It’s hard to think 2026 is almost here. But hold your horses; 2025 isn’t over quite yet.
December is chock-full of fun events that will make sure this year gets a proper send-off, from the perennial favorite that is Baltimore’s German-style Christmas village, to a Shrek rave (yeah, as in the gruff but good-hearted green ogre).
So check our list — and check it twice — for all the ways you can explore Baltimore in the final days of 2025.
Christmas Village, ongoing through Dec. 24, Inner Harbor waterfront. Visit the German Christmas Village in Baltimore, where you can sip hot cocoa, eat bratwurst, shop an array of vendors, and enjoy the Christmastime atmosphere along the city’s Inner Harbor waterfront.
Picturing Mobility: Black Tourism and Leisure During the Jim Crow Era, ongoing through Dec. 19, UMBC’s Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. Visit the exhibition curated by Elizabeth Patton, using artifacts from the first half of the 20th century to depict how Black Americans pursued leisure and travel in Jim Crow America with joy and as resistance. Read about the exhibition in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.
A Christmas Carol, ongoing through Dec. 23, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Charles Dickens’ holiday classic comes to life in this production set in 19th-century Baltimore.
Holly Days, ongoing through Dec. 28, Maryland Zoo. Make a reindeer ornament at the kids craft station, listen to a story read by Mrs. Claus, snap some holiday photos with Santa’s friends, and more.
Mirror & Myth, ongoing through Dec. 13, Mt. Vernon. Step inside Baltimore’s immersive pop-up shopping theatrical experience, created by The Hallowed House in the heart of Mt. Vernon. Part retail, part theater, part mood, it is a true departure from traditional shopping. Read more about it in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.
Holiday Train Garden, ongoing through Dec. 30, The Fire Museum of Maryland. The Fire Museum’s annual train garden features Baltimore-area businesses, working fire engines, and multiple trains.
Holiday Festival of Trains, ongoing through Dec. 31, B&O Railroad Museum. Discover holiday magic at the B&O Railroad Museum with model train displays, festive train rides with reindeer antlers and treats, holiday crafts, photos with Santa, and more.
Deceived, ongoing through Jan. 4, Everyman Theatre. A woman questions her relationships and even her own sanity when she starts seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. “Deceived” is an adaptation of the 1944 psychological thriller film “Gaslight.”
Elf, ongoing through Jan. 4, Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Inspired by the holiday flick starring Will Ferrell, the “Elf” musical follows Buddy, a young orphan grows up in the North Pole after climbing into Santa’s bag of gifts one Christmas. In adulthood, Buddy travels to New York City in search of his birth father and his own identity. Along the way, he helps New Yorkers tap into the spirit of Christmas.
Santa Claus is Comin’: A Motown Christmas Revue, ongoing through Jan. 4, Baltimore Center Stage. Hear the classic holiday tunes with a Motown twist.
Holiday Train Garden, ongoing through Jan. 4, The Shops at Kenilworth. Stop by the lower level during all mall hours to see the annual Train Garden display.
Week of Dec. 1 through Dec. 7
Midweek: The Nutcracker, Tuesday, Dec. 2, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. A beloved holiday classic gets a Charm City makeover in this reimagined version of “The Nutcracker” by Amy Hall Garner set in Baltimore.
Holiday Sip & Shop, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., The Shops at Kenilworth. Enjoy live music, seasonal sips, and exclusive deals at this annual holiday shopping event.
Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Market, Friday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Metro Centre Owings Mills Plaza. Featuring Mr. & Mrs. Claus, Frosty & Rudolph, professional holiday photos, balloon art, Kwanzaa décor, retail vendors, food trucks, a make-your-own s’mores station, hot cocoa, cookies, and the annual tree lighting ceremony, this free, family-friendly celebration draws hundreds each year. Please register in advance.
Women on the Move, Friday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Join Associated Black Charities as they celebrate women who are redefining what it means to lead, thrive, and create impact.
Elf in Concert, Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 7, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Experience John Debney’s score performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as the film plays on the big screen.
Making Spaces, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 through Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, Baltimore Jewelry Center. New exhibition exploring the role of third spaces in creative communities, or community environments built around shared interests and ideas. Free opening reception on Dec. 5 from 5–8 p.m. Annual Holiday Sale at BJC studio from Dec. 5 through Dec. 7.
Hot In Herre: 2000s Dance Party, Friday, Dec. 5, 9 p.m. , Ottobar. Bust out your Juicy Couture sweats, Ed Hardy shirts, low-rise jeans, UGG boots, and crop tops, and get ready for your favorite hits from Nelly, Beyoncé, Usher, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Pitbull, 50 Cent, Shakira, Snoop Dogg, Flo Rida, Fergie, T-Pain, Amy Winehouse, Outkast, Eminem, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Sean Paul, Avril Lavigne, and more.
