This time of year, Jen Marsh knows exactly how to get into the Christmas spirit. She pulls out her ornaments, props up her tree, and, most importantly, puts Die Hard on her television.

“I mean, who doesn’t love Hans Gruber?” says Marsh emphatically of the over-the-top action-film’s villain, played by the late, great Alan Rickman—and foil to Bruce Willis’ hunky-cop protagonist, John McClane. “I get a little swoony when he comes on screen. Like, be still my heart! He’s so intelligent and self-assured. I like the bad boys, too, you know?”

For Marsh and her neighbor Heather Keating, nothing says holidays like a screening of this 1988 cult-classic, and the Patterson Park residents are ready to host their wildly popular Die Hard Interactive Movie Night at the Creative Alliance on Dec. 6, now in its sixth year and always a sell-out.

“It’s so fun, so silly, just total nonsense,” says Keating, former marketing director at the Eastern Avenue arts center. It’s what they describe as “Rocky Horror meets Mystery Science Theater 3000,” with the duo incorporating improv comedy, costume contests, trivia, and props, like water guns that attendees are encouraged to spray.

“We tell people from the very beginning, if you’re here to watch like a normal person, this is not the movie for you,” says Marsh.

Today, the co-hosts are besties, but their friendship actually began as a business proposition, when Marsh, then the publisher at City Paper, suggested a joint film series with the Creative Alliance. A decade ago, Interactive Movie Nights debuted with The Royal Tenenbaums. Only about a dozen people showed up, but those that did were all-in, with a few even dressed in costume, by their own accord. Wet Hot American Summer, The Goonies, and The Princess Bride followed, with the audiences—and production values—getting bigger and better every year. And as requests started rolling in, one particular picture kept coming up time and time again.

“So we did Die Hard, then we did it again, and we did it again,” says Marsh. “I say give the people what they want.”

“And now we have diehards—oh my god, look at that, diehards!” exclaims Keating, “who come back year after year.”

For them, Interactive Movie Nights showcase the magic of their beloved Creative Alliance, where visitors can experience art and connect with community in unexpected ways. They’re especially proud of their recent Jaws screening, coinciding with ultramarathon swimmer Katie Pumphrey’s water-themed art exhibition, and their recurring Death Becomes Her showing, featuring performances by local drag queens Betty O’Hellno and Fulla Regrets.

“There is nothing more delicious than looking out over the crowd when something crazy is happening on screen and seeing everyone just going berserk,” says Marsh.

“It’s become more than a job for us,” says Keating. “With so much insanity in the world, the fact that we can provide this space for levity, to laugh and let loose, it feels good—it feels important.”

This year, Die Hard will swing into the venue’s Patterson Theater on Dec. 6. Still, is it really a Christmas movie? Sure, it takes place on Christmas Eve, during a Christmas party, with plenty of carols. But it was initially released in July and takes place in Los Angeles, with not a flake of snow in sight.

“There’s not really anything super Christmasy about it,” says Marsh, before adding matter-of-factly, “but it’s definitely a Christmas movie.”

With the Christmas season (beginning the day after Halloween, the day after Thanksgiving, or December 1, depending on who you’re asking) comes the yearly deluge of Christmas movies.

Big-city girls rediscover their holiday spirit with struggling small-town single dads/Christmas tree farmers/exceptionally handsome handymen; kids confirm that yes, [insert name], there is a Santa Claus; and scary movies insert themselves into the season by murdering people near snow.

The Christmas genre is, in a word, varied. But whether your tastes lean toward Capra or Krampus, there’s likely a place for you among the city’s many holiday-themed screenings. And, yes, we have included a section for celebrated Christmas classic Die Hard. Yippee-ki-yay to all, and to all a good movie night.

Fun for the Whole Family:

The sparkling Senator Theatre plays host to a couple of holiday hits leading up to Christmas. The Griswold family will hit the big screen for one night only on Dec. 18 in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and film lovers looking to give back can stop by early on Dec. 21 and 24 for the theater’s annual charity screening of It’s a Wonderful Life. Admission to the 9:45 a.m. shows is free, but a donation of at least $5-worth of non-perishable food items is encouraged. Doors open at 8:45 a.m., and brunch cocktails will be available.

Those who aren’t such early risers can visit SweetSide Cafe in Hampden over the next few weeks to catch an array of Christmas favorites at its regular Lights, Camera, Action! Movie Nights, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, and all four (yes, four) Home Alone installments.

Nightmares Before Christmas:

Golden West Cafe’s regular Shocktail Hour with Aurora Gorealis will take on a holiday twist on Dec. 12 with a screening of Baltimore-made holiday horror flick Two Front Teeth. Bring a gift for an exchange presided over by both Santa and Krampus, and take in this wild tale of a vampiric St. Nick, zombie elves, and a Christmas conspiracy.

For even more haunted holiday offerings, revelers can head to Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities at Protean Books & Records for the first-ever Cryptmas. This packed night will include a screening of I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday, in addition to a lecture, reading, and other seasonal spooky programming. While admission is free, attendees who bring donations for local homeless shelters will receive a Christmas gift from the venerable Dr. Gloom.

Season’s Greetings from Nakatomi:

We can fight about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, or we can all just enjoy some explosions, iconic catchphrases, and German Alan Rickman. Lucky fans of John McClane’s terrorist-fighting antics have multiple options for screenings ranging from low-key to full immersion.

If you’re looking for another chance to catch the explosion at the top of Nakatomi Plaza in a theater, head to The Charles. The first installment of McClane’s adventures will be back on the big screen at the cozy Charles Street theater on Dec. 19. The Backbar Movies series at Paulie Gee’s Hampden offers a more casual Die Hard experience on Dec. 17, featuring drink specials and $6 cheese pizzas to snack on while you watch the action unfold.

