Best Winter Festivals In Baltimore

Just because the year is cold does not mean that Marylanders have stopped keeping things hot. Take, for example, the multiplicity of celebratory festivals which keep Baltimore occupied during the winter months. Not only do locals enjoy celebrating the several holidays which occur in these, the chillier days, but they continue to celebrate life in general. Take a look at the activities detailed in this list and we're certain you will find something that will have you out of your house and ready to enjoy festivities this winter.

Monument Lighting Family Festival
Leakin Park
4914 Windsor Mill Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
(410) 547-9000
thewalters.org

Date: Dec. 3, 2015 at 5 p.m.

One of the longest-running Baltimore traditions, the annual lighting of the Washington Monument in Baltimore is an event filled with musical concerts and other performances, refreshments and art activities inspired by the winter season. The best part? It's all free! Stop by around 5 p.m. when the festivities are warming up and enjoy all of the activities previously mentioned. After you have had your fill of the fun, settle in to watch the Washington Monument come alive with brilliance. But things only get brighter, as the lighting is followed by a fireworks display and laser-light show. Afterwards, head in to the Walters Art Museum to enjoy the ambiance and warmth.

Festival Of Trains
B&O Railroad Museum
2711 Maryland Ave.
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-1945
www.borail.org/calendar-ec.aspx

Date: Nov. 27, 2015 - Jan. 4, 2016 at 11 a.m.

For whatever reason, trains have become increasingly tied to the holidays and winter months in general. To that end, the B&O Railroad Museum in Ellicott rolls out its winter festival each year lasting a good chunk of the season. During that time, Santa remains on-sight to greet eager young faces and usher them into the festival's chief activity: a 360 model train layout constructed entirely with LEGOs. The layout was designed specifically for this activity by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club, and the LEGO set is interactive, with working lights, motors and more — which makes the entire layout come alive.

The museum offers a variety of other amenities to visitors and guests, so bring your youngsters down to have the time of their lives at this railroad centered festivity.

Baltimore Farmer's Market And Bazaar
Baltimore Farmer's Market
Holliday St. at E. Saratoga St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 752-8632
promotionandarts.org

Date: Nov. 22 - Dec. 14, 2015 at 7 a.m.

If you happen to peek under the Jones Falls Expressway, just about where Holliday and Saratoga Streets meet on a wintery Sunday, you are likely to see a hustley, bustley crowd of marketers taking in the good, earthy ambiance of what amounts to a modern-day bazaar. This festival of open-air produce sale is a treasure near and dear to the hearts of Baltimoreans who come from all over to take advantage of the direct-from-the-earth produce provided from the soily hands that picked it.

Of course, being a bazaar, there is far more to enjoy here than simply fruits and veggies. Visitors may avail themselves of the fresh cheeses, seafood, beef, pork and poultry. They may take in the wholesome smell and flavor of fresh-baked goods of every kind. And anyone desiring to stop by and just get a fully cooked meal to go can find just that in the form of freshly baked wood-fire pizzas or pit beef sandwiches, or any number of other hand-prepared foods.

Related: Best Places For A Winter Outdoor Adventure In Baltimore

Festival Of Wreaths
Carroll Arts Center
91 W. Main St.
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 848-7272
www.visitmaryland.org/event/festival-wreaths

Date: Nov. 27 - Dec. 6, 2015 at 10 a.m.

Held at the Carroll Arts Center, this event has been so popular that it has been going for nearly two decades. Come in any time in the week-and-a-half that this event is running and participate in the silent auction wherein you may admire a wide variety of hand-crafted wreaths, vote on which is the best, and bid on any of them to take home for yourself or to give as a gift. On December 5th, come by the auction with your kids between 1 and 3 p.m. for pictures with Santa and goody bags!

Festival Of Trees
Maryland State Fairgrounds
2200 York Road
Timonium, MD 21093
(410) 252-0200
festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org

Date: Nov. 27-29, 2015 at 10 a.m.

Stop on by the Maryland State Fairgrounds the weekend of Nov. 27 and enjoy the second largest Christmas village in the Baltimore area, complete with Santa, elves, an expansive train garden, a gingerbread village and a fairyland forest. Adults and children alike will enjoy the numerous displays of crafts, goodies, activities and entertainment, and every dollar spent is a donation to the children of Kennedy Krieger, so the fun is completely guilt-free.

Related: Best Free Winter Activities For Families In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.