Joshua Meise adores Christmas. Ask him about his favorite holiday and his steel-blue eyes actually twinkle. He’ll reminisce about the model-train village that graced a radiator cover in his family’s Catonsville home when he was little. And childhood visits to Baltimore to enjoy the city’s consummate Christmas adventures: 34th Street’s light displays and the B&O Railroad Museum’s holiday trains.

This time of year, Meise, a 35-year-old, bushy-bearded, Kris Kringle-bellied son of a railroad conductor, revels in playing a role he was born to: Santa Claus for Frederick County’s Walkersville Southern Railroad and Museum.

Weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Meise dons his Santa suit, whitens his Santa-length whiskers, and roams vintage train cars, intent on making children’s holiday memories as warm as his were.

“There’s no experience like opening that coach door, saying, ‘Ho, ho, ho!’ and seeing the reaction,” he says. “It’s just…pure joy. It could melt the polar ice caps. I’d do it year-round if I could.”

Alas, Christmas comes but once a year, and so, too, do heritage railroads’ holiday trains. This beloved “track-dition” took root in the eastern United States in the early 1940s, when the regional CSX “Santa Trains” began catering to needy Appalachian communities.

It accelerated following the release of The Polar Express, the beloved 2004 animated film starring Tom Hanks, based on the classic children’s book about a Christmas-skeptical boy’s magical train ride to the North Pole. Licensed Polar Express trains now replicate the movie experience with costumed performers, festive story times, hot cocoa and cookies, and even souvenir sleigh bells like the tale’s hero received.

Clearly, they were onto something—that same magic Meise references—and these days, all sorts of yuletide train rides abound. This holiday season, make your way to one of these 10 Mid-Atlantic rail rambles serving up the season’s best: sessions with Santa, steam engines, winter scenery—even ugly sweater contests. Reservations a must. Pajamas optional, but encouraged.

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B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM
Baltimore

What the B&O route lacks in distance, it makes up for in immersive festivity. Each year, the museum rolls out the trademarked Polar Express experience, featuring the conductor (aka the puncher of passengers’ golden tickets), dancing chefs, and Santa, who dispenses those cherished silver sleigh bells. This short ride on the nation’s first mile of passenger track ends at the “North Pole” (the restored B&O roundhouse), where Santa poses for photos and accepts holiday wish lists. A Charm City tradition, this two-hour deep dive into the holidays attracts about 20,000 passengers annually.

Dates: Nov. 28-29, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 19-23.
Tickets: $45-120.
Don’t Miss: Model train layouts and s’mores at the roundhouse.

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WALKERSVILLE SOUTHERN RAILROAD
Walkersville, MD

The Walkersville Southern’s popular Santa Trains are a 30-year tradition for this heritage railroad, which clatters along a four-mile former Pennsylvania Railroad line through the scenic Monocacy Valley outside of Frederick. Passengers board eight-car diesel trains for a 70-minute trip during which Santa—Joshua Meise or a backu —spends time with children and adults. (To that end, Meise has been asked for everything from teddy bears to Teslas.) Kids get a toy and the thrill of meeting Santa’s helpers, including Meise’s wife as Mrs. Claus. Beware: Wild West “bandits” sometimes board to target Santa’s toy sack.

Dates: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21.
Tickets: $20-850 (with the latter including private lounge, parlor, and caboose car rentals, to name a few amenities).
Don’t Miss: A museum detailing the railroad’s history.

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WESTERN MARYLAND SCENIC RAILROAD
Cumberland, MD

You won’t see reindeer herds on the tracks, but Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Polar Express trains follow a movie-worthy route from Cumberland’s historic rail station through the craggy Cumberland Narrows to the famous Helmstetter’s Curve. Snow often coats the Allegheny Mountains as the trains navigate a wilderness route to the “North Pole,” where Santa climbs aboard. From coach class to a domed observation car, passengers sing along to the film’s soundtrack, relive movie scenes, and sip hot cocoa during their one-hour trip. As a special treat, pre-Thanksgiving excursions are pulled by one of the East’s largest
steam engines.

Dates: Nov. 21-23, 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-23.
Tickets: $40-1,075 (with the latter including a lounge-class table seating eight).
Don’t Miss: Santa’s trackside workshop.

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EAST BROAD TOP RAILROAD
Rockhill Furnace, PA

In a state rich with railroad history, East Broad Top has achieved National Historic Landmark status as one of the nation’s oldest and best-preserved narrow-gauge railroads. From the 1870s to the 1950s, the line hauled coal and iron, a legacy reflected today in its Christmas in Coal Country excursions. In decorated cars—warmed by coal stoves—passengers enjoy a one-hour ride and the chance to mingle with Santa, who gives children a coal-themed ornament. This central Pennsylvania railroad and working museum also offers holiday rides on vintage electric trolleys.

Dates: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 (with trolleys running only Fridays and Saturdays those weekends).
Tickets: $22-32 (train); $10-12 (trolley).
Don’t Miss: The railroad’s frozen-in-time Industrial Age workshop.

