Christmas in St. Michaels’ slate of events are December 10-12

Christmas in St. Michaels is celebrating its 35^th 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 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 Santa Dash; 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. More than 25 family services, education and child development, and community enhancement organizations 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 kick off the weekend event at noon on Fri., Dec. 10. 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. 12 at 3:00 p.m.

Holiday music will fill the air throughout the weekend event, including a special Mid-Shore Community Band performance of seasonal music from 10:00 – 12:00 noon on Sat., Dec. 11 at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Talbot Street. The Jackson Jubilee Singers are set to perform at 1:30 p.m. with soul-stirring gospel music.

Family-favorite events include Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa, which takes place from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, with limited $10 tickets available for online purchasing. The 10:30 a.m. Talbot Street Parade, Santa Dash, and the Tour of Homes are wonderful mid-day events, with the Lighted Boat Parade beginning along St. Michaels Harbor at 6:00 p.m. Parade routes, event details, online tickets, and more are at christmasinstmichaels.org.

“The Tour of Homes is one of the highlights of the Christmas in St. Michaels weekend, and it’s great to have all our events back after last year’s pandemic pause,” said Christmas in St. Michaels Board President Pat Martin. “Christmas in St. Michaels has one of Maryland’s longest-running home tours by featuring historic homes in the village and some very special countryside homes.”

The Tour of Homes takes place during select hours on Saturday and Sunday, with limited tickets available for advanced online purchase. The $25 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 for Saturday and Sunday.

Christmas in St. Michaels’ Old Fashioned Eastern Shore Christmas Dinner takes place on Sat., Dec. 12 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 Parish Hall on Fremont Street in St. Michaels with dine-in and carry-out dinners available at $20 per person, with tickets sold at the door, the day of the event.  

This year’s 18^th Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features Maggie the Fire Truck—a local legend with an interesting history—and was rendered by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan. Maggie was in operation until the 1950s, and is often seen and celebrated today at parades and local festivals. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are packaged in a keepsake box and are now available for purchase at select area stores and 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 $1.4M 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.

Christmas in St. Michaels goes virtual, raises community funds

Christmas in St. Michaels is re-focusing its 34^th year of fundraising festivities into a virtual celebration beginning this fall, with numerous online activities and holiday-themed packages and kits to help embrace the Christmas spirit while raising funds for Bay Hundred non-profit organizations. The reformatting is in response to the social distancing measures brought on by the COVID pandemic, which limit the large gatherings that traditionally come with Christmas in St. Michaels events.

The goal for this year’s virtual Christmas in St. Michaels events is to raise enough funds to be able to distribute grants to the same beneficiaries they have supported in the past. More than 25 family services, education and child development, and community enhancement organizations depend on Christmas in St. Michaels funds to support their programs and activities.

A Christmas in St. Michaels Online Raffle kicks off on Oct. 15, with details on Christmas in St. Michaels’s website and a drawing to take place on Nov. 15. An Online Silent Auction will take place beginning Nov. 27 and continuing through Dec. 8, with a preview of the auction items scheduled for Nov. 20 – 26. 

Gift certificates for a three-course champagne toast dinner at the Inn at Perry Cabin will be available for purchase beginning in October and valid Dec. 1 – Dec. 30 to serve as a virtual Yuletide Celebration Dinner. An Online Marketplace will help supporters find the perfect gifts while helping to raise the critical funds needed by local service organizations.

Children’s favorites like Breakfast with Santa and Santa's Favorite Cookies will now be available to purchase as kits online for either pick-up or by shipment. Adults can indulge in online shopping with a cause by purchasing “Cheers to a New Year!” wine and hors d'oeuvres packages, and “Spirits with Saint Nick” whiskey and dessert packages, both available by local pick-up.

Free and open to the public will be a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour, with a boat parade in the planning stages. The dates and best routes for spectators will be posted on the Christmas in St. Michaels website. Union United Methodist Church is also participating in Christmas in St. Michaels fundraising, with carryout holiday dinners available for purchase.

This year’s Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features an osprey, adapted from an original drawing by local artist and graphic designer Scott Sullivan. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are packaged in a keepsake box and are now available for purchase at select area stores and 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 $1.4M 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.