Search for the perfect gift, watch a festive performance, and get into the holiday spirit with fun events all weekend long in Baltimore.
From monument and tree lightings, to seasonal performances, there’s something for everyone.
Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:
Monument Lighting, Thursday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mount Vernon Place. Celebrate the unofficial start of winter with the lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument. There will be musical performances, food, and drinks. Then, at 8 p.m., enjoy a fireworks display. Be sure to plan for street closures and parking restrictions around Mount Vernon.
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. 7, 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. The production runs through Dec. 21.
Fells Point Main Street Olde Tyme Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 8:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fells Point Main Street. Take photos with Santas, make crafts, enjoy complimentary hot beverages, watch Fells Point’s tree lighting and the Parade of Lighted Boats, and more.
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.
Baltimore’s Most Festive Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7. Head on down to the city’s waterfront for winter festivities throughout the weekend, including the Parade of Lighted Boats, Holiday Makers Market, and more.
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.
