchestras.
December 13
Brian’s Christmas Songbook
6:30pm – Ocean City Performing Arts Center
$ 10 – Mid Atlantic Symphony and Melissa Alessi – Christmas Concert.
December 13
Carrie Cheston at the Bay Gift Vault
952 W Main St, Crisfield, 4 – 7 pm
Carrie’s handcrafted stained glass art is produced utilizing the copper foil technique, also known as the Tiffany Method, which involves wrapping individual pieces of glass with copper foil and soldering them together. Handmade Jewelry and ornaments, and more.
December 14
Cambridge Second Saturday
Join us in downtown Cambridge for a special December Second Saturday! We will be hosting special hours, and drawing the grand prize winners of the SHOP & WIN downtown holiday promotion. Carriage Rides for hire available from Simmons Center Market 5pm – 8pm, 600 Race Street. The Dorchester Santa Toy Drive finale event takes place 5pm – 10pm. Grand Prize drawing for the DOWNTOWN SHOP & WIN promotion at 8:00pm. Art Stroll Receptions and exhibits at the Main Street Gallery and Dorchester Center for the Arts.
December 14
Holiday House Tour
Noon-5pm, Snow Hill
Included in the tour will be ten beautiful historic homes decorated for the holidays in all their unique splendor. In addition to the featured homes, the tour will include two National Registry listed historic churches. The tour is self-guided and may be completed in any order.
December 14-16
A Dickens Christmas Weekend in Snow Hill
Holiday Carriage Rides and a Photo With Santa
December 15
The Nutcracker
1:30pm, Ocean City Performing Arts Center,
$14 to $20 per person
December 15
Christmas at the Culinary Center
12pm – 2pm
You don’t want to miss Christmas at the Culinary Center, a fun-filled event for all ages! Admission is $15 per person and includes a build-your-own Gingerbread House Kit with tons of sweets to customize, cookie decorating, holiday treats,and a special visit from Santa. Tickets are available here.
Caroline Culinary Arts Center, 512 Franklin Street, Denton
Contact: CarolineCulinaryArts.org or 410.479.2144
December 18
Originals Only
7-9pm, Art League of Ocean City
Free! Live music and stand-up comedy by local up-and-coming artists in an alcohol-free, coffeehouse setting. Free coffee!
December 21
$5 Film Night
7-8:30pm, Art League of Ocean City
Description: Join us for another screening brought to you by the Ocean City Film Festival. This month, an interactive presentation from OC Film Festival director BL Strang-Moya who will deliver a lecture, show video clips, and give an inside look into OC’s own Film Fest.
Content not rated by MPAA, admission costs support the Art League of Ocean City.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Berlin New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Celebration
5 pm – 7 pm Kids Ball Drop; 10 pm – 12:30am Adults, Downtown Berlin
2 NYE ball drop celebrations! Kids Ball Drop at 6pm outside Heart of Gold Kids! Then at 10pm the party begins with DJs Big Al Reno & Schwab with dancing, beer & food vendors. Event by Berlin Main Street.
New Year’s Eve Oyster Drop in Crisfield
Crisfield Library, 100 Collins St, Crisfield, MD, 9 pm to 12 pm
Bring in the New Year at this free community event with food, music, limited beer & wine (with proper ID) and a sparkling cider toast at midnight! Casual dress – layers recommended. Indoor event with outdoor oyster drop at midnight.
New Year’s Eve Boat Drop in Downtown Cambridge
500 block of Poplar Street, Cambridge, MD
Downtown Cambridge hosts a New Year’s Eve Boat Drop with a small replica of a deadrise — the traditional waterman’s workboat — dropping at midnight on Dec. 31 to bring in the New Year. The boat drop happens in the 500 block of Poplar Street in Cambridge, MD. Watch for more info at DowntownCambridge.org.
7th Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Downtown Salisbury
9pm to just after midnight
Rev up those noisemakers and get ready for a night filled with live music by AMP Studios and the Tops Cut Off DJ Team, plus special guest acts, giveaways and confetti at midnight! New Year’s Eve SBY Ball Drop is a free, all-ages, family-friendly event.