For something a little more intense, visit Creative Alliance on Dec. 12 for their Interactive Movie Night version of the film, complete with Bruce Willis drink specials, a Die Hard game, and prizes for the audience members rocking the best ’80s corporate party attire.

Bonus Round: Test your Christmas movie knowledge.

If you’ve already worked your way through all the holiday flicks that streaming services and the Hallmark Channel have to offer, prove your superior knowledge against other bar patrons at these Christmas movie-themed trivia nights.

Charm City Trivia’s Christmas Movie Quiz, Dec. 17: Gather your team and grab a table at Frank and Nic’s West End Grille for this themed version of Charm City Trivia’s usual six-round quiz. Winners receive a $20, $15, or $10 gift card, but everyone playing can enjoy all-night happy hour pricing on food and drinks.

Christmas Movie Trivia at Smaltimore, Dec. 18: Compete in three rounds of trivia covering Elf, A Christmas Story, and, Die Hard while enjoying food specials and themed cocktails. Prizes will be available for first, second, and third place.

Holiday Movie Trivia at Tin Roof, Dec. 19: This quiz is open to all ages and covers everything from Miracle on 34th Street to The Nightmare Before Christmas and offers big-time prizes. First place receives a whopping $200 to spend at the Power Plant Live! hangout.

Lace Up Those Skates

12/07: Skate with Santa
Looking to switch up the visit to mall Santa? Catch him taking a break from his busy toy-making schedule and skating around the Inner Harbor. The first 100 kids to skate will receive a Christmas hat perfect for keeping warm and being festively fashionable. Inner Harbor Ice Rink, 201 E Pratt St, 2p.m.-4p.m.

12/10: SkateFest
The Baltimore holiday season isn’t complete without an evening gliding around the ice rink in the Inner Harbor. Bring family and friends for $10 dollar admission, including skate rentals, and hit the ice on this special night benefiting Special Olympics Maryland. Inner Harbor Ice Rink, 201 E Pratt St, 6 p.m.-8p.m.

12/22: Chanukah on Ice
Start the Chanukah festivities before sunset with an afternoon on the ice with the Downtown Baltimore Jewish Community Center. Make arts and crafts with the kids and skate to Chanukah music before heading to McKeldin Square for the Baltimore Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Inner Harbor Ice Rink, 201 E Pratt St, 2p.m.-4:30p.m.

12/01-1/5: Outdoor Rooftop Skating Rink
Take your skating skills to the top of the Four Seasons Baltimore’s Harbor Terrace-turned-outdoor ice-rink. Decked out with twinkling lights, festive music, and wintery decor, the rink also offers tasty treats like European-style hot chocolate and hot toddies. Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, 200 International Drive, 2p.m.-7p.m.

Sip Spirits in the Snow

12/7: Holiday Spirits on the Rocks: A Drinks Party

Party amongst in the presence of art at the Walters Art Museum’s festive cocktail tasting. Test traditional and creative cocktails mixed by bartenders from the Baltimore Bartenders’ Guild while strolling through the Walters’ new exhibition Designing the New. Proceeds benefit the Walters’ exhibitions and education programs. Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 7p.m.-10p.m. (410) 547-9000

12/7: Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Don’t let your gaudiest sweater go to waste. This costume-friendly Power Plant Live bar-crawl features five bars and an after party along with complimentary drinks, a $500 costume contest, and professional photographers to capture the holiday cheer. 10 Market Place, 4p.m.-12a.m. 410-223-1105

12/7: Sharp Dressed Man Holiday Party

If you prefer blazers over ugly sweaters, Christopher Schafer Clothier is hosting its third Sharp Dressed Man Holiday Party. Pay any amount at the door, with proceeds benefiting the shop’s recycled suit program to dress those in need. Come out for a night of funky tunes, tasty food and drinks, and try your hand at a raffle for a custom, top-of-the-line CSC suit. Christopher Schafer Clothier, 1400 Aliceanna Street, 7p.m.-11p.m.

12/11: Cookies & Cocktails: A Tour Through Harbor East

Finish up your holiday shopping on this tasty quest for treats and hot drinks through Harbor East. Stop by the holiday-themed cocktail bar for a signature drink and then browse around neighborhood shops. Participating retailers will feature unique cookies in their stores and $10 reserves your spot on the tour. Limited on-site tickets are available. 650 S. Exeter Street, 2nd floor, 6p.m.-9p.m.

12/14: Pet Photos with Santa

Arguably, dogs and cats don’t know what holidays are. But, at this event, you can make the holidays better for furry friends rescued by Maryland SPCA—which is partnering with Union Craft Brewing to host a pet-centered holiday gift drive. Bring your own pets to meet Santa, swipe a new toy at the “flea-less” holiday market, and make the most of “Yappy Hour” to grab a craft beer and some delicious food for yourself. 1700 W. 41st St., 12-3p.m.

12/14: Baltimore Santa Crawl

Get out that Santa suit, throw on a pair of reindeer ears, or dress in your elf get-up for this night of holly jolly drinking. The costumed excursion celebrating the holiday season features stops at ten Fells Point bars, DJs, all-day discounted drinks and holiday shots, and a refillable Santa mug. Varying check-in bars, 1p.m.-4:30p.m.

12/19: CityLit Holiday Happy Hour

Baltimore book-lovers and writers come together at this vibrant celebration of the literary life at the Motorhouse. Grab a half-priced happy hour drink and toast to another successful year of writing, meet and greet other local writers, and celebrate all the 2020 writing endeavors that lie ahead. Motorhouse 120 W. Baltimore Avenue, 5p.m.-8p.m.

