The towns, backroads, and museums of the Eastern Shore and Delaware are chock full of fun Christmas events. Nearly 70 of those affairs are rounded up here in one convenient place, organized by date.
• Fri.-Sun., Nov. 22-24: In Cape Charles, Va., local and regional musicians and actors star in a production of “The Gift of the Magi” at the historic Palace Theatre.
• Sat., Nov. 23 and Sat., Nov. 30: The Christmas Train Garden will be up and running at the Preston (Md.) Historical Society.
• Sat., Nov. 23: The Thanksgiving Parade of Classic Cars will once again roll through St. Michaels, Md.
• Saturdays, Nov. 23-Dec. 14: The Capitol Ringers will be performing a handbell show titled “Ring Christmas Bells” in four Delaware locations–two in Milton, one in Milford, and one in Lewes.
• Every Friday, Nov. 29-Dec. 20: In Cape Charles, Va., Festive Fridays unfold in the downtown area with carriage rides, a Santa House, free holiday movies, and more.
• Fri., Nov. 29: At the Ocean City (Md.) Performing Arts Center, top singers from Australia star in “The Ten Tenors–Home for the Holidays” concert.
• Fri.-Sat, Nov. 29-30: On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the annual Artisans Guild Holiday Tour will showcase the work of 50 artists at 17 different locations.
• Fri.-Sat., Nov. 29-30: The Southeastern Delaware Studio Tour includes stops at the working studios of 13 artists.
• Fri., Nov. 29-Sun., Dec. 1: The convention center in Ocean City, Md. has the annual Holiday Shoppers Fair.
• Fri., Nov. 29-Sun., Dec. 8: The Possum Point Players in Georgetown, Del. present a holiday revue, “Christmas from the Heart.”
• Fri., Nov. 29-Sat., Dec. 14: Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth Beach, Del. present the musical “A Christmas Story.”
• Fri., Nov. 29-Sun., Dec. 15: The Second Street Players in Milford, Del. present “Elf! The Musical.”
• Fri., Nov. 29-Sat., Dec. 23: The Wilmington & Western Railroad has a pair of holiday-themed rides on their old steam-powered trains–the daytime Santa Claus Express and the nighttime Holiday Lights Express.
• Sat., Nov. 30: Singer Jesse Garron has a Tribute to Elvis Dinner & Show at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Md.
• Sat., Nov. 30: In Chincoteague, Va., the Holly Day Market & Wildlife Art Gallery has more than 80 vendors offering gifts, arts, decoys, and wildlife art.
• Sat., Nov. 30: Held in front of the Tidewater Inn in Easton, Md., Carols by Candlelight will feature the talents of local choirs and choral groups.
• Sat., Nov. 30: Amateurs and chefs compete in the Rehoboth Beach (Del.) Gingerbread Contest–the day gets started over Breakfast with Santa.
• Nov. 30-Dec. 8: The Delmarva Railroad Club has an open house and display in Delmar, Del. that’s open on weekends in this window.
• Nov. 30-Jan. 12: The Seaford (Del.) Historical Society has its Miniature Toy Train Display up and running Thursdays through Sundays in this window.
• Dec. 1-Dec. 31: For eighty-some years, the Rescue Fire Company in Cambridge, Md. has been putting on its annual Christmas Train Garden.
• Tue., Dec. 3: Take the young ones in your life to a Pizza Party with Santa, then tour the big Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City, Md.
• Wed., Dec. 4: In Ocean City, Md., the Red Doors Christmas Cabaret is at the Performing Arts Center.
• Wed., Dec. 4 and Fri.-Sun., Dec. 6-8: The Winter Wonderland Music & Tree Festival in Cambridge, Md. is different things on different evenings–a seniors’ holiday dinner, a holiday dance night, etc.
• Thu., Dec. 5: The Brownsville Holiday Open House involves wagon rides, campfires, cider, and more on the grounds of the Nature Conservancy’s Brownsville Preserve in Nassawadox, Va.
• Thu., Dec. 5; Sun., Dec. 8: Easton Choral Arts presents a “Christmas Cantata” by candlelight at Christ Church in Easton, Md.
• Fri., Dec. 6: In Salisbury, Md. The Lettermen star in a holiday-and-old-hits show at St. Francis de Sales Church.
• Fri., Dec. 6: The “Savor the Season” tour of homes and inns decorated for the holidays includes five courses of holiday treats and wine pairings. Scroll down to the date at the link.