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LEHIGH GORGE SCENIC RAILWAY
Jim Thorpe, PA

The Pocono Mountains’ Lehigh River Gorge boasts truly striking scenery, making this iconic railway one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most popular excursions. Beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving and continuing through December, the line offers 70-minute holiday trains every day. Santa Claus greets passengers Thursdays through Sundays while a cast of costumed characters—snowmen, reindeer, penguins—host remaining weekday trips. Kids get cookies and  photos with Santa; adults enjoy riding the cushy coaches and domed observation cars. Lehigh Gorge Railway is operated by the Port Clinton-based Reading & Northern Railroad, which offers similar Santa trains from its Reading station and five others in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Dates: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 4-7, 11-14, 18-24 (Santa Claus specials); Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 26-29 (winter character rides).
Tickets: $9-54.
Don’t Miss: The station’s King Coal Café housed in a converted rail car.

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NEW HOPE RAILROAD
New Hope, PA

In picturesque Bucks County, this historic line offers a pair of one hour excursions with Santa and the missus, one pulled by a vintage steam locomotive, the other by a heritage diesel. Each round-trip departs from New Hope’s restored, late 19th-century passenger depot bound for Lahaska (aka the “North Pole”). En route, the Clauses offer meet-and-greets, hot cocoa, cookies, and gifts while wandering musicians strum carols. Coach, table-class, and private cars—including a caboose—provide a range of seating options, as do four fare levels: value, off-peak, and peak days, plus coveted Christmas Eve trains.

Dates: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6-7, 13-24, 26-28 (Santa’s Steam Train); Nov. 28-30, Dec. 1-24, 26-30 (Santa’s North Pole Express).
Tickets: $18-169 (with private charters running up to $1,299).
Don’t Miss: The festive Freight House and Christmas gift shop.

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NORTHERN CENTRAL RAILWAY OF YORK
New Freedom, PA

This railroad with a presidential pedigree once connected Baltimore and York, carrying Abraham Lincoln to deliver the Gettysburg Address. Today’s passengers can ride a replica 1800s car bearing Lincoln’s name when booking one of Northern Central’s holiday trains. The one-hour Santa Express features personal visits with Father Christmas, who hands out gifts to children on his “nice” list. The Elves Express is a zany 75-minute trip with Santa’s addled helpers who’ve temporarily lost their Christmas spirit. Adults get in on the fun with two Ugly Sweater rides aboard plush Pullman cars: a complimentary craft beer trip and a cash-bar happy-hour ride.

Dates: Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 (Santa Express); Nov. 28-30 (Elves Express); Dec. 5 (Ugly Sweater Ales on the Rails); Dec. 6-7, 12-14, 19-21 (Ugly Sweater Happy Hour).
Tickets: $30-100 (brilliantly with discounts for designated drivers).
Don’t Miss: Hot cocoa, model trains, and a strolling fiddler at the Engine House.

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STEAMTOWN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Scranton, PA

Visiting this National Park Service-run attraction is a holiday wish come true for train buffs. Its 62-acre campus in Scranton includes two museums, a working railyard, and a collection of steam locomotives—all dedicated to honoring the legacy of steamrail transportation. In December, the nonprofit Iron Horse Society runs North Pole Limited trains from Steamtown. Pulled by a century-old, steam-belching locomotive, the train carries Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a group of roaming musicians on a one-hour trip that’s been enjoyed by families for generations. All proceeds benefit Steamtown’s programs and offerings.

Dates: Dec. 7, 13-14, 19-21.
Tickets: $5-25.
Don’t Miss: Model train layouts and holiday sweets at Steamtown.

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STRASBURG RAIL ROAD
Ronks, PA

Another aficionados’ favorite, the Strasburg Rail Road is said to be the nation’s oldest continuously operating railroad (chartered in 1832, five years after the B&O) and famous among U.S. heritage rail lines for its meticulously restored, all-steam-driven equipment that still gives regular tourist rides to this day. Strasburg’s 66-year-holiday rail tradition rolls on this winter with three excursions. The popular Santa Claus Limited is a coach-class, 45-minute ride through the Lancaster County countryside highlighted by onboard visits from Kris Kringle himself. Santa’s Paradise Express elevates the journey by adding parlor, lounge, and dining cars fit for the Gilded Age. Aboard the evening Night Before Christmas Train, passengers listen to the Clement Clarke Moore classic read by Victorian-costumed performers.

Dates: Dec. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 (Santa Claus Limited); Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 20- 24 (Santa’s Paradise Express); Nov. 28- 29, Dec. 5-7, 11-14, 18-23 (Night Before Christmas Train).
Tickets: $25-2,400 (with the latter including private charter rides).
Don’t Miss: Carolers, a theatrical revue, and Santa’s mailbox at the station.

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POTOMAC EAGLE SCENIC RAILROAD
Romney, WV

Craving a winter wonderland? The Potomac Eagle’s three-hour Holiday Trough train is just the ticket. For more than 15 miles, it follows the South Branch of the Potomac River, hugging a scenic canyon called The Trough. Here, atop sheer, forested walls, majestic bald eagles make their nests and foster the railway’s reputation. The holiday version of this regular excursion features multi-course dining on seasonal favorites like beef Wellington, glazed ham, and pumpkin pie. Families especially enjoy the railway’s 75-minute North Pole Express trains featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus’s favorite cookies, caroling, and gifts for the kids.

Dates: Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19 (Holiday Trough); Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 17-23 (North Pole Express).
Tickets: $62-144.
Don’t Miss: Scenic views from the open-air observatory car.