Have Some Festive Family Fun

12/7: 32nd Annual Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats
Boats covered in colorful lights arranged in holiday scenes float by at the 32nd-annual Baltimore Parade of Boats. More than 50 vessels parading through the Inner Harbor and Fells Point will be visible from any area where you can see the water—starting at the Anchorage Marina on Boston Street. The event includes carols hosted by a local choir and a grand ornamental Christmas tree. Anchorage Marine, 2501 Boston St. 6p.m.

12/7: Olde Tyme Christmas
Highlandtown brings a day of non-stop Christmas celebration starting with a friendly visit from Santa Claus himself. Catch St. Nick’s arrival in Fell’s Point via tugboat, grab breakfast with him, and snap a picture with him and the family. The celebration also includes a 15-batch eggnog tasting and contest, a festive family fun-zone complete with face painting and DIY ornaments, “carole-oke”, and the lighting of the tree at Broadway Square. Broadway Square, 9a.m.-6p.m.

12/8: Patterson Park Pagoda Lighting
Come watch the stars and snowflakes that dress the Pagoda blink on for the fifth-annual lighting at Patterson Park. The community kick-off takes the celebrations into the night with live music and food trucks. Bring the whole family to meet Santa and other holiday characters, squeeze in some Christmas shopping with local gift vendors, or donate what you can at the toy drive. Patterson Park Pagoda, 2601 E Baltimore St. 4:30 – 6:30 P.M.

12/12: Enoch Pratt Free Library Holiday Celebration
The Enoch Pratt Govans Branch invites the whole family to make fresh holiday crafts during this evening of holiday cheer. As you craft, snack on refreshments and listen to a performance by the Friends School of Baltimore’s chorus. The holidays are the best time to give your local library some love. Enoch Pratt, Govans Branch, 5714 Bellona Avenue, 6p.m.-7:30p.m.

12/1-12/15: Festival of Trees
Decorations 200 years ago may not have featured twinkling electric lights and animatronic Santas, but you can bet holiday decor looked just as magical at the historic Museum of Frederick County History residence when it was built in 1820. Head to the museum to explore a sea of trees decorated by friends, neighbors, and local businesses—and vote for your favorite. 24 East Church St., Frederick 21701, Wed.-Sat. 10a.m.-4p.m., Sun 1-4p.m.

12/28: Kwanzaa Celebration
African dance, drumming performances, and an African marketplace celebrating the principle of Ujima—collective work and responsibility—make up this joyful Kwanzaa celebration at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Come for the dancing and shopping, or the learning through workshops, lectures, and craft activities that teach principles of Kwanzaa like unity, self-determination, and creativity. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 East Pratt Street, 11a.m.-4p.m.

12/21-1/1:12 Days of Science
Tis the season to experiment. Explore “Sweet Street,” a massive candy village, gaze into the stars with the help of gingerbread astronomers, or celebrate a New Year’s Eve countdown and ball drop (12 hours early, so you can get your little ones back in bed before the evening festivities start). Head downtown to the Maryland Science Center to check out the full festivities. 601 Light St., Tue.-Fri- 10a.m.-5p.m., Sat. 10a.m.-6p.m., Sun. 11a.m.-5p.m.

1/11: Harbor Point Ice Festival
At that time of year when Baltimoreans typically stay inside to avoid the blustering wind and bitter cold, the Harbor Point Ice Festival gives us the chance to wrap up, come together and warm our hearts in a magical winter wonderland. Kids and grown-ups alike will marvel at the incredible ice sculptures, enjoy live music and food vendors, and kick off the New Year with an afternoon of fun. 1310 Point St., 12-6p.m.

See a Merry Performance

12/12: The Stoop Holiday Hootenanny: An Evening of Stories and Music
Come together with your friends and neighbors at York Road’s Senator Theater for an evening of cocktails, a bluegrass performance from local father-son duo Ken and Brad Kolodner, and some good ol’ fashioned Baltimore City storytelling. This Stoop stomp is sure to keep you inspired throughout the season. The Senator Theatre, 5904 York Road, 7p.m.

12/12-12/15: Cirque Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky’s staple holiday ballet The Nutcracker gets a high-flying and humorous twist from the talented Troupe Vertigo. Acrobats, jugglers, strong-men, and aerialists join the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s live accompaniment to perform scenes of imaginative and inspiring choreography. Join them at the BSO for a jaw-dropping night of family entertainment. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall 1212 Cathedral Street, various times

12/13: Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
If a masterful and traditional ballet-experience is more your style, the Moscow Ballet brings three companies of 36 award-winning Russian ballerinas and dancers each—as well as Ballet Masters hailing everywhere from Moscow to Kyoto—to create an innovative show of flying puppets, vibrant colors, and rose-shooting cannons. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N Eutaw St, varying times

12/20: A Gospel Christmas
Baltimore Plays, a series that showcases Baltimore’s most talented independent acts, rings in the Christmas season with songs of faith, hope, and holiday cheer. Gospel singer-songwriters Marc Avon Evans, Kevin Jackson, and Soul Centered bring their talent to lift the spirits at Creative Alliance. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Avenue, 8 p.m.

12/21: Holiday Spectacular
Nothing rings in the holiday season like tap-dancing Santas. The exciting new program at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall transports you to a holiday haven, featuring the fan-favorite Santas, an audience sing-along, and a few other musical surprises. Stay in the holiday spirit and check out the opportunities for family photos, holiday cookies, and ornament shopping in the lobby. 1212 Cathedral Street, 7p.m.-10p.m.

12/6-12/24: A Christmas Carol
This twist on the holiday classic places Ebenezer Scrooge in Victorian Baltimore. Revisit the classic story—with Chesapeake ghosts of Christmas past, present, and yet-to-come—and celebrate local history in this unique adaptation. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater,7 S. N Calvert Street, 2p.m.

12/28: WWE Live Holiday Tour
Gift the wrestling fans in your life a chance to see their favorite WWE superstars live at Royal Farms Arena featuring Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, AJ Styles, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair and more. Don’t miss the chance to see the over-the-top smackdowns in person. Royal Farms Arena, 201 W Baltimore St, 7:30p.m.

