Baltimore is The Place to Be This Holiday Season and in the New Year
Mention Baltimore and most people think of John Waters, a cutting-edge art scene, or The Preakness, but holiday magic? Not so much.
However, it would appear that Charm City is shining its jingle bells to entice you for a visit this holiday season and taking things one step further by curating some interesting exhibitions well into the winter season for the queer culturists among us.
The following is a roundup of holiday happenings, new exhibits, new venues, and attractions available to Vacationers in Baltimore over the course of the next few months.
Holiday Happenings
Like a Scene Out of a Movie
“Miracle on 34th Street”
November 26-December 31
Celebrating its 75th anniversary, “Miracle on 34th Street” is an annual display of holiday cheer that simply lights up the city. Since 1947, the same year as the iconic movie of the same name was released, the 700 block of 34th Street in Hampden has become a scene out of a holiday fairytale that draws crowds from all over the city and attention from all over the country. The tradition was started by a couple named Bob Hosier and Darlene Hughes, who loved to spread holiday cheer and have now created one of the most spectacular celebrations of the season in Baltimore.
Enjoy the Season by the River
Winter on the Waterfront
On Now until January 22
Baltimore offers incredible programming throughout the year on the Patapsco River, including during the winter. The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has announced Winter on the Waterfront, a new initiative sponsored by PNC Bank highlighting the many events and activities available along the Inner Harbor waterfront this winter.
This year’s program includes the Christmas Village in Baltimore, a German-inspired Christmas market with a combination of outdoor and indoor wooden stalls at West Shore Park at the Inner Harbor, until December 24, and the Inner Harbor Ice Rink, until January 16. A Variety of parades and events are also set on the schedule, leading to the grand finale from January 21-22, the Lunar Night Cultural Festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Full Steam Ahead for a Season of Fun
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride returns this holiday season at the B&O
November 25-27 & December 2-4, 9-11 & 16-19, 2022
Nothing says holidays like getting in your PJs and watching your favorite movie. B&O Railroad Museum invites families to hop aboard The Polar Express in their holiday jammies and watch the classic film and embark on a journey to the North Pole. Travelers will get the chance to meet Santa and receive their first gift of the season.
Light Up the Sky with Holiday Cheer
Monument Lighting at Mount Vernon
Thursday, December 1, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season at the annual Monument Lighting in Mount Vernon, a joyous event of performances and food culminating with a spectacular fireworks display. The event is organized by Mount Vernon Place Conservancy, welcoming visitors at the Walters from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for free family-friendly activities. Warm up with hot chocolate, catch a dance performance by Peabody preparatory students, and pose for a holiday family portrait to remember the event.
Make Your Way Downtown
Candy Lane from the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
December 3-16
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore is excited to welcome back Candy Lane, a larger-than-life candy-themed experience featuring installations, thousands of lights, and seasonal entertainment located in the heart of Downtown Baltimore. Among the many installations will be 24-foot-tall ice cream cones and candy forests in the paths of Center Plaza at 100 N. Charles Street. Two weeks of holiday programming will run from December 3 to the 16, which will range from trivia, live music and karaoke nights to family-friendly crafts and activities. The grand finale will be Not So Silent Night, a 21+ ticketed soiree, complete with dancing treats and themed costumes in the middle of the candy forest. Four-legged family members are also welcome to join in the holiday festivities as long as they remain leashed.
A Very Muppet Christmas
The Muppets Christmas Carol Full-Sensory Movie Experience at The Charmery Ice Cream Factory
December 17 and 18
This holiday season, join us as we turn our Ice Cream Factory into a holiday wonderland with our full sensory movie showing of The Muppets Christmas Carol. This unique movie experience includes a self-serve popcorn bar, special themed punch, treats that correlate to scenes in the movie, and other sensory delights. It is sure to bring holiday cheer to even the scroogiest of scrooges!
Party Like It’s 2023
Baltimore’s Biggest and Best New Year’s Eve Party at Power Plant Live!
December 31
Ring in 2023 in style at NYE Live! Baltimore, presented by Miller Lite with live music, electric DJ performances, laser shows, dancing, and of course, a massive midnight celebration featuring the “Times Square” Ball Drop on two 20′ LED screens, confetti, and balloon drops!
Set Sail Into the New Year
City Cruises NYE Dinner
December 31
Celebrate the end of 2022 and sail into 2023 on the water as you count down to midnight aboard an unforgettable New Year’s Eve Signature Dinner Cruise in Baltimore. Whether for a romantic date night or a special celebration with friends and family, kick off the new year in style on the Patapsco River with a dinner buffet freshly prepared by our chef, City Cruises’ distinctive hospitality, and full bar service. While onboard, guests will enjoy exceptional views of Baltimore’s historic waterfront, dining and dancing, a sparkling wine toast, DJ entertainment, and festive décor.
New in Exhibitions
Defining Style and a Sense of Self
Claire / McCardell at the Maryland Center for Culture and History
Through November 2023
Claire McCardell redefined women’s fashion in America during the 1930s –1950s and her impact on American sportswear can still be felt today, Her name is practically synonymous with the American fashion revolution thanks to her mission to create fashion for the modern woman like herself.