Art Space is a recurring element in the UpFront section of our print publication that spotlights a local artist or project making an impact in the city at large. Here’s what’s going on this month:

It’s hard to believe that Baltimore’s beloved indie radio stations are all grown up, but this month, both WTMD and WYPR will celebrate their 20th year—with music and…locomotives?

Yup, the anniversary bash will take place at the B&O Railroad Museum on June 10 at 6 p.m., and during half-hour train rides you’ll hear local acts like rapper Eze Jackson, chamber-pop duo Outcalls, and headlining electronic artist Dan Deacon.

“You can’t get much more Baltimore than this,” says Sam Sessa, director of events and community engagement for WTMD and WYPR, with the latter acquiring the former in 2021. Tickets start at $55

EAT

March 24: Pig Parts and Pancakes

Foraged, 3250 Chestnut Ave. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

Nothing says Sunday morning like the smell of fresh bacon, and this seasonal eatery’s pork confections will have you out of bed in no time. Join Foraged for its second annual walk-in-only brunch featuring pancakes, a wide variety of pig parts, farm-fresh eggs, as well as mimosas and their slightly more adventurous cousins “beermosas.” Eat fresh from the earth at this Hampden hotspot and be sure to pour some locally sapped maple and black walnut syrup over your pancakes to achieve that perfect local breakfast.

DRINK

March 22-24: Full Tilt Brewing Co. Opening

Full Tilt Brewing Co., 5604 York Rd. Fri. 3 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Free.

From artisan craft mead to IPAs named after revered macabre master Edgar Allen Poe, there are plenty of local beer options in Baltimore. And personally, we believe that there’s no such thing as too many breweries. This weekend, celebrate the official grand opening of Full Tilt Brewing Co. with a three-day-long bash to christen this new brewery and taproom on York Road. With new beer releases, arcade games, and live music, this Govans brewery will be a contender for your favorite hangout spot after this weekend.

SEE

To March 31: B&O Best in Service

B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Free.

The B&O Railroad has always been a point of pride for our city, but, as with many chapters in history, the service of African Americans and their contributions to the railroad is largely unrecorded. Through the end of the month, visit the downtown railroad museum to take in paintings by artists Dan Content and Roy Speter that depict prominent African Americans like Thurgood Marshall and Maggie Hudson, as well as many unsung workers, who helped build arguably the most revolutionary railroad in our nation’s history.

HEAR

March 24: Kotic Couture with DDm, RoVo Monty & Chiffon

Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10.

You may have seen this rising rapper playing MC with DJ Trillnatured during the Version dance parties at The Crown or making a cameo in local singer-songwriter RoVo Monty’s iconic “Pretty in Pink” music video, but you don’t know this fearless artist until you see them perform live. Hear them seamlessly flow between high-energy hits such as “Get Ya Life” and smooth, swaggering rhymes in “Drippin,” before sharing the stage with rapper DDm, R&B duo Chiffon, and RoVo Monty during this much-anticipated show at Metro Gallery.

DO

March 23-24: Baltimore Wing Festival

Power Plant Live, 34 Market Pl. Sat. 2 p.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.- 8 p.m. $14.95-49.95.

This weekend, dare to step into the carnival frenzy of the first annual and soon-to-be-notorious Baltimore Wing Festival. In between chowing down on the festival’s namesake snack, spend the afternoon throwing axes, playing tailgating games, and enjoying a brew in the outdoor beer garden. With more than 60 styles of wings to choose from and every kind of contest to you can think of (mega hot-wing eating, bleu cheese dipping, and French-fry eating), you’re guaranteed to leave with spicy lips and a full stomach.

Looking to add a bit of culture to your afternoon? There is no shortage of great museums around Baltimore. Whether it’s art, science, history, or a particular famous figure you’re interested in, there’s a place nearby to spend your day wandering and learning.

American Visionary Art Museum

This unique museum celebrating outsider art was named by Congress as the country’s official museum for self-taught art. Come for the elaborate sculptures, gorgeous drawings, and interesting assemblage pieces, then stick around to browse Sideshow, the treasure trove of a museum store downstairs. As a bonus, AVAM is free for federal employees (and up to three others) during the 2019 government shutdown with a valid ID.

For more visionary and local art, try: MICA Galleries, Eubie Blake Cultural Center

Baltimore Museum of Art

This free museum houses a collection of 95,000 works, so you’re sure to find something to interest everyone among its vast collection. Lovers of modern art will want to linger in the galleries housing the famed Cone Collection, while those looking for the more non-traditional can usually find something interesting and extraordinary in the Contemporary Wing or special exhibition galleries. Recent shows have included a John Waters retrospective, surreal visions of some of Europe’s great conflicts, and a look back at the BMA’s first exhibit to feature black artists.

For more art and antiques, try: Maryland Art Place, School 33 Art Center

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture

The Smithsonian-affiliated Reginald F. Lewis Museum is home to art, photographs, sculptures, military antiques, and ephemera chronicling Maryland’s African-American history from 1784 to the present. Although it’s connected to the Smithsonian, the Lewis Museum remains open throughout the shutdown and is offering free admission to furloughed workers and up to three guests with a valid government I.D.