Sprint Into 2020

12/7: Jingle Bell Run 5K

Get your jingle on at this celebration of feeling good while doing good, where 100 percent of your registration fee supports the work of the Arthritis Foundation. Say yes to living life to the fullest and beating arthritis for good while you strut your stuff in your favorite holiday costume. Plus, refresh yourself with the brisk harbor breeze along this circuit starting at Rash Field. 201 Key Hwy, 8:00 a.m.

12/7: Patterson Park 5K and Homebrew Tasting

Are you a runner, sipper, or just someone who wants to support educational opportunities for kids in Baltimore? If any of these apply to you, check out B More Global’s fun run—which will wind its way through Patterson Park and end up at a beer garden celebration. With live music, a homebrew tasting, and cash prizes for the top finishers, there’s something for everyone in this packed day of festivities. Patterson Park, 2601 E. Baltimore St., 11a.m.

12/8: Chanukah Hot Chocolate

How do you make a delicious cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day even more tempting? Well, have it waiting for you on the finish line of a 5K, of course. This course starts at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore and winds through scenic (mostly flat) local neighborhoods. Check out a great way to kick of Chanukah that’s fun for everyone! 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, 7:30a.m.

12/8: Homewood Holiday 5K and 2.5K Relay

Winding a path along the edge of Wyman Park, climbing the long slope up Charles Street, and finishing at the Homewood Field 50-yard line, this course will offer you a beautiful views of the Johns Hopkins campus. Stick around after the race for a celebration with beer (race participants get a complimentary mug), costume contest, and live music. 111 W. University Parkway, 9:45 a.m.

12/8: Winter RUNderland

Starting at Charm City Run in Fells Point and finishing at the store’s location in Locust Point, this course around the promenade will feature holiday-themed stops and end in a hot chocolate party. Don your ugliest sweater or grab a Santa hat, because your fellow runners will be decked out in holiday gear to celebrate the season. Plus, donate new and gently used winter gear to Back On My Feet Baltimore. 1500 Thames St., 10a.m.-12p.m.

12/15: Holiday Hustle 5K

With the chaos of wrapping up the year, wrapping up gifts for friends and family, and all the other plans that pop up, the holidays certainly demand some hustle. Head to Harford Community College for this race supporting local nonprofit Harford Family House to help families in need get through their own holiday hustle. 401 Thomas Run Rd., Bel Air, 9-11a.m.

Bob and Darlene Hosier have enough Christmas decorations to deck out four houses, top to bottom. Over the past few decades, the couple has adorned the front of their three-story rowhome with countless strings of lights—along with a rotating cast of bright snowmen and wreaths, an inflatable purple hippopotamus, vintage Christmas dolls, and a handmade replica of the train garden from It’s A Wonderful Life—and hundreds of thousands of people have traveled to their home on the corner of a sleepy Hampden block to see it.

“It’s just some Christmas lights,” grumbles Bob, repeating the phrase over and over in conversation. The 62-year-old has given this response to countless people over the past few decades—reporters, grocery store clerks, documentary filmmakers—who ask him why Hampden’s Miracle on 34th Street tradition has become a local and national phenomenon that’s now woven into the narrative of Baltimore’s quirky character.

Sometimes, when Bob repeats the phrase, he pulls on the ends of his graying handlebar mustache; other times, he gently slaps the knee of his worn-in blue jeans for emphasis. It doesn’t matter how many times or in how many ways he repeats it, he says, there will always be people who don’t get it. People who question why he and his neighbors living on the 700 block of W. 34th Street spend the weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating their front porches, stoops, and lawns with over-the-top holiday light displays. People who don’t understand how the residents deal with the tens of thousands of strangers who pack the block during the holiday season to take pictures of “the most outrageous Christmas lights in Maryland.” People who press them about what kind of break they get on their electric bills or whether they get paid for their appearances on HGTV, CNN, or the homepage of Bing.

But it’s never been about the cost or the publicity, although Bob understands why no one can believe that he and his neighbors do all of it—the planning, purchasing, decorating, hosting—for absolutely no money. The Miracle on 34th Street tradition is simply how Bob and his neighbors decorate for the holidays, and no matter how the block and its residents have changed through the years, that sentiment stays the same—at least as long as Bob has a say in it. “I’m just a guy who puts up some Christmas lights,” Bob says. “I can’t help that the whole world shows up to see them.”

The story of how the tradition started is a tale almost as time-honored as Christmas itself. In the early 1980s, Bob, who was working as a meat cutter at Kash & Karry at the time, fell in love with Darlene, who was working as the grocery store’s head cashier. The pair tied the knot in 1983, and Bob moved into Darlene’s three-story rowhome on W. 34th Street’s 700 block, where she has lived for all of her nearly 70 years.

As a young married couple, they realized they shared an affinity for Christmas decorations during their first holiday season. Bob, who grew up decorating the outside of his parents’ house in Northeast Baltimore with as many multicolored lights as possible, asked Darlene if he could add some twinklers to the outside of the house. Her father, who purchased the home in 1947, had always decked out the home’s exterior during the holidays, and Darlene had carried the torch since his death, but Bob took it to a new level with themed displays, illuminated figures, and even a full-sized tree on the roof. “To any rational human being, what I do during the second half of the year to prepare to decorate would be too much work,” Bob says. “To me, it’s just getting ready for the holiday.”

“If someone wants to join this party that we have with the lights every year, we’re here for you.”

In the early 1990s, Bob rigged a speaker system so they’d have Christmas music playing along with the lights. Their neighbor across the street wanted to be able to enjoy the holiday tunes from his house, too, so Bob wrapped a speaker wire around a string of lights and ran it along the light pole that adjoins the two houses. Other residents on the block admired his handiwork, and before long, Bob was going from rowhouse to rowhouse installing hooks on his neighbors’ roofs and draping lights to connect all 25 homes on the block.