This exhibition gives a more intimate look at the woman behind the iconic label by diving into family letters, personal interviews, and archival documents, juxtaposed with examples of McCardell’s designs spanning her career. Learn more about her inner conflict of feeling shy and introverted, yet being perceived as a dynamic, confident, and strong-willed business persona by the outside world. This exhibition is curated by Tory Burch Claire McCardell Fashion Fellow Robyn Levy. Support for The Tory Burch Claire McCardell Fashion Fellowship is generously provided by the Tory Burch Foundation.
An Exhibit that is Sure to Move You
A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration at the Baltimore Museum of Art
October 30, 2022 — January 29, 2023
The Great Migration (1915–1970) saw more than six million African Americans leave the South for destinations across the United States. This massive movement of people across the country transformed nearly every aspect of Black life and culture. A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration explores the ways in which its impact reverberates today through newly commissioned works across media by 12 acclaimed Black artists, including Akea Brionne, Mark Bradford, Zoë Charlton, Larry W. Cook, Torkwase Dyson, Theaster Gates Jr., Allison Janae Hamilton, Leslie Hewitt, Steffani Jemison, Robert Pruitt, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, and Carrie Mae Weems.
The exhibition is co-curated by Jessica Bell Brown, Curator and Department Head of Contemporary Art at the BMA, and Ryan N. Dennis, Chief Curator and Artistic Director of the Center for Art & Public Exchange (CAPE) at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The exhibition is co-organized by the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Discover John Waters’ Personal Art Collection
Coming Attractions: The John Waters Collection at the Baltimore Museum of Art
November 20, 2022 — April 16, 2023
Proud Baltimorean John Waters offered 372 works by 125 artists from his private collection to the Baltimore Museum of Art, bringing a particular cutting-edge articulation of American individualism to the BMA’s collection, specifically as it relates to queer identity and freedom of expression. Waters has always favored works that are visually witty, abstract, and often refer to the absurdities of the art world.
To showcase this provocative gift, queer photographers Catherine Opie and Jack Pierson are guests curating highlights from the collection for the BMA’s Nancy Dorman and Stanley Mazaroff Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs.
The exhibition will include approximately 90 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and prints by Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Mike Kelley, Richard Prince, Cindy Sherman, Gary Simmons, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, Christopher Wool, Erwin Wurm, Betsy the Chimpanzee, among others. A brochure featuring portraits of the artworks across Waters’ homes in Baltimore, New York City, and San Francisco will accompany the exhibition.
All Aboard a Journey Through History!
The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on The B&O Railroad
New Permanent Exhibition Now Open
Baltimore is a hub of some of the most important moments in American history and The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad examines the critical role of the physical railroad in the Underground Railroad network. It is located in the museum’s historic Mt. Clare Station, a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site, and the exact location through which eight Freedom Seekers, including Henry “Box” Brown and William and Ellen Craft, traveled. The exhibit offers an intimate look at the lives and journeys of 27 individuals who sought freedom from slavery along the B&O. It also examines the Black travel experience during this time as well as the use of railroad terminology as a secret, coded language for Freedom Seekers.
This sensorial exhibit includes an immersive 180-degree multimedia experience and a new recording of Henry “Box” Brown’s own song produced in collaboration with the Howard University Department of Music. It is likely that many more people’s stories are undocumented or yet to be rediscovered. Research is ongoing and the museum is committed to continuing to document and provide a voice to these harrowing journeys.
New in Culinary
Soft Beds, Hard Drinks
Ulysses Hotel F&B
The recently opened Ulysses Hotel is creating buzz for Baltimore by offering “Soft beds and Hard drinks” thanks to its F&B offerings. First up is ASH Bar, a chic cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. Then there is Bloom’s, a super sultry cocktail lounge decked out in deep reds and purples, low lights, cool vibes, and deliciously strong drinks.
The Holy Spirits
Church Bar
Earlier this summer, Church Bar officially opened its doors in the Old Goucher after much anticipation behind the project and is open just in time to stay cozy through the winter. The team consists of some industry veterans, including Esquire Magazine’s 2019 Best Beverage Director of the Year, Chelsea Gregoire (they/them). After years of acting as a consultant and educator in the hospitality industry and helping successfully open bars, restaurants, and hotels, this is Gregoire’s first project as an owner. Incorporating their Master of Arts in Theological Studies and their background in building religious communities, they bring a holistic approach to career development, equitable systems, and welcoming spaces.
Eat Your Way Through History
Lexington Market
The historic Lexington Market, the oldest public market in America, finally reopened in a soft launch phase after undergoing an extensive $45 million redevelopment. The first round of vendors offers delicious culinary dishes, locally roasted coffee, ethically sourced spices, herbs, and a bevy of health-focused consumables.
Founded in 1886, Faidley Seafood is one of the oldest and best-known purveyors of fresh and prepared seafood in the Chesapeake region. It has always been headquartered at the “World Famous Lexington Market in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, it is owned and operated by Bill and Nancy Devine, descendants of founder John W. Faidley, Sr., with the help of their daughters Damye Hahn and Eva Devine, as well as many grandchildren who are involved in the business. “Although we value our 70-year history in our current location, we are looking forward to the next chapter of our legacy in the new building next year,” Devine said.