For more African-American history and culture, try: Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

The Walters Art Museum

Housed across three buildings (including a historic residence) in Mount Vernon, the Walters features an extensive collection of Asian antiquities and decorative arts. Wander the Chamber of Wonders to experience what a 1600s nobleman might have shown off in his lavish home, or head to the 1 West Mount Vernon Place to see contemporary art placed alongside the preserved architecture of a 19th-century townhouse.

For more historic homes and exhibits, try: The Johns Hopkins Museums, The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House

The Baltimore Museum of Industry

Explore Baltimore’s history as a hub of business and industry at this South Baltimore museum housed in a former cannery. Exhibits include a 1900s garment loft, a recreated soda fountain, a print shop, and a gallery dedicated to how Baltimore fueled the rise of the automobile. Don’t forget to stop by the Baltimore docked outside—she’s the oldest steam-powered tugboat in the United States.

For more transportation and industrial history, try: The B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Streetcar Museum

Maryland Historical Society

The MdHS is the state’s oldest, continuously operating cultural institution, having been responsible for documenting Maryland history since 1844. With exhibits featuring figures such as The Catonsville Nine, Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, and the Peale Family of painters, this collection is comprised of more than seven million items from pre-Colonial times to the present.

For more great figures from Baltimore’s past, try: The Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Maryland Science Center

With a history going back to 1797 with the Maryland Academy of Sciences, this Inner Harbor spot has evolved into a family-friendly exploration of the natural world, from the smallest cells to history’s largest creatures. Visitors can also take advantage of Davis Planetarium or catch a movie on the IMAX screen, which will reopen in March after theater renovations are complete.

For more hands-on learning, try: Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Historic Ships in Baltimore

National Aquarium

Plan to spend some serious time at this colorful spot. Beyond the normal fish, rays, and other aquatic critters, you’ll find sloths, puffins, crocodiles, and more scattered across the many habitats housed in this multi-level aquarium. An indoor rainforest, a stories-high shark tank, and a living reef featuring Calypso, a rescued sea turtle, are just a few of the highlights in this gem overlooking the Inner Harbor. Book your timed entry ticket online to avoid long lines, and go first thing in the morning or late in the day to avoid the field trip crowd.

For more nature encounters, try: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Rawlings Conservatory

After being sheltered in a former car dealership underneath the Jones Falls Expressway for more than 40 years, the Baltimore Police Department‘s mounted unit of horses was introduced to its future home Tuesday morning.

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and officials from the B&O Railroad Museum joined to break ground on the First Mile Stable, a modern equestrian facility which will house the mounted unit’s draft horses.

“We should be glad that we are preserving this unit and, more importantly, that we are making a home that will be lasting and one that we all can be proud of,” Pugh said.

The Baltimore Police mounted unit was founded in 1888 and is the oldest continuously operated mounted unit in the U.S.

“[This is] more than just about building a stable for horses,” Interim Baltimore City Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle said. “This is continuing a legacy.”

First Mile Stable, which will be accessible via a short train ride from the B&O Railroad Museum, will sit on a 2.4-acre plot of museum property. Museum board chairman Francis Smyth said project construction will begin within the month and is expected to be completed in approximately nine months. The stable is slated to open in spring or summer 2019.

The facility will represent a significant upgrade to the previous living arrangements for the mounted unit’s horses. It will include 12 double stalls (which are twice the width of a normal horse stall) and an outdoor paddock for grazing and exercise, an amenity the current location lacks.

“These horses are exceedingly well cared for,” said Kris Hoellen, the executive director of the B&O Railroad Museum. “But, obviously, they are going to have an even better quality of life when they are looking up at the skies rather than the underside of a bridge.”

The stable will also include an educational community center for tourists and inner-city school groups to interact with the officers and horses and learn about the mounted unit’s history and role in public safety.

“The mounted unit plays the same role it did since its founding with patrol as its first priority,” said Sgt. Russell “Russ” Robar, the commander of the mounted unit.

During an August 2017 press conference, Pugh, along with other city officials, announced plans to fundraise for and build First Mile Stable.

The First Mile Stable Charitable Foundation, which was established for the purpose of designing, constructing, and maintaining the new stable for the mounted unit, has already raised more than $1 million of the $2.5 million project goal. The foundation also launched a public fundraising campaign today to continue to support the newest stable.

Additionally, Smyth announced that the museum and First Mile Stable Charitable Foundation together will provide the mounted unit with two additional horses.

The mounted unit currently consists of six horses, although Robar noted the unit has authorization for funding up to 10. He said the mounted unit’s horses allow the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to survey areas in the city that aren’t always accessible by car, such as tight alleys and fire escapes, and are effective at assisting officers on the ground for occasional crowd control purposes.

“The horses are the most important part of the unit,” Robar said. “They can handle what is asked of them and still be able to focus, listen, and remain calm.”

However, the horses also serve to improve the chances of civilians interacting with patrol officers.

“We look at ourselves as ambassadors for the city and what the BPD is about,” Robar said. “[The horses] help us to engage the community while on patrol. People are more likely to approach a horse than a patrol officer in a car.”

Robar said the stable’s location will promote a “continued and unique interaction” between officers and the Southwest Baltimore community.

“Most local jurisdictions don’t have horses and kids in the city don’t see horses on a regular basis,” Robar said. “The horses break down barriers to help reach kids and the community better. Anyone who has served in this unit knows how special our role is.”