Something about Bob’s commitment to creating extravagant displays that grew in size and spectacle each year, along with the over-the-street lights, seemed to motivate other residents to get in on the act. While there was always plenty of holiday spirit and a strong sense of community to spare, residents began adding countless bulbs, as well as things like working train sets, brightly lit palm trees, and handmade sculptures, to the outside of their homes. By the late ’90s, as word spread to the rest of the region, 34th Street became a popular destination for holiday revelers who would walk or drive down the block to admire the rows of merry houses. “People were pulling over to take pictures of everything,” Darlene says. “The attention just started rolling from there.”

Full-scale notoriety came in 2001, when the Maryland Lottery contacted Bob with the request to capture the block in its full holiday glory for a TV commercial. Bob hesitated, not only because he didn’t feel comfortable getting paid for the commerical, but also because he believed that once the rest of the state saw what locals had begun dubbing the “Miracle on 34th Street,” there’d be no turning back. “A bunch of the neighbors came to me and said they really wanted to do the lottery commercial,” Bob says. “I said it was okay with me, but I told them, ‘Remember folks, if we do this, we can’t stop doing this. Once it starts, we can’t stop,’” he says.

Sure enough, the week the commercial ran, the tightly knit working-class neighborhood was practically gridlocked. “Cars couldn’t move, the fire department couldn’t move, the police department couldn’t move,” Bob remembers. “There were people stuck on both sides of I-83 waiting to get in. I have never seen so many people in my life.” Thousands of people streamed into Hampden that winter to see the now-famous lights, and media attention from both area and national news organizations followed close behind.

Thanks to coverage from national outlets such as The Travel Channel, Nightline, and Better Homes & Gardens, as well as the rise of social media, the Miracle on 34th Street tradition has steadily grown into the sensation that it is today. As depicted in the commercial that escalated it all, there’s a countdown that marks the block’s “lighting” on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, except now every square foot of the street is filled with onlookers and the night is known as an unofficial block party. The tradition still comes to a close on New Year’s Eve with a handmade ball drop, but now instead of four people watching a slightly toasted Bob run through the street as “Baby New Year,” roughly 4,000 people show up to catch a glimpse of him in a diaper and bonnet.

Some residents have even developed their own methods of measuring the crowds, including the Hosiers, who leave composition notebooks on their porch for visitors to sign and collect about 20 books-worth of signatures every season. Longtime resident and artist Jim Pollock, who converts his living room into a pop-up art gallery during the holidays, uses a handheld clicker to count people as they walk in. (He averages about 1,200 visitors per night, and nearly 300,000 people have walked through in the past seven years alone.) “One time, a woman came through the gallery and said, ‘In a world full of chaos, this is a beacon of hope,’” says Pollock, who’s famous for the 10-foot-tall hubcap tree in his front yard. “What more could you ask for from some Christmas decorations?”

“At the end of the day, it’s about nothing else but decorating for the holidays.”

Of course, fame has its downsides. The sidewalk, as well as people’s porches, steps, and circuit breakers, have experienced significant wear and tear, and finding street parking during the holidays is a decades-old issue. Far from immune to the city’s increased crime rates, the block’s residents threatened to go dark during the 2014 holiday season in an effort to bring attention to a string of violent crimes that had occurred in the neighborhood. (The lights stayed on, but the bluff attracted plenty of buzz.)

But despite transforming from a kitschy block-wide hobby into an internationally recognized attraction, the only thing that has really changed about the Miracle on 34th Street—besides the added foot traffic—is its residents. It’s still strictly voluntary: There isn’t a homeowners’ association or a committee that organizes the event, and, undeterred by persistent requests, there are no vendors or businesses sponsoring the block.

Over the past few years, all but seven of the original decorating households have left the block, making way for a new generation of renters and homeowners. “I’ve had a lot of good neighbors who have passed or left the block and took some of that magic with them,” Pollock says. “We’ve had to find new people to pick up the spirit.”

While longtime residents don’t have a say in whether new neighbors embrace the street’s tradition, many make an effort to ensure that newcomers are aware of the four-to-five week spectacle that will take place outside their front door and offer decorating assistance. “If somebody needs lights, I’ll certainly spread the joy,” Bob says. “If someone wants to join this party that we have with the lights every year, we’re here for you.”

Since most residents know about the block’s signature event before moving day, many are prepared to carry on the tradition, or in some cases, start their own. Hillary Strilko, who moved onto the street in 2009, now teams up with local animal rescue and welfare organizations to serve cookies and cocoa to 34th Street visitors in exchange for donations. The initiative started as a way to honor the memory of her brindle pit bull, Roo, and has raised more than $135,000 over the past decade. “We use a tall money box, and a lot of parents will lift their kids so that they can donate themselves,” says Strilko, who calls her home “the doghouse” and decorates the outside with inflatable pups and photos of pets in holiday gear. “It’s heartwarming to watch people teach their kids about giving back to local causes.”

-Amanda White-Iseli

Down the street, Riley Wilks and his wife, Heather Franz, have embraced their role as “the flock party,” thanks to the 60-some illuminated lawn flamingos they bought from a MICA student to use as holiday decorations. While they have fun scattering the flamingos in the yard and being the go-to house for Christmas parties, Wilks says that the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are mostly just like any others for them, thanks in part to their parking pad. “We just stay inside and do our normal routine: Netflix, ice cream, and Chinese food,” Wilks says.