• Fri., Dec. 6: The Downtown Milford (Del.) Holiday Stroll has caroling, miniature horses, the Santa House, carriage rides, late shopping hours, and more.
• Fri., Dec. 6: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Md. has its Silver Bells Holiday Quarter Auction.
• Fri., Dec. 6: In downtown Pocomoke City, Md., the Mayor’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Evening includes music, kids’ activities, carriage rides, and more.
• Fri., Dec. 6: The Moonlight Madness shopping promotion reaches a crescendo in Easton, Md. with late shopping hours, holiday music, and a big 10pm announcement of raffle prize winners.
• Fri., Dec. 6: Ten different dance troupes and music groups will perform at the Holiday Open House at Rockwood Park and Museum in Wilmington, Del.
• Fri.-Sat., Dec. 6-7: The Art League of Ocean City presents its Holiday Artisan Fair.
• Fri.-Sun., Dec. 6-8: The Dickens of a Christmas Weekend in downtown Chestertown, Md. is fun Victorian-themed affair with campfires, street performers, kids’ activities, “London Row” shopping stalls, and much more.
• Fri.-Sun., Dec. 6-8: In downtown Easton, Md. an Art & Craft Marketplace with 40-plus exhibitors will be taking over the Waterfowl Building for the weekend.
• Fri.-Sun., Dec. 6-8: The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra presents a “Holiday Joy” weekend with concerts in Easton, Md. (Fri.); Lewes, Del. (Sat.); and Ocean City, Md. (Sun. matinee)
• Fri., Dec. 6-Sun., Dec. 15: The Lynnhaven Baptist Church outside of Pocomoke City, Md. gives you the chance to “Walk Through Bethlehem” at the time of the first Christmas.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The 18th annual Midnight Madness shopping extravaganza in St. Michaels, Md. culminates in a big raffle drawing as the witching hour approaches.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The Somerset County Historical Society presents its annual Historic Holiday House Tour. There are 15 different stops.
• Sat., Dec. 7: It’s the 55th annual Christmas in Odessa, Del. tour of historic houses.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The Harbor String Quartet will be presenting “A Cape Charles Christmas” at the historic Palace Theatre in Cape Charles, Va.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The Yuletide Festival at Mount Harmon Plantation in Earlesville, Md. features holiday decor inspired by Colonial Williamsburg, hearth-cooking demos, kids’ activities, and more.
• Sat., Dec 7: The Holiday Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes in Centreville, Md., features a mix of Victorian and colonial homes. There will be caroling, too.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The 46th Annual Christmas Tour of Lewis, Del. is put on by the historical society there. Living history performers are part of the deal.
• Sat., Dec. 7: Head to Pemberton Park outside of Salisbury, Md. for a hands-on “Greenery Workshop” and wreath-making session–all supplies provided.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The Delaware Agricultural Museum celebrates A Farmer’s Christmas with cider, farm treats, music, crafts, and more.
• Sat., Dec. 7: Celebrate the season with the Oak Ridge Boys in Ocean City, Md.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The First State Symphonic Band will perform a Christmas concert at the historic Opera House in Smyrna, Del.
• Sat., Dec. 7: The Salisbury Symphony presents “Horn for the Holidays” in Holloway Hall on the campus of Salisbury University.
• Sat., Dec. 7: Among the Holiday Happenings planned in Bethany Beach, Del. are photos with Santa, trolley and wagon rides, and arts activities.
• Sat., Dec. 7: Go for a little hike at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville, Md., then settle in for some Saturday with Santa time over cocoa, treats, and storytelling.
• Sat.-Sun., Dec. 7-8: The Christmas on the Creek festivities in Oxford, Md. include a shopping bazaar, a musical, an English tea at the Robert Morris Inn, Breakfast with Santa, a church soup supper, a civic tree lighting, and more.
This photo is from the Salisbury Christmas Parade back in the day.
• Sat.-Sun., Dec. 7-8: Shop artisan works, collectibles, and crafts at the 4-H Park near Denton, Md. during “Christmas in Caroline.” Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the house and ready to pose with you and your pet(s).
• Weekends, Dec. 7-15: On consecutive weekends, model trains will be up and running at the Sudlersville (Md.) Museum.
• Weekends, Dec. 7-15: On the same consecutive weekends, the Queen Anne’s Railroad Society presents its “Festival of Trains” in Chester, Md.