Pugh and the BPD in the past have emphasized creating more opportunities for the city’s youth to engage with its officers.

“For many of these children, [field trips to the First Mile Stable] will be their first interaction with police officers, and it will be a positive one,” Smyth said. “We feel that this is a game changer.”

On March 23, 1868, the first foreign steamship docked at the new immigration pier at Locust Point. A momentous occasion at the time, and historically, the arrival of appropriately named SS Baltimore from Bremen, Germany was greeted with a canon salute as it passed Fort McHenry and a parade down Broadway.

This Saturday, the B&O Railroad Museum and the Baltimore Immigration Museum will be jointly celebrating the occasion. A purchased ticket to the B&O Railroad Museum in Southwest Baltimore includes the unveiling of a new commemorative panel marking the historic occasion, a luncheon, and two speakers—B&O curator Harrison Van Waes and Balitmore Immigration Museum co-founder Nick Fessenden. That event kicks off at 11 a.m. 

The day’s program concludes with an open house at the Baltimore Immigration Museum in Locust Point, which will be open, free of charge, from 2-5 p.m.

The Baltimore Immigration Museum, which opened in 2016, is located in the historic Immigration House at 1308 Beason Street. Built in 1904 in connection with the former immigrant German church next door, the original Immigration House took in “newly arrived European immigrants who needed temporary housing before moving on to their final destinations or finding work and permanent housing in Baltimore,” according to the museum’s website.

The Immigration Museum documents the city’s 19th- and early 20th-century immigration story as well as chronicling the different ethnic groups who began their American journey at the Locust Point immigration piers. The Baltimore Immigration Museum will also be open Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

In our cover story last month, “City of Immigrants,” Baltimore magazine told the story of our immigrants’ historic—and current—struggles and successes.

Until the outbreak of World War I, the regular arrival of Norddeutscher Lloyd ships—loaded with Central and Eastern European Germans, Poles, Russians, Jews, Lithuanians, Czechs, Slovaks, Bohemians, Austrians, and Ukrainians—would forever alter the city’s course and character. From the opening of the Locust Point piers until they closed in 1914, some 1.2 million European immigrants entered Baltimore’s Ellis Island, making the city the third busiest port of entry in the U.S. and the busiest below the Mason-Dixon line.

“To understand the development of Baltimore,” local historian Wayne Schaumburg says, “you have to know about those piers and the influx of immigrants there who built the city’s ethnic neighborhoods around the harbor.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE B&O
2/1-28. B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$20. Learn about the historic contributions of African Americans to the United States railroad industry.

FREEDOM: EMANCIPATION QUILTED & STITCHED
TO 2/28. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free-$8. This new exhibit features documentary-style story quilts that honor the lives and legacies of people of color in Maryland.

AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO SERVED DURING WARTIME
2/10. Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum, 300 Oella Ave., Catonsville. 1:30-3 p.m. Free. Celebrate two decades of the park and commemorate Banneker relatives who served during times of war.

JOHNS HOPKINS BLACK HISTORY MONTH STUDENT COMPETITION & EXHIBITION
2/24-3/4. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Southeast Baltimore students showcase artworks inspired by and featuring historical black figures.

VISIONARY ARTISTS OF COLOR
2/14. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$15.95. In honor of Frederick Douglass’ 200th birthday, enjoy a self-guided tour through the art museum’s collection to view works by African Americans and other artists of color.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH TEEN LISTENING PARTY
2/6-27. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. Tues. 3-4 p.m. Free. Throughout the month, young adults can listen to the works of celebrated black authors.

CIRQUE ZUMA ZUMA WITH TRADITIONAL AFRICAN DANCE
2/15. Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 10:15 a.m. & 12 p.m. $9. This lively performance includes music, dance, and acrobatics to create an African-style Cirque du Soleil.

TELL THEM WE ARE RISING
2/18. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 2 p.m. Free. During this documentary film screening, learn about the pivotal role historically black colleges and universities have played in American history.

I HAVE A DREAM: THE LIFE & TIMES OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
2/22. Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 10:15 a.m. & 12 p.m. $9. Performance artists present this biographical dramatization about the legendary civil rights leader.

ANNAPOLIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE TOUR
2/17. City Dock, Annapolis. 1-3 p.m. Free-$20. Explore the history and culture of Maryland’s African-American community through this guided walking tour.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS PATH TO FREEDOM WALKING TOURS
TO 9/3. 800 S. Broadway. Times vary. $7-15. These guided walking tours take history buffs through the iconic abolitionist’s life in Fells Point.

Women’s rights have been in the news a lot lately, with fears of female freedoms being endangered by the new right-leaning Republican White House and Congress. But if January’s Women’s March (and these 13 events) are any indication, our country’s wonder women won’t be backing down any time soon.

Lectures & Workshops

3/8: Nadia Hashimi
Baltimore County Public Library, 1301 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville. 2:30 p.m. Free. The young novelist behind The Pearl That Broke Its Shell comes to the county to discuss Afghan women and the immigrant experience.

3/12: Guerrilla Girls
The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 3 p.m. Free. In conjunction with the closing of the Guerrilla Girls exhibit, artist-activist Frida Kahlo joins the BMA’s contemporary curator Kristen Hileman to reflect on the human rights group’s legacy.