Previous renters Carla Johnston and Jennifer Wright did not have quite as positive an experience when they moved onto the block in 2013, however. The 20-something roommates were excited to reuse some of their Halloween decorations, including handmade fake ceramic limbs, to create a “Zombie Christmas” themed display. A few days before the lighting ceremony, they transformed their lawn into The Walking Dead meets Christmas, with zombie heads atop trees and a fake blood-stained sheet next to candy canes and a blow-up snowman. Wright says that, within a few days, one of the neighbors confronted her on their front lawn, saying she had “never seen decorations so inappropriate.” Wright and Johnston took down the spookier parts of their display, but shortly after, news trucks and reporters showed up at their door and, even though neither commented to the press, the story of the disagreement appeared in The Wall Street Journal. “We were just trying to do something different; we weren’t trying to disrespect Christmas,” Johnston says today. “I love Hampden, but that street is very much like, stick to the rules, or else. The following year, our theme was Home Alone, and we hung paint cans from the roof and played music from the soundtrack. That went over well.”

Bob told his doctor, “Fill me up with some morphine, I gotta go light the street.”

As time goes on and Hampden continues to change—the neighborhood’s average home value index has increased by nearly $90,000 since January 2012—many wonder what the future holds for the Miracle on 34th Street. As Bob and the remaining original decorators reach the age when climbing onto three-story roofs to replace Christmas lights is no longer an option, he says it will come down to whether the younger residents are willing to invest the time and energy into keeping the tradition alive. As it stands, the Hosiers operate all of the lights hanging above the street. “More people on this street can get involved, but the magical question is, where are you plugging all of this in? And who is going to pay for all of this?” Bob asks. “It’s not an exorbitant amount of money, but is anyone else in the younger generation going to put the time and effort into it?”

While some residents, like Wilks and Strilko, believe that the block will continue to decorate for years to come, especially since the Hosiers’ daughter and grandson live on the block, others aren’t so sure. “Nothing lasts forever,” Pollock says. “I would love for me and all the neighbors to take over when Bob is done, and then we’ll be set for the next 10 years. But when Bob chooses not to do it anymore, I think a lot of other people on this block are going to choose not to do it anymore, too.” He adds: “My biggest fear is that when this all ends, John Waters is going to swoop in and do a movie here because he always does a movie about stuff after its death.”

But the man who started it all isn’t done yet. Bob and Darlene have made so many amazing Miracle memories—proposals staged on their front porch, meeting Gov. William Donald Schaefer, helping their neighbors plug in for the first time—that they’ve forgotten more of them than they remember, and he doesn’t plan to stop leading the charge anytime soon. (A few years back, Bob was in the hospital the Friday before the lighting with a gallbladder issue, and he told his doctor, “Fill me up with some morphine, I gotta go light the street.”)

Bob’s biggest concern for the future—besides still being able to climb his ladder safely—is whether they’ll be able to preserve the integrity of the event by keeping vendors and sponsorships at bay and stick to bringing joy to the neighborhood. “At the end of the day, it’s about nothing else but decorating for the holidays,” Bob says. “When I have to keep track of the cost or I have to take money from vendors and things like that, that’s when it’s time to stop.”

The Miracle on 34th Street started with just some Christmas lights, which is why every year during the final hours of Christmas Eve—after the thousands of bundled-up onlookers who packed the street earlier have gone home to bed—Bob stands on the empty sidewalk and takes a photograph of each illuminated home. Then, sometime after the lights have been taken down and the decorations returned to storage, Bob will add the photos to his ever-growing collection of mementos that he’ll pass on to his grandson, Colt, to show him what a string of lights and an idea can do. “It’s just some Christmas lights,” Bob says, one last time, “but what it’s done, for this block and tons of other people, is absolutely amazing.”

Between cooking, planning, and gift-giving, the holidays can be stressful. But if you’re vowing to let loose this season, the local nightlife scene is offering plenty of adults-only activities to pencil into your advent calendar throughout December.

Whether you’re looking for a spot to show off an ugly sweater, spin dreidels with friends, or channel your inner Mariah Carey during Christmas karaoke, here are the best boozy events to make your spirits bright.

Ugly Sweater Shenanigans

12/6-20: Ugly Sweater Thursdays at CVP Towson
Why limit yourself to only wearing one unsightly sweater this season? Every Thursday nights in December, Charles Village Pub in Towson is offering 30-percent off all happy hour checks to anyone decked out in hideous holiday garb (the uglier the better). 19 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Towson. 3-7 p.m.

12/12: Nacho Mama’s Ugly Sweater Party
Some might switch to eggnog and mulled wine during the holidays, but Nacho Mama’s drink of choice stays the same year round. The Canton staple is hosting a holiday hangout featuring 50-cent wings, half-price burgers, and, of course, its signature $5 margaritas in fun flavors like “Spicy Santa,” “The Grinch,” “Cindy Lou Who,” and “White Christmas.” 2907 O’Donnell St. 5-9 p.m.

12/14: Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at Diamondback Brewing
Kick back and say “hoppy” holidays with dark beers, BrickNFire pizzas, and great company at this South Baltimore brewery. Diamondback’s spirited soiree will feature new beer releases, a Secret Santa bottle exchange (bring a bottle, get a bottle), and $1-off pints for those who show up in an ugly sweater or donate an unwrapped toy. 1215 E. Fort Ave. 4-11 p.m. Free

12/15: Ugly Sweater Weather at The Chasseur
Regulars at this Canton corner bar are probably familiar with its annual holiday gathering, which features drink deals, giveaways, photobooth fun, and cash prizes for those sporting the ugliest knits. Now in its sixth year, the party will also offer one free raffle ticket for every unwrapped toy, gift card, or monetary donation made to the St. Francis Neighborhood Center in Reservoir Hill. 3328 Foster Ave. 10 p.m. Free