A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe, Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 21, Motor House. What if “A Christmas Carol” was written about America’s greatest writer of horror and suspense? That’s the idea behind “A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe,” appearing for twelve shows only at Motor House.
Holidays with Hoot, Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Irvine Nature Center. Celebrate the season with Irvine’s animal ambassador owls, and enjoy games, crafts, an animal scavenger hunt, hot chocolate, and more.
Holiday Tea & Bazaar, Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, 12–4 p.m., The Cloisters. The Bazaar portion is free to attend, with Maryland artists selling original handmade wares and the castle decorated for the holidays. The Tea Room requires tickets, will have specific seating times for the traditional tea time assortment of light fare and beverages.
Unmistakably Maryland Nutcracker, Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7, Towson University Stephens Hall Theatre. The MidAtlantic Youth Ballet presents its 19th annual Maryland-themed Nutcracker, with landmarks, icons, and culture unique to Maryland. With more than 120 local dancers ranging in age from 4 to adult from dance programs throughout the Greater Baltimore area, proceeds support the nonprofit dance company’s mission to make dance education affordable and accessible. Tickets available here.
Hampden Krampuslauf, Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Frazier’s on the Avenue in Hampden. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Krampus will walk around the neighborhood. Then, there will be sack races for adults and kids from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. The afternoon will culminuate with an after party and costume contest at Frazier’s.
Market At The Mill Holiday Market, Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Whitehall Mill. Presented by True Chesapeake and Greater Goods, this festive, free holiday market will feature more than 70 local makers, artists, and small businesses. Enjoy food—including a pop-up bar and oysters by True Chesapeake—drinks from Sophomore Coffee and Chachu’s Chai, and curated goods including art, ceramics, clothing, jewelry, body care, and more.
Week of Dec. 8 through Dec. 14
U.S. Army Blues Performs “Nutcracker” & Other Holiday Classics, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Keystone Korner. Join The U.S. Army Blues, the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Army, for this festive, free performance.
An Evening at The Study – Wednesday, Dec. 10, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., The Study at Johns Hopkins. This open house event will feature guided tours of The Study at Hopkins, live music from the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages in their restaurant, Dear Charles.
Cirque Nutcracker, Friday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 14, Music Center at Strathmore and Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Enjoy a unique twist on Tchaikovsky’s holiday blockbuster, as Troupe Vertigo’s acrobatic stunts keep you on the edge of your seat.
Music Under the Dome: Pink Floyd, Friday, Dec. 12, doors open at 7 p.m., first show at 8 p.m., second show at 9 p.m., Maryland Science Center. Enjoy music from Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” album while experiencing in-house curated imagery inside the science center’s planetarium.
Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 13, 9:30–11:30 a.m., Lord Baltimore Hotel. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, capture great photos with Santa, enjoy the beauty of the Couture Trees, for a most unusual and very Baltimore breakfast with Santa. Tickets available here.
The Deer Creek Chorale Ebb and Flow Choir, Saturday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Star Bright Farm. Join the Deer Creek Chorale Ebb and Flow Ladies Choir for a free Christmas Carol Concert in the barn. Then stop by the Barn Market for Sip and Shop.
Crabs for Christmas Concert 2025 with David DeBoy & De Hons, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Three Arts Club of Homeland. Join David DeBoy—the local celebrity who brought us “Crabs for Christmas”—and De Hons for a family-friendly matinee promising laughter, music, and audience participation, all with a Bawl-a-mer twist!
The Second Saturday S#!T Show feat. LizaBanks Campagna, Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. Ottobar. Join host Mike Quindlen as he welcomes headliner LizaBanks Campagna; featured comedians David Grant, Greg Stamper, Violet Gray, and Eddie Colson; and special guest Deadair Dennis Maler to the stage.
Week of Dec. 15 through Dec. 21
Classical Christmas, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Conducted by Patrick Quigley and featuring Maya Kherani (soprano), James Reese (tenor), and the Handel Choir of Baltimore, this program will include Charpentier’s Prelude from Te Deum (ed. Quigley), Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 4, and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah.
Fell’s Point Cookie Crawl, Thursday, Dec. 18, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fell’s Point Main Street. Shop at participating Fell’s Point businesses and enjoy complimentary cookies during the 5th annual Cookie Crawl in Fell’s Point.
Legos, Latkes and Lights, Thursday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC. Bring your appetite — and STEM skills — and join community members as they team up to building the world’s tallest Lego menorah. Tickets include a latke dinner and take home mini Lego menorah.