3/15: Society of Excellent Women
Open Works, 1400 Greenmount Ave. 6-9 p.m. Free. At this new monthly meet-up that celebrates lady power, enjoy a zine workshop with the female frontrunners of Baltimore’s self-publishing community and explore the new Open Works makerspace in Station North.

3/23: Roxane Gay
Maryland State Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, 415 Park Ave. 6:30 p.m. Free. The acclaimed author chats about her best-selling books, such as Bad Feminist and Difficult Women.

History

3/2: Celebrating Women of the Renaissance
The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 6:30 p.m. Free. National Museum of Women in the Arts associate curator Virginia Treanor discusses the experience of women artists and patrons in European history.

3/17: 4,000 Years of Women in Science
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum, 300 Oella Ave., Catonsville. 7 p.m. Free. Join astronomer Sethanne Howard to learn about female contribution to the study of science.

3/19-5/19: Women of the B&O Railroad
B&O Railroad Museum, 2711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City. Fri.-Sun. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free-$8. Get to know the female employees of the B&O, including legendary engineer Olive Dennis.

3/22: The Female Gaze in Anime & Manga
MICA, Brown Center, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave. 12-1 p.m. Free. Delve into the gender politics of graphic novels.

Theater

3/30: Women Rabbis, Revealed
Gordon Center for Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills. 7:30 p.m. $20-25. The Strand Theater presents a staged reading of stories from On The Fringe, a documentary film about L.A.’s female rabbis.

3/17-4/9: The Taming of the Shrew
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St. Times & prices vary. This topical comedy follows the rollicking story line of the “untamable” Kate and her romantic escapades.

To 3/19: Motherhood Out Loud
Vagabond Players, 806 S. Broadway. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $10-20. This moving play turns the notion of parenthood on its head with comedy and celebration.

3/24-25: Womanizm
Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St. 8 p.m. $20-25. The Eubie Blake Cabaret Company performs this celebration of black women.

When Rebecca Gushen started planning the Maryland Wineries Association’s annual Winter Wine Showcase—a gathering meant to be more intimate than most large-scale wine festivals—three years ago, she admits it took some effort to get participants on board.

“It was something that was so different for the industry at the time,” says Gushen, event manager for Grow & Fortify, a consulting firm for various local craft beverage organizations. “A lot of people didn’t know what to make of it.”

But now, as the association gears up for its fifth annual celebration of Maryland wine, Gushen says that organizers are forced to be more selective: “The local scene has taken a huge turn in the right direction,” she says. “And now with new wineries popping up every year, they’re setting the bar even higher.”

On Thursday, January 26, more than 200 enthusiasts will pack the roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum to experience the return of the yearly showcase, which will feature varietals from more than 50 local vintners, stationed light food pairings by Zeffert and Gold Catering, and live tunes by jazz musician David Bach.

The gathering was initially conceived as a tool to spread to the word about the vast array of local producers, but now Gushen says it’s also an ideal way to dispel the common misconceptions people have about the state’s selection.

“Sometimes Maryland wine gets a bad rap,” she says. “So this event is all about changing those preconceived notions that grapes can’t grow in Maryland.”

Adds Grow & Fortify’s marketing coordinator Callie Pfeiffer: “Before the industry started to grow, people would say that Maryland wine is either too sweet, or if it’s not sweet then it’s bad.”

The event aims to further discredit that sentiment with its wide range of local varieties on display from old standbys like Boordy Vineyards and Linganore Winecellars, as well as newbies like Old Westminster Winery (which recently topped The Daily Meal’s list of Best Wineries in America) and Big Cork Vineyards in Western Maryland. A VIP pre-reception will emphasize sparkling wines (think rosé and Vidal Blanc), and the actual tasting will highlight a number of sauvignon blanc, cabernet, chardonnay, syrah (dark-skinned grape varietals) and merlot options, as well as a collection of dessert wines.

It’s no secret that wine can be intimidating, and Gushen says that the event’s interactive atmosphere is a plus for beginners and experienced oenophiles alike.

“I’m a wine nerd,” she says. “I love asking all of the crazy-specific questions, and what’s really cool about this event is that you get all of the answers from the makers themselves.”

With “women’s issues” at the forefront of the national debate, now is the perfect time to celebrate the accomplishments of fearless females throughout history. Whether learning about lives, commemorating contributions, or helping a cause, Baltimore has something for everyone this Women’s History Month.

MAR. 1-31 // B&O WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$18. 410-752-2490. Learn about past and present women’s roles in the railroad industry.

MAR. 1-31 // MT. CLARE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Mount Clare Museum House, 1500 Washington Blvd. Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$5. 410-837-3262. Examine the lives of women during the Colonial period in this 18th-century home.

MAR. 6 // QUEER QUEENS OF QOMEDY
Magooby’s Joke House, 9603 Deereco Rd., Timonium. 5 p.m. $25-40. 410-252-2727. Laugh along with this lesbian trio’s comedy show.

MAR. 7 // CELEBRATE GREAT WOMEN & GIRLS
Enoch Pratt Free Library, 6310 Reisterstown Rd. 4 p.m. Free. 410-396-0948. Bring your kids for an afternoon conversation about historical women and girls achievements.

