Experience the charm of Frederick this weekend with fun events in Frederick and beyond!
Maryland Regional Ballet presents: The Nutcracker:
A Frederick holiday tradition, this full length ballet features artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classical Ballet.
The stunning artistry of the Maryland Regional Ballet and the beloved Tchaikovsky score combine to transport audiences to the Kingdom of Sweets. Under the direction of Joyce Morrison and featuring guest artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classic Ballet, it’s a holiday tradition at its finest.
📍: Weinberg Center For the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St, Frederick, MD
🗓️ : 12/6, 12/7 & 12/8
Candlelight House Tour:
This self-guided walking tour takes visitors inside private homes elaborately adorned with holiday décor throughout Historic Frederick. Visitors are delighted year after year with the architectural nuances, decorations, and historical significance of these magnificent homes.
📍: Downtown Frederick, MD
🗓️ : 12/7, 12/8
ThorpeWood’s Annual Holiday Open House:
Come ring in the holiday season with us at ThorpeWood! This year the ThorpeWood Lodge will be open to the community on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 2pm-7pm.
The open house will feature grand decorations, hot cider, a cookie potluck (bring your holiday favorites!), live music, a giant Christmas tree, and kids’ crafts. Santa will be visiting us both days from 3-5pm.
We’re happy to welcome the following local artists to perform at the open house! See the performance schedule below:
Dec. 7th (Saturday) 2-7pm
2:30-3:30 —> Jimi Cupino Project
4:00-5:00. —> Jillian Matundan
5:30-6:30. —> Lauren Hill
Dec. 8th (Sunday) 2-7pm
2:30-3:30 —> Steve Gellman
4:00-5:00 —> Alec & Crystal Arnold
5:30-6:30. —> Scott & Josh Barrett
Everyone is welcome – please join us!
📍: 12805A Mink Farm Rd, Thurmont, MD
🗓️ : 12/7, 12/8
⏰ : 2PM-7PM (both days)
FREE
Traditional Village Christmas:
Join us for a European Christmas Market featuring Artisans, Gift Market, Holiday Bake Table, Food Truck, Children’s Activities and Holiday Wreath Making!
F.W. Fraley Store
Inside the F.W. Fraley Store (yellow building across the street from The Museum of the Ironworker)
Holiday Market
- Wood Creek Brooms
- Lone Leaf Jewels
- Marilyn Smith
- Monocacy Forge
- Sahira Apothecary
- Carmon’s Beads and Bling
- Angela Shirley
The Museum of the Ironworker
The museum and museum shop will be open during Traditional Village Christmas
Wreath and Pine Roping Tent
Wreath making and pine rope are located in wreath making tent behind The Museum of the Ironworker
📍: Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont, MD
🗓️: 12/7
⏰ : 10AM-4PM
FREE
First Saturday at the Delaplaine Arts Center:
Art Matters Artist Talk
Saturday, Dec 7 • 2 pm
Members of the Clustered Spires Quilt Guild and solo exhibition artist Margaret Dowell share about the work in their exhibition. FREE
Exhibition Openings
Saturday, Dec 7 • 3–5 pm
View exhibitions and meet the artists! Get exhibition details here. FREE
Secret Elf Workshop
Saturday, Dec 7 • 1–2:30 pm and 3:15–4:45 pm
Calling all elves! The best gifts are the ones you make, so join us at the North Pole (otherwise known as our third floor studio!) to create craft projects you can give as holiday gifts! This year, we are offering the workshop in two sessions. Gift wrapping is included. Space is limited, so register early! Register online here.
Children aged 6 and older may attend without an adult. If you are registering a younger participant, please accompany your child.
NOTE: If you are registering more than three children, please call the Delaplaine to check availability.
Winter Arts Emporium
Saturday, Dec 7 • 10–4 pm
Check off your holiday gift list with one-of-a-kind artworks from our annual holiday artists’ market! The event features 20+ vendors featuring a wide array of artworks and gift items created by local artists and artisans. Admission is FREE!
📍: The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St, Frederick, MD
🗓️ : 12/7
Tidings of Joy: Christmas with The Frederick Chorale’s Holiday Showcase:
Join us for a festive celebration filled with beautiful music and holiday cheer. Our talented choir will be performing a variety of classic holiday songs that are sure to get you in the spirit.
Come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music with friends and family. We can’t wait to see you there!
📍: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd St, Frederick, MD 21701
🗓️: 12/8 @ 4PM, 12/9 @ 7:30PM
FREE
Christmas at the Frederick Airport:
Santa Claus will make his grand arrival at Frederick Airport again this year! Bring the family for a morning filled with fun holiday activities led by Santa’s elves. Your kids can let Father Christmas know what’s on their wish lists!
Registration Alert: To hop on the list to meet Santa, please register ahead of time! We’re asking for a holiday $9 donation per family (non-refundable), which goes straight to the Sugarloaf Ninety-Nines Aviation Scholarship fund. All other activities are open to everyone, no registration is needed!