Celtic Woman, Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Celtic Woman’s Symphony Christmas Tour features the all-female ensemble’s favourite Yuletide songs: O Holy Night, Little Drummer Boy, Carol of the Bells, and more, along with Celtic Woman classics and some Irish tunes with a Christmas twist.
Merry Mixology, Friday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Maryland Zoo, Mansion House Porch. Bartenders will guide you through making a festive cocktail named The Clausmopolitan. Attendees can also enjoy a hot cocoa bar, take photos with animal ambassadors, paint candles and tote bags, decorate ornaments, participate in an ugly sweater contest, and bring ornaments from home to swap with fellow guests.
The Delta King’s Blues, Friday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Dec. 21, 2640 Space. World premiere of the first full opera commissioned by IN Series, this “blues opera” tells the tale of guitar legend Robert Johnson and the deal he struck with the devil to learn the language of the blues. An immersive juke-joint experience with music by Damien Geter. Tickets available here.
Holiday Pops, Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Conductor Stuart Chafetz, the BSO, and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society return with this annual holiday tradition, made complete by the beloved tap-dancing Santas!
Shrek Rave: Shrek The Halls! Saturday, Dec. 20, 9 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Get out of your swamp and onto the dance floor for a Shrek-themed rave. 18+
Week of Dec. 22 through Dec. 28
BAH HUMBUG – A Christmas Carol (Mostly) Improvised! Monday, Dec. 22 & Tuesday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m., The Theater at Creative Alliance. Producer Michael Harris and a team of Baltimore’s best improvisers will turn your suggestions into a hilarious, unpredictable reboot of the Dickens’ Classic.
It’s All About the Children! Kwanzaa Celebration, Friday, Dec. 26, 6 p.m., Henderson-Hopkins School. The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum and the Men & Families Center invite community members to attend this vibrant cultural event that celebrates the principle of Umoja — Unity, uplifting youth and honoring African heritage through music, storytelling, and family-centered fun.
The String Queens, Friday, Dec. 26, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Keystone Korner. This D.C.-based string trio will stop by Baltimore for an evening of authentic, soulful, orchestral sounds.
WWE: Holiday Tour, Friday, Dec. 26, 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. As part of the Live Holiday Tour, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will spend one night in Baltimore.
Paper Circuit Greeting Cards, Sunday, Dec. 28, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Maryland Science Center. In this one-hour workshop, participants will learn to build a simple circuit and design a light-up greeting card.
New Year’s Tea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 12:15–3 p.m., B&O Railroad Museum. This English afternoon tea promises sophistication and festive cheer in the beauty of the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse. Don your finest festive attire to embark on a charming journey aboard the Mile One Express to enjoy the nostalgia of rail travel. Then indulge in a selection of fine teas, freshly baked scones, and a variety of savory and sweet treats.
Week of Dec. 29 through Dec. 31
John Oliver Live, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. John Oliver will return to Baltimore for two live performances at The Lyric.
Midnight Noon, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Maryland Science Center. Celebrate the new year with festive activities and games, hands-on science exhibits, a live performance from the Rainbow Rock Band, and a noontime ball drop.
Noon Year’s Eve at the B&O, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., B&O Railroad Museum. Ring in the new year with the whole family as you create celebratory party hats and mirror balls, set goals for the new year at Resolution Station, take a ride on the Reindeer Railway, and watch the ball drop with an apple juice toast and confetti poppers.
Chelsey Green’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m., Keystone Korner. Chelsey Green & The Green Project will perform during Keystone Korner’s final show of the year.
All Mighty Senators New Years Eve Bash!, Wednesday, Dec. 31, doors open at 8 p.m., Ottobar. Enjoy performances by All Mighty Senators, Eze Jackson, and more to cap off 2025.
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor NYE Fireworks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., Inner Harbor Amphitheater. Get ready for music by DJ Curtis, hip hop band Soul Cannon, and a fireworks and drone show when the clock turns midnight.
NYE Gala at the Lord Baltimore, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., Lord Baltimore Hotel. Hosted in the historic Calvert ballroom, enjoy a night of elegance, magic, music, food and drink to ring in 2026.
The Basement R&B NYE Gala, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., Nevermore Hall. Ring in the New Year with a blend of elegance, comfort, and pure 90s/00s R&B vibes. Tickets include a midnight champagne toast, party favors, photo booth and photo walls, and more.
Dying Fetus & Pig Destroyer, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Ring in the new year with performances by Dying Fetus & Pig Destroyer at Baltimore Soundstage.
NYE Live!, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m., Power Plant Live!. Tickets grant access to seven bars and nightclubs, with entertainment, DJs, food, drinks, mocktails, and party favors! Must be 21+ to attend.