12/18: Ugly Sweater Benefit at Hysteria Brewing Company
Look silly for a good cause at this benefit for the The Arc of Howard County hosted by Hysteria Brewing Company. Aside from craft beer, the get-together will highlight live music, food truck fare from Fired Up Grill, and prizes for attendees with the most interesting sweaters. Twenty percent of all beer sales will be donated to The Arc, which provides support for those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 9570 Berger Rd., Columbia. 5-9 p.m. Free

12/27: Ugly Sweater Party at Ristorante Firenze
Don your most unattractive pullover and gather around the fireplace for this all-night celebration at Ristorante Firenze in Reisterstown. There will be live acoustic tunes starting at 6 p.m., and $4 Peroni drafts for all attendees who come dressed in holiday attire. 2 Hanover Rd, Reisterstown. 6 p.m. Free

Chanukah Happenings

12/4: Chanukah Brew Ha Ha
On the second night of Chanukah, throw on that “Get Lit” sweater you’ve been waiting to wear and gather at Union Collective to celebrate the Festival of Lights with a cold beer in hand. In addition to dreidel-spinning and mezuzah-making, the annual Charm City Tribe event offers pizza, ice cream, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and a full-fledged latke bar with plenty of the requisite applesauce and sour cream. 1700 W. 41st St. 7-10 p.m. $18-23

12/4: Chanukah at Gunther & Co.
Put on your yarmulke and enjoy dinner and drinks at this Brewer’s Hill restaurant. Start the holiday meal off with a He’Brew Bittersweet IPA from Schmaltz Brewing or the “You Spin Me Right” dirty martini washed with roasted olive oil fat. As always, co-owner Nancy Hart Trice will be frying up her famous potato pancakes, while chef Jerry Trice will highlight specials including beet-cured smoked salmon, braised beef brisket, red wine-braised lamb shank, matzo ball soup, jelly doughnuts, and chocolate babka. 3650 Toone St. 5-10 p.m.

12/22: Charm City Klezmer Holiday Dance Party
Though the eight-night celebration will technically be over by the time this annual dance party happens at the Creative Alliance, it’s still a great opportunity burn off all of those doughnuts and latkes. Join local klezmer (aka Jewish-inspired folk) performers Judith Geller and Michael Raitzyk to dance the horah and brush up on your Yiddish moves during the fan-favorite performance. 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651. 8 p.m. $15-18

Pajamas and Presents

12/2: Mother’s PJ Brunch Benefiting the Ulman Foundation
This holiday-themed iteration of Mother’s annual Pajama Brunch will benefit the Ulman Foundation’s Body of Young Adult Advisors (BOYAA), which works to support young adults impacted by cancer. Come dressed in your favorite PJs to down bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys, feast on brunch fare, enter into raffles to win prizes, and watch Sunday football—all for a great cause. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to BOYAA to purchase gifts for families in need this season. 1113 S. Charles St. 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.

12/8: Bmore Babes Winter Informal
Get comfy in your favorite pair of winter PJs and put on your dancing slippers for this girls-only holiday party hosted by the Bmore Babes. The party at Seya Wellness’ Habitat event space in Highlandtown will have all of the essentials—pizza, live DJ entertainment, interactive games, a hair-braiding station, and an array of treats for dessert. 3301 Eastern Ave. 5-10 p.m. $60-65

12/15: Christmas Pajama Brunch at Don’t Know Tavern
Roll out of the house in your pajamas for this Saturday-morning brunch at Don’t Know Tavern in Federal Hill. The bar is getting into the spirit with a $15 all-you-can-drink deal on mimosas, Bloody Marys, Blue Moons, Miller Lites, and Coors Light drafts. Anyone who indulges in the bottomless drinks will be invited to grab a wrapped gift from beneath the bar’s Christmas tree while supplies last. Plus, in the spirit of giving, Don’t Know will be collecting presents to donate to Toys for Tots this season. 1453 Light St. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Merry-oke Nights

12/12: Holiday Karaoke at Mount Vernon Marketplace
Mount Vernon Marketplace is decking the halls and celebrating in style with its annual holiday karaoke party and ugly sweater contest. Chow down on your favorite eats from the market’s vendors while watching friends and neighbors sing their favorite Christmas tunes. There will also be fun prizes for the ugliest, zaniest, and quirkiest get-ups. 520 Park Ave. 6-9 p.m.

12/15: Christmas Karaoke at Mahaffey’s
Down some liquid courage and belt your best rendition of “Feliz Navidad” at this monthly karaoke night. Not only will the Mahaffey’s staff be slinging beers all night long, but they will also be giving away prizes for the ugliest, and most festive, holiday attire. 2706 Dillon St. 9 p.m.

Rockin’ Around

12/15: DDm Presents The Holiday Slay
Our own “Secretary of Shade” is settling in at Metro Gallery to bless the masses with live readings of A Charlie Brown Christmas and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, as well as his own original story The Holiday Slay. There will also be one-of-a-kind renditions of holiday classics performed by Outcalls, Rovo Monty, and Randi & Infinity Knives. DJ Trillnatured and DJ Sean J will be on hand to spin between sets. 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10

12/21-22: Very Jerry Christmas
Hometown hero Cris Jacobs is taking the 8×10 stage with a bunch of his buddies for this special, two-night holiday performance. Inside the intimate venue, warm up with cocktails from the bar and sway to the bluesy rock anthems. 8 p.m. $25

Blitzin’ Bar Bashes

12/6: Monument Lighting Party at Wet City
Whether you need a pregame spot for the Monument Lighting, or somewhere to hang out after, this Mt. Vernon beer bar is the place to be on December 6. Throw on a Santa hat and head to the bar to warm up with mulled hot cider and chartreuse hot chocolates. Of course, there will also be plenty of beer and seasonal food specials to go around. 223 W. Chase St. 5 p.m.- 12 a.m.

