The holiday season in the City of Annapolis is festive, wide-ranging and nationally recognized.
Travel + Leisure Magazine recently named Annapolis one of the 25 best Christmas towns in the country, ranking among places like Aspen, Colorado, and Nantucket, Massachusetts. The magazine cites Annapolis’ extensive events and cozy atmosphere.
Here are four highlights of the Annapolis holiday experience.
Late night shopping during Midnight Madness
Midnight Madness takes place every Thursday in December leading up to Christmas from 4 p.m. to midnight. Numerous downtown stores on Main Street, Maryland Avenue and West Street stay open until midnight. Attractions this year include alpacas in a pen, street performers and photo opportunities.
Midnight Madness is also a good time to enjoy the decorations that transform downtown Annapolis. Worth a look include the Christmas Tree at Market Space, Holiday Light Canopy over West Street and Snow Flake alley, a decorated passageway between State Circle and Maryland Avenue with hanging lights.
Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park
It’s the 30th anniversary of Lights on the Bay this year. The holiday light display in Sandy Point State Park features more than 60 animated and stationary displays themed around Maryland, Annapolis, and the North Pole. Highlights include a 16-foot teddy bear and Midshipmen tossing their hats at graduation. Follow Lights on the Bay on social media to be updated on when Santa visits. There is a nightly kids’ scavenger hunt, with prizes for the winner.
The display runs through New Year’s Day, with an entry fee of $20 per car. Guests can also purchase 3D glasses that make the animated displays pop. Proceeds benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Anne Arundel County.
The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade
The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade takes place Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It first began as an impromptu gathering in the 1980s when club members who lived aboard their boats in Spa Creek, decorated and sailed around Annapolis Harbor. Within a few years, it grew into an annual event.
Owners decorate their boats with holiday lights and sail around the city singing Christmas carols. Visitors can book a cruise or watch from either the Annapolis city front or the Spa Creek Bridge. Other vantage points include Eastport Bridge and the seawall at the Naval Academy.
The Annapolis Holiday Market
The Annapolis Holiday Market runs from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15 along the city dock waterfront. In its third year, the market will feature more than 100 artisans and specialty food vendors. Admission is free.
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