Here is your handy-dandy guide to the civic tree-lighting events of the 2024 holiday season. If I missed an occasion in your town, please put a link to event details in the comments here. Or send that link to me by email: SecretsoftheEasternShore@gmail.com. This is a work in progress, and I will update things as the season progresses.
Before we get into it, if you are interested in …
• Delmarva Christmas Events and Celebrations–go here!
• Delmarva Christmas Parades–go here!
• Delmarva Big-Time Holiday Light Shows–go here!
November Tree Lightings
Fri., Nov. 29
• The tree lighting in Berlin, Md. on Fri., Nov. 29 is part of a bigger ICE ICE Berlin party with 30-plus lighted ice sculptures all over downtown. Santa will be there. Details.
• The tree lighting in Rehoboth Beach, Del. is Fri., Nov. 29. There is usually a holiday sing-a-long at this affair, too. Details.
• The tree lighting in Snow Hill, Md. is in Sturgis Park on Fri., Nov. 29. Carols, Santa, kids activities, more. Details.
• The tree lighting in North East, Md. is Fri., Nov. 29. Santa House opening, too. Oh, and caroling. Details.
• Fri., Nov. 29 is opening night at the expansive Winter Wonderland display of lights on a private lot along the backroads of Pittsville, Md., off of Route 50. Here is opening night info. And here is the bigger event’s Facebook page if you want to check on things later in the season.
Sat., Nov. 30
• They will be lighting up trees during the Hometown Christmas celebration in Ocean Pines, Md. on Sat. Nov. 30. Hot cider, the Delmarva Chorus, a man in red, and more. Details.
• They will Light Up the Park for the holidays at pretty Memorial Park in Milton, Del. on Sat., Nov. 30. Hot chocolate, cookies, and music from a neighboring town–the Milford Community Band. Details.
• The folks in Chincoteague, Va. will light up the civic tree in downtown’s Robert Reed Park on Sat., Nov. 30. The Chincoteague Pony Drill Team will be in the house. There is a Holly Day Market with local artists that morning. Scroll to date here for details.
• The tree lighting in Milford, Del. is Sat., Nov. 30 caps off a day of festivities that includes mid-day Santa time, an Elf & Sugarplum Parade, and more. Find your way to that date on the events calendar here for details.
• The tree lighting in Vienna, Md. is Sat., Nov. 30–the same night as the town’s Christmas parade. Details.
• The tree lighting in Dewey Beach, Del. is Sat., Nov. 30. Bare-bones info here.
Click the image to see more of our Christmas cards!
Sun., Dec. 1
• Santa will flip the switch for the tree-lighting festivities in Chesapeake City, Md. on Sun., Dec. 1. Details.
• The Christmas in Clayton, Del. festivities on Sun., Dec. 1 include both parade and tree-lighting, as well as hayrides, vendors, and a breakfast with Santa affair. Details.
• There will be caroling and hot chocolate when St. Michaels, Md. lights up its crab basket Christmas tree on Sun., Dec. 1. Details.
Mon., Dec. 2
• The tree lighting in Eastville, Va. will be on Tue., Dec. 2, followed by holiday refreshments in the community center. Details.
Tue., Dec. 3
• The tree lighting in Millville, Del. is Tue., Dec. 3. They are promising s’mores. Details.
• The tree lighting in Bridgeville, Del. is Tue., Dec. 3. Caroling by local middle schoolers. Details.
Thu., Dec. 5
• The Harrington, Del. tree lighting is on Thu., Dec. 5. Local chorus, hot chocolate, cookies. Details.
• The tree lighting in Denton, Md. happens on the same night as that town’s parade–Thu., Dec. 5. Details.
Fri., Dec. 6
• The tree lighting in Elkton, Md. is Fri., Dec. 6. There will be caroling. And “treat bags.” Details.
• The tree lighting at historic Ker Place in Onancock, Va. is Fri., Dec. 6. Read down a tad in this bigger listing of Onancock Christmas events for the details. Stroll up to the North Street Playhouse and see the Madrigal Singers afterwards.
• The lighting of the Dock Trees in Oxford, Md. is scheduled for Fri., Dec. 6. There will be strolling carolers in town that night, too. Details.
• The tree lighting in Fenwick Island, Del. is Fri., Dec. 6. Details.
Sat., Dec. 7
What home doesn’t need this bit of canvas-block holiday decor?
• On Sat., Dec. 7, the Queen Anne Waterman’s Association will be lighting up its crab-basket Christmas tree at Kent Narrows in Grasonville, Md. Vendor fair beforehand, too. Details.
• Santa will arrive by boat in Rock Hall, Md. on the night of that town’s tree lighting. Sat., Dec. 7. Scant details.
• Bethany Beach, Del. lights up its tree on Sat., Dec. 7 as part of a larger Holiday Happenings party with choirs, train and pony rides, Santa, etc. Details.
• The tree lighting party in downtown Salisbury, Md. on Sat., Dec. 7 will feature live music, artsy performances, vendors, trolley, and more. Details.
• The tree lighting in Easton, Md. is the same night as that town’s parade–Sat., Dec. 7. Details.
• The tree lighting in Odessa, Del. is part of the bigger Christmas in Odessa festivities on Sat., Dec. 7. Details.
• If you go to the Grand Illumination of Central Park in Cape Charles, Va., you will also be able to enjoy that town’s “signature” Lighted Golf Cart Parade. Sat., Dec. 7. Details.
• Preston, Md. is throwing a Christmas Daze party on Sat., Dec. 7 with crafts, cookies, vendors, food trucks, and more. Tree lighting in Wright Memorial Park. Details.
The tree-lighting party in Salisbury, Md.
Sun., Dec. 8
• Saxis, Va. will be lighting it crab-pot Christmas tree on Sun., Dec. 8. Crafts, refreshments, jolly man in red, and a chance to hang an ornament on that one-of-a-kind tree. Details.
Wed., Dec. 11
• They’ll flip the switch to light up the park during Christmas in the Park in Frankfort, Del. on Wed., Dec. 11. Other festivities, too. Details.
Fri., Dec. 13
• The tree lighting in Felton, Del. is Sat., Dec. 13. Music, too. Details.
Sat., Dec. 14
• They will be lighting the Crab Basket Tree on Tilghman Island, Md. on Sat., Dec. 14 with caroling, hot chocolate, and more involved. Details in middle of first page here.
• The tree lighting in New Castle, Del. is part of the much bigger Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas in Historic New Castle affair on Sat., Dec. 14. Details.
Sat., Dec. 21
• They will be lighting the Crab Basket Tree on Tilghman Island, Md. on Sat., Dec. 21 with caroling, hot chocolate, and more involved. Details in middle of first page here. (Note–this event was previously listed here as Dec. 14. I fixed it as soon as I learned the date had been changed.) Lighted boat parade that night, too. Info here on the broader day of holiday events centered on Tilghman Waterman’s Museum.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Merry Christmas to you and yours!
• If the work that went into this helped you plan a merry Christmas season and you’re not in the market for any of our Christmas cards or Secrets of the Eastern Shore books, you could also say thanks here through a Secrets of the Eastern Shore Tip Jar.
• Posted by Jim Duffy for Secrets of the Eastern Shore/Whimbrel Creations LLC in October 2024. Thank you for spending some time on this site!
