Christmas in St. Michaels is celebrating its 37th year of fundraising festivities with the return and expansion of its weekend of holiday events taking place on the water and in the heart of historic St. Michaels, Md. this Dec. 8-10. This year’s events include a Lighted Boat Parade and festive Talbot Street Parade, a Tour of Homes, Breakfast with Santa, Holiday Music and Meals, a Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour.
The goal for this year’s Christmas in St. Michaels events is to raise funds to distribute grants to local beneficiaries, numerous family services, education and child development, and community enhancement organizations that depend on Christmas in St. Michaels funds to support their programs and activities.
The Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe located at St. Mary’s Square’s Granite Lodge kicks off their weekend event at noon on Fri., Dec. 8th. Proceeds from every sale benefit local nonprofits, with shoppers finding one-of-a-kind, artisan-crafted items and culinary delights available only during this weekend event. The Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe are open for select hours through Sun., Dec. 10th at 3:00 p.m.
Holiday music will fill the air throughout the weekend, including music provided by Union United Methodist Church beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. A complete list of entertainment will be provided on Christmas in St. Michaels’ website.
Family-favorite events include Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa for children ages 4 to 9 years old, which takes place from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, with limited $10 tickets available for online purchasing. After breakfast join Santa at 10:30 a.m. for the Talbot Street Parade, followed by the Tour of Homes opening at 11:00 am amongst other wonderful mid-day events, until the night culminates with the Lighted Boat Parade along St. Michaels Harbor at 6:00 p.m. Parade routes, event details, online tickets, and more are at christmasinstmichaels.org. Click here for a copy of the Boat Parade Registration Form or Boat Parade Flyer.
“We love to see local people and those from throughout the Mid-Atlantic return to our events year after year, especially for our homes tour,” says Christmas in St. Michaels Board President Pat Martin. “Christmas in St. Michaels includes one of Maryland’s longest-running home tours and features beautifully decorated homes in our historic district and among the area’s wide expanses of country and watersides.”
The Tour of Homes takes place during select hours on Saturday and Sunday, with limited tickets available for advanced online purchase. The $30 per person ticket includes a one-time admission to all tour homes, transportation to the countryside homes, a detailed tour guide booklet with local information, detailed home and other major St. Michaels landmark descriptions, and free admission to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the Classic Motor Museum for Saturday and Sunday.
Not visiting Santa for Breakfast, but looking to enjoy food and fellowship before the parade and a full day of festivities? Visit St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for a Holiday Breakfast on Saturday from 7:30-10am. Tickets will be sold at the door.
Christmas in St. Michaels’ Old Fashioned Eastern Shore Christmas Dinner takes place on Sat., Dec. 9 starting at 11:00 a.m. and lasting until 3:00 p.m., or when the meals are sold out. Dinners include sliced roast turkey, Maryland fried oysters, and a large assortment of sides and desserts. The event will be held at the Union United Methodist Church Parish Hall on Fremont Street in St. Michaels with carryout only dinners available at $25 per person, with tickets sold at the door, on the day of the event.
This year’s 20th Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features quaint Talbot Street buildings, reminiscent of the original logo designed in 1987 by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are available for purchase on the Christmas in St. Michaels website.
Christmas in St. Michaels began in 1987 when a group of energetic volunteers recognized the need for daycare services in the community. Funds were raised through community support, and a daycare center was established, now known as Critchlow Adkins Children Centers. Sponsors and patrons of Christmas in St. Michaels since that time have helped raise more than $1.5M in support of numerous local non-profit organizations.
Proceeds from Christmas in St. Michaels help the people served by local non-profit organizations. Event updates, online purchases, and more about Christmas in St. Michaels are at christmasinstmichaels.org.
