The Village of Cross Keys has found a charming way to brighten the season, and Baltimore, with its community art project, “Snow Globes for Good.” Now through Dec. 31, visitors can wander the shopping center and admire 14 snow globes artfully decorated by students from local public and private schools.
Each globe is decorated around a theme chosen by the students and tied to a local nonprofit they want to feature. The result is part art installation, part celebration of the season of giving.
Some entries are sweet, some are surprisingly sophisticated, and all of them reflect the creative fingerprints of the students who designed them.
The charities range from The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Bryn Mawr and Boys Latin) to the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (Friends), and many others.
Strollers are asked to rank their favorite snow globes. The charity of the globe with the highest ranking will receive a $5,000 donation from Caves Valley Partners, the Baltimore-based real estate company that is revitalizing The Village of Cross Keys. The second-place winner will receive a $2,500 donation, the third-place winner a $1,000 gift, and the rest will receive $500 each.
The project turns the shopping center’s holiday decorations into a moment of generosity, inviting shoppers and neighbors to learn about Baltimore-area causes while enjoying a festive stroll through Cross Keys. It’s cheerful, community-driven, and a reminder that even small works of art can make a difference.
A full list of participating schools on their chosen charity can be found on the “Snow Globes for Good” page on the website of The Village of Cross Keys.
A snow globe created by students from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. 
A snow globe created by students from The Odyssey School. A snow globe created by students from Boys’ Latin School of Maryland. A snow globe created by students from Gilman School. A snow globe created by students from The Bryn Mawr School. A snow globe created by students from The Friends School of Baltimore. A snow globe created by students from Calvert School. A snow globe created by students from The St. Paul’s Schools. A snow globe created by students from Roland Park Country School.