Heads Up: Santa’s flight plan and arrival via airplane depend on nice, not naughty, weather—so keep those fingers crossed! Otherwise Santa will arrive via ground transportation.
This is an indoor rain-or-shine event.
Tickets sell out fast. Don’t miss out on this special Christmas event!
Activities include:
- Ride on toy airplanes
- Coloring
- STEM demonstrations
- Flight simulator (child ride)
- …and more!
Please message us if your child needs special accommodation. We are happy to see what we can do to make this an enjoyable experience!
Schedule:
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa arrives via airplane!
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Sensory-friendly visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa and his reindeer have a long sleigh ride and need some magical quiet time. There will be no loud noises or music during the first 30 minutes, and the SIM and drone cage will not be operating during this time. Please leave these time slots open for families who need a low-stimulation environment.
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Breaktime. Santa and Mrs. Claus must tend to their reindeer for a few minutes.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus continue
1:00 PM
Santa Departs
📍: Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way, Frederick, MD 21701
🗓️ : 12/8
⏰ : 9AM-1PM
7th Annual Walkersville Festive Christkindlmarket:
Walkersville celebrates the holiday season that highlights the town’s rich German history. A parade draws the community together to initiate the festivities and usher St. Nick to town. Four locations feature an array of artisans, crafters, and direct sales vendors that are a short stroll through the quaint streets dressed in holiday splendor. The library will host Mrs. Claus to share a special story with children and the young at heart. Old St. Nick and his merry helpers greet visitors at each venue. Homemade food and delicious treats are available at three event locations.
📍: Walkersville, MD
🗓️ : 12/7
⏰ : 10AM-2PM
💲 : FREE
Hometown Holidays in Brunswick:
Multiple local Brunswick organizations work together to kick off the holiday season with a full day of activities, including Breakfast with Santa at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, the European-style Holiday Popup Marketplace hosted by Brunswick Main Street, and the Brunswick Area Recreation Council’s Santa Stroll & Jingle Bell Run that gets everyone moving for charity. The day concludes with the cheery lights and music of the City of Brunswick’s Holiday Parade and tree lighting with cocoa for all!
📍: Walkersville, MD
🗓️ : 12/7
💲 : FREE
Christmas on the Farm at Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch:
Get ready for our 4th annual “Christmas on the Farm” event. It’s the perfect chance to kick off the holiday season with family and friends. Join us in celebrating the magic of Christmas on the farm!
What to Expect this year:
Craft Vendors: Explore unique gifts, handmade treasures, and festive decor from local artisans.
Food Trucks Galore: Stroll through the farm and enjoy an array of delicious food trucks with the best food around.
All the Sweets: Satisfy that sweet tooth with a hot freshly made funnel cake or visit with one of the many bakeries that will be joining us.
Santa’s Arrival: Santa Claus will be making a special appearance for photos and wish-list sharing!
Live Music: Enjoy tunes from the Jolly Elves to set the holiday mood.
Succulent Workshop: Join Succulents by Jess for a creative Christmas Tree building session.
Live Nativity: Experience the magic of Christmas with our live Nativity scene.
📍: Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch, 6521 Holter Rd, Middletown, MD 21769
🗓️ : 12/7
⏰: 10AM
💲 : FREE
Christmas in New Market:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! We will start with everyone’s favorite holiday parade at 1PM! After the parade, join us for festive activities, music, drinks, and food at New Market Park 48 E Main St.
Head to Green Valley Therapy at 4 W Main St for selfies with Santa from 2:30-4:30pm! The annual tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5PM at the park with Christmas caroling and hometown performances!
Don’t miss out on this family-friendly annual tradition for the entire town. Make sure to follow the New Market Events page to stay up to date on the fun details on the day. This is a very crowded event and parking is limited. Please be sure to note road closures and parking map on Town Website and social media pages.
📍: New Market Main Street, 48 E. Main St, New Market, MD 21774
🗓️ : 12/7
⏰: 1PM-6PM
💲 : FREE
Middletown’s Christmas in the Valley:
Get ready for the holidays at Middletown’s annual Christmas in the Valley!
Main Street Middletown and the Town of Middletown partner together to host this holiday gathering with our special guest, Santa Claus who always makes a special visit to the Valley!
This event is always the first Saturday of December, when folks come out to shop early, as our downtown businesses keep their doors open wide to welcome you in from the chill. Enjoy carolers strolling the street, crafts for kids, hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and the lighting of the town tree which includes a community-wide sing-along of your favorite holiday songs! And of course, stay for a while and get a photo with Santa, and so much more!
Our friendly elves will be collecting unwrapped toys to help make local children have a merrier holiday. Middletown Valley People Helping People distributes your donated toys to children in need. In exchange, our happy elves will give your child a Santa Sack to fill up with fun gifts from our local
📍: Main Street Middletown, 31 W. Main St, Middletown, MD 21769
🗓️ : 12/7
⏰: 4PM – 8:30PM
💲 : FREE
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