MAR. 10- APR. 2 // WOMEN’S WORK: CHANGING THE SUBJECT
New Door Creative, 1601 St. Paul St. Tues.-Sat. 12-5 p.m. Free. 410-244-8244. Consider female artists as printmakers at this all-new, international exhibit in Station North.

MAR. 12 // QUILTER JOAN GAITHER
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 1 p.m. Free-$8. 443-263-1800. Hear this local artist discuss her documentary quilts, which tie together stories of our state’s history and communities.

MAR. 18-APR. 3 // LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL
Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul St. Times vary. $10-20. 410-752-1225. Explore one of the last performances of famed jazz singer Billie Holiday’s life, set in a bar in Philadelphia—just four months before her death.

MAR. 26 // PORTRAITS IN SONG
Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $17-23. 410-276-1651. Hear local musician Ellen Cherry perform songs inspired by historical women, accompanied by artist Liz Downing’s portraits.

African-American achievements, culture, and heritage are worth celebrating year-round, but this month, take a moment to honor the black community of Baltimore and beyond at one of these special events. In light of recent social unrest here and around the country, use them as a reminder of the leaps and bounds America has made, but also how far we have left to go.

FEB. 5 // AQUARIUM’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. 5-8 p.m. Free-$19.95. 410-576-3800. Join the National Aquarium in celebrating African-American heritage with an evening of music, performance, and family fun.

FEB. 6 // MORGAN STATE CHOIR CONCERT
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. 3 p.m. $25-30. 443-263-1800. The renowned Morgan State Choir performs traditional African-American spirituals and gospel music in its “Rejoicing in the Spirit” concert.

FEB. 6 // BOOKLOVER’S BREAKFAST
Marriot Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna St. 8:30 a.m. Free. 410-396-5430. The Enoch Pratt Free Library’s 28th bibliophile breakfast features Edward Lewis, co-founder of Essence magazine and author of The Man From Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women.

FEB. 8-29 // BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE B&O
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$18. 410-752-2490. This new exhibit celebrates African-American contributions to the American railroad industry.

FEB. 11-14 // THE MEETING
Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $22. 410-752-8558. Jeff Stetson’s compelling play depicts the supposed meeting of two civil-rights icons, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

FEB. 25 // SWIMMING IN DARK WATERS
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 7:30 p.m. $22.50-32.50. 301-600-2828. Performers such as Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Bhi Bhiman explore the rich history of protest songs in the South.

FEB. 27 // ETHNIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE
An die Musik Live, 409 N. Charles St. 8 & 9:30 p.m. $20-23. 410-385-2638. This acclaimed jazz trio hits the stage with drums, kalimba, reeds, and trumpets for their 12th annual Black History Month celebration.

FEB. 27-MAR. 5 // BLACK HISTORY MONTH STUDENT COMPETITION & ART EXHIBITION
Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-276-1651. Now in its sixth year, the Amalie Rothschild Gallery features accomplished artworks by East Baltimore public school students that depict the history of African-Americans in Baltimore City.

With the holiday season fast approaching, there’s no better way to get in the spirit than to start celebrating early. Here are some of the best November events to get you in a festive mood.

WINTERFEST OF LIGHTS
11/19-1/3: Northside Park, Ocean City. Head downy ocean for a dazzling holiday light display with hot chocolate and pictures with Santa.

CIRQUE DREAMS: HOLIDAZE
11/20-21: Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric. Christmas ornaments come to life in this variety show full of mind-bending stunts, Broadway tunes, and holiday fun.

MARYLAND CHRISTMAS SHOW
11/20-22, 27-29: Frederick County Fairgrounds, Frederick. Browse gifts by local artisans, craftsmen, and merchants with a big-top tent holiday show.

A TUNA CHRISTMAS
11/20-12/20: Spotlighters Theatre. Follow local news reporters in this Christmas story set in small-town Tuna, TX.

A CARROLL’S CHRISTMAS
11/20-12/31: Mount Clare Museum House. Step back in time and experience a Colonial American Christmas with the Carroll family.

HOLIDAY MAKER SERIES: CANDY MAKING
11/21: Maryland Science Center. Make your own chocolate creations in this holiday-themed workshop, perfect for a homemade gift or holiday treat.

MAGICAL HOLIDAY EXPRESS
11/21-22 & 12/1-1/3: B&O Railroad Museum. lThe holidays mean all train everything at the B&O, with train rides, model train layouts, and special appearances by Santa throughout the holidays.

FESTIVAL OF TREES
11/27-29: Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. This Land of Pleasant Living tradition features life-sized holiday scenes, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, and live entertainment.

FESTIVAL OF WREATHS
11/27-12/6: Carroll County Arts Council, Westminster. Deck your halls with one of 150 decorated wreaths from this annual silent auction.

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF TRAINS
11/27-1/24: B&O Railroad Museum, Ellicott City. Start the season with the museum’s annual celebration of toy trains.

WEINBERG WINTERFEST
11/28: Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick. Bring cash or canned-food donations to hear sing-alongs, see silent films, and enjoy Tuba Christmas, a four-part Christmas carol ensemble featuring 80 regional tuba and euphonium players.

If you find yourself—like most shopping malls, drug stores, and Starbucks—already over Thanksgiving and eager to skip straight to snowmen and hot chocolate, then you’re in luck. Here are nine early holiday happenings to get you that festive fix. 