• Sat., Dec. 7 and Sat., Dec. 21: Have “Cookies with Santa” at the Salisbury Zoo on these two dates. Treats and crafts are part of the deal.
• Dec. 7-Dec. 29: The train garden upstairs at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, Md. will be open on weekends for the holiday season.
• Sun., Dec. 8: The Teackle Mansion in Princess Anne, Md. has its annual Holiday Open House (scroll down to date at link). Cider, cookies, Santa, and more.
• Sun., Dec. 8: The Southern Delaware Chorale performs “Carols and Lullabies” (and sing-a-longs too) in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
• Sun., Dec. 8: In Odessa, Del., the Secret Garden Children’s Holiday Tea is put on by the Historic Odessa Foundation.
• Mon., Dec. 9: Go Caroling on the Circle in Georgetown, Del., but be sure to bring some donations for the local food pantry.
• Tue, Dec. 10: The Midshore Community Band presents its Holiday Concert in the auditorium at North Caroline High School in Ridgely, Md.
• Thu, Dec. 12: Take the Cocoa Crawl by stopping for sips in different retail shopss in downtown Rehoboth Beach, Del.
• Thu.-Sat., Dec. 12-14: The Museum of Chincoteague Island, Va. presents a Christmas Tree Village with trees sponsored and decorated by local families, civic groups, and businesses.
• Fri., Dec. 13: What says Christmas better than the “Complete Black Sabbath Dinner & Show” at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Md.
• Fri.-Sat., Dec. 13-14: At the North Street Playhouse in Onancock, Va., it’s a musical take on “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (scroll down to dates at link).
• Fri.-Sun., Dec. 13-15: In addition to the Saturday parade, the Christmas in St. Michaels weekend features a tour of homes, gingerbread houses, music, and church meals with a holiday flair.
• Fri.-Sun, Dec. 13-15: The Seaford (Del.) Historical Society has a weekend-long Victorian Christmas with children’s activities, caroling, tours–even dominoes and board games.
• Fri., Dec. 13-Sun., Dec. 22: The annual holiday production at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, Md. is “Elf! The Musical.”
• Sat., Dec. 14: It’s Wreaths Across America Day, in which donors and volunteers help make sure that seasonal wreaths are placed on the graves of veterans in cemeteries around the country. The last I checked, four cemeteries on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and three in Delaware were participating, along with a cemetery out on Tangier Island, Va. You can support this effort either by making a donation or signing on to show up and help lay wreaths at the Wreaths Across America website.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Have Tea with Mrs. Claus at the Crisfield (Md.) Elks Lodge. Stories and crafts are part of the deal. Scroll down to date at link.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Wreaths, bows, swag, crafts, and more will be available at the Milton (Del.) Holly Festival in the town’s fire hall. The Milton Holiday House Tour is the same day.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Take a merry dip in the Choptank River at the annual Santa Swim at the Hyatt resort in Cambridge.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Go bar-hopping with a pack of Santas at the annual Santa Con in Ocean City, Md.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Musical events, house tours, and more are part of the town-wide Spirit of Christmas event in New Castle, Del.
• Sat., Dec. 14: The Christmas in Onancock Homes Tour and Music Festival is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.
• Sat., Dec. 14: The Pocomoke Area Model Train Club will be showing off a Santa’s Train Wonderland at the Delmarva Discovery Center in Pocomoke City, Md.
• Sat., Dec. 14: Get your photo taken with Santa on Victory Lane at the Dover Speedway in Dover, Del.
• Sat., Dec. 14: The Bay Country Shop in Cambridge, Md. will have a holiday open house, 10am-5pm.
• Sun., Dec. 15: Take a sweet stroll among the B&Bs of a historic town to enjoy the Cape Charles (Va.) Cookie Trail. Be sure to bring a donation for the local food pantry–that’s the price of admission.
• Thu., Dec. 19: The 35-piece Chesapeake Brass Band puts on its Holiday Concert in Milton, Del.
• Sat., Dec. 21: Theatrical and dance performances, as well as arts activities, highlight the Winter Wonderland gathering at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Md.
• Sat., Dec. 21: The glow of 1,500 luminarias will light up the pretty little Nanticoke River town of Vienna, Md. on its annual Luminaria Night.
–compiled by Jim Duffy–MERRY CHRISTMAS!