THE POLAR EXPRESS IN 4-D
NOV. 14-JAN. 4, 2015: National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St. Showtimes vary. $5-35. 410-576-3800. This festive film goes 4-D with special effects and sensory details like mist, wind, and the smell of hot chocolate.

WINDOW WONDERLAND
NOV. 19: Harbor East. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. The unveiling event for this month-long holiday arts exhibit features seasonal storefronts decorated by local artists, plus carolers, stilt walkers, acrobats, and refreshments.

INNER HARBOR ICE SKATING
NOV. 21-JAN. 19: Inner Harbor Ice Rink, McKeldin Sq. Open daily. Times subject to change. $7-12. 443-743-3306. For the first time in a decade, ice skating returns to the Inner Harbor with this seasonal, outdoor rink, so grab a sweater (and your beau) and take advantage while it lasts.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN BALTIMORE
NOV. 27-DEC. 24: West Shore Park, 501 Light St. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free-$5. 443-760-0686. This outdoor German Christmas market boasts 45 vendors of arts, crafts, and goods, plus a Bavarian beer garden for brews, bratwurst, and mulled wine. 

THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA CHRISTMAS SHOW
NOV. 28: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 8 p.m. $20-30. 301-600-2828. The Grammy-winning Blind Boys of Alabama perform their creative take on classic holiday hits. 

25TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES
NOV. 28-30: Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$13. 443-923-7300. This holiday extravaganza includes gingerbread towns, toy trains, live music, festive food, and over 100 craft boutiques.

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF TRAINS AND TOYS
NOV. 28-JAN. 25, 2015: B&O Railroad Museum at Ellicott City Station, 2711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City. Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$16. 410-461-1945. For post-Thanksgiving family fun, head to the B&O Museum for its annual holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroads. 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
NOV. 29-DEC. 23: Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 & 7 p.m. $15-48. 410-244-8570. Kick off the holiday season with this Charles Dickens classic. Set in 19th-century Baltimore, the play gets a Charm City twist and features a cast of local ghosts. 

Another Easter filled with egg-hunting, chocolate-eating, and
(hopefully) warm weather is right around the corner. (It’s Sunday, April
20, if you want to get technical.) From the Inner Harbor all the way
out to Frederick, you can’t go anywhere without finding a scavenger hunt
or bunny breakfast. Be on the lookout for these events:

>> APR. 11-21: 7TH ANNUAL PEEPSHOW
Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org. Enjoy treats, souvenirs, and a sweet display of hundreds of works of art made from the marshmallow candies.

>> APR. 12: BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY
Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 8:30-10:30 a.m. $5-12. 410-727-4808. thebmi.org. Munch a continental breakfast, search for eggs, watch a holiday film, and get your picture snapped with the Easter bunny.

>> APR. 12-13, 17-19, 21, 26-27: 19TH ANNUAL BUNNYLAND
Butler’s Orchard, 22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $6.75-8.75. 301-972-3299. butlersorchard.com. Take a hayride in Bunnyland, hunt for eggs, participate in the Rubber Ducky Derby, and visit Butler’s very own Country Bunny.

>> APR. 13 & 19: EASTER ON THE FARM
Crumland Farms, 7612 Willow Rd., Frederick. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$9. 301-845-8099. crumland.com. Hop on down for egg hunts, a mini-carnival, hay rides through the Bunny Trail, and visits with the Easter Bunny.

>> APR. 18-19: BUNNY BREAKFAST & TRAIN RIDE
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. 8:30-9:30 a.m. $21-34. 410-752-2490. borail.org, Reservations required. Enjoy a buffet in the Roundhouse, story time, and carousel rides, plus photos and a train ride with the Easter bunny.

>> APR. 18-20: MARY SUE CANDIES BUNNY BONANZOO
Waterfowl Lake Pavilion at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with admission ($12.50-17.50). 443-552-5276. marylandzoo.org. Live entertainment, games, crafts, and free egg hunts. Each participating child can redeem his or her eggs for Mary Sue chocolate eggs.

>> APR. 19: BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY
Mansion House at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 8:30-10 a.m. Free-$35. 443-552-5276. marylandzoo.org. Enjoy a hot breakfast, plus photo-ops with the Easter bunny and animal encounters.

>> APR. 19: CROMWELL VALLEY PARK EASTER EGG HUNT
Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd., Parkville. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-887-2503. cromwellvalleypark.org. There will be four egg hunts divided by age groups, plus crafts, family games, and egg dyeing.

>> APR. 19: EASTER BASKET MAKING
Enoch Pratt Free Library, Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. 2-3 p.m. Free. 410-396-1580. prattlibrary.org. Celebrate with a program about international Easter traditions, an Easter story, and basket-making.

>> APR. 19: FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNTS
Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Dr. 6-8 p.m. (ages 5-12), 8-9 p.m. (ages 10 and up) $3-5. 410-887-4156. relpnc.org. Registration required. Use your night vision and a flashlight to find hidden eggs along the Robert E. Lee Park trails.

>> APR. 19-20: EGG HUNT AND CRAFT WEEKEND
Clark’s Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. 410-730-4049. clarklandfarm.com. Enjoy continuous egg hunts for varying age groups, Easter crafts, gem-mining, and geode-cracking.