12/8: 4th Annual South Baltimore Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
This guided crawl around Federal Hill starts at Delia Foley’s on South Charles Street and continues throughout the afternoon with stops at Hair of the Dog, Das Bier Haus, and Don’t Know Tavern. Along the way, take advantage of drink deals at each bar and boozy raffle prizes from the likes of Jameson and Miller Lite. 1439 S. Charles St. 11-5 p.m. $10

12/15: Baltimore Santa Crawl
With a souvenir mug in hand, stroll around the Fells Point cobblestones to enjoy $3 beers, $3 rail drinks, and $4 holiday shots at more than 10 neighborhood watering holes. Dress head-to-toe in tinsel and pop around to participating bars including Sir Duke, The Point in Fells, The Admiral’s Cup, Todd Connor’s and Dogwatch Tavern. Multiple locations, $15.

12/15: Baltimore SantaCon
The folks at Bmore Around Town and Federal Hill Main Street are coming together to throw this charity event to benefit the Kamryn Lambert Foundation, which provides recreational opportunities to children and young adults facing adversity. For the second-annual SantaCon, East Cross Street in Federal Hill is being transformed into a winter wonderland with pop-up bars, wintery decor, and a bunch of St. Nick look-a-likes who are flying in from the North Pole for the occasion. East Cross St. 12-10 p.m. $8-15

While December often hits Baltimore with slick sidewalks and the occasional heap of sooty snow, winter settles gently over Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Quiet harbors slowly ice in, waves of Canadian geese float in endless Vs over the stubble of empty cornfields. Here, the holidays are spent with family and friends, your wool socks kicked up by the woodstove, and your spoon scraping the dregs from a mug of oyster stew. It’s a place where the year’s bitter end is celebrated by traditions glowing with the patina of time and a connection to community, to the landscape, and to the Chesapeake Bay.

There’s never a better time of year to trade the glare of crowded shopping malls for something more authentic on the other side of the Bay Bridge. Whether it’s a crisp, rosy-cheeked foray to pick the perfect Blue Spruce, the electric glow of a crab basket Christmas tree, or a muskrat diving into the New Year, there’s something sure to spark every seasonal spirit, humbugs and all.

Winter Waterland

In Baltimore, we have our hub caps, but across the Bay, nothing says “Happy holidays!” with a stronger Eastern Shore accent than a Christmas tree made of crab bushel baskets—an iconic piece of Chesapeake culture.

On December 1 at 5 p.m., kick off the seasonal festivities with a sky-high (and frankly spectacular) example that lights up at the beginning of the annual Cambridge Christmas Parade. A Dorchester County tradition for 70 years, it is a truly timeless piece of Chesapeake Americana and small-town nostalgia at its best. Held in the heart of the historic district, it features marching bands playing covers of “Jingle Bell Rock,” local kids throwing candy from sparkling floats, and Santa riding on a fire truck.

On December 1, Rock Hall gets in on the action with the lighting of their very own crab basket tree after Santa’s arrival via fishing charter boat. Welcomed by eager crowds and accompanied by live music courtesy of the local community marching band (including one hand-shaking, baby-hugging mascot crab), Saint Nick makes his way Pied-Piper-style from the public landing to Main Street, where he’ll post up near the tree to take requests from those on his Nice List.

On December 8, Tilghman Island gets in on the action at the Phillips Wharf Environmental Center with the lighting of another unique Eastern Shore Christmas tree—this one made of hundreds of stacked wire crab pots—followed by one of the shore’s several illuminated boat parades. Watch from the shoreline as the island’s floating fleet of classic Chesapeake workboats, including deadrises, skipjacks, and other iconic vessels, shed their work-day dredges for a splashy array of holiday lights that reflect softly on the bay.

Yuletide Tunes

If you think Christmas carols simply mean sweetly corny songs, funny bonnets, and that one tone-deaf singer never quite hitting his or her notes, you’ve never experienced the magic of classic holiday jams given the Postmodern Jukebox treatment.

On December 1, check out Motown & More, A Holiday Celebration at Easton’s venerable Avalon Theatre, where a six-piece ensemble of musicians and vocalists with serious chops redefine the meaning of Christmas slay with smooth covers of old favorites such as “Santa Baby” and “Silent Night.” The vintage hits keep coming on December 7 when the Avalon also hosts the Glenn Miller Orchestra Holiday Show. This iconic 18-member troupe is a time-machine to the era of Bing Crosby crooners and Big Band swing-dance classics, with plenty of throwback holiday favorites mixed in.

For a concert that covers more than just Christmas, check out Chester River Chorale’s December 1 concert up the road in Chestertown for arrangements of Chanukah and Christmas songs in a celebration of both the secular and the sacred.

Party Like Charles

If you do enjoy classic Christmas carols, be sure to visit Chestertown from December 7-9, when the Kent County town embraces its inner Fezziwig during the second annual Dickens of a Christmas Festival.

From top hats to plum pudding, fire dancers to Dickens-inspired street theater, Chestertown goes full Victorian all weekend long. Partake in a “Run Like the Dickens” 5K, participate in family-friendly gingerbread house workshops, tour historic houses, take afternoon teas, and attend a costumed 19th-century ball sure to be packed with bustles and waistcoats. On Saturday evening, High Street transforms into an open-air jubilee featuring live entertainment, microbrews, and convivial, communal fire pits—a perfect way to start the evening before heading to a performance of (what else?) Tiny Tim’s A Christmas Carol at the Garfield Center for the Arts.

Farther south, Berlin also celebrates the holidays with an entire month of Victorian Christmas with a decorated downtown, old-fashioned carriage rides, live music, and late-night shopping.

Shop ’Til You Drop

The Eastern Shore has plenty of festive alternatives to perfunctory online shopping—no coupon codes necessary. Pick up something special IRL (that’s “in real life,” to the non-millennials) at these hometown holiday shopping events infused with local spirit.

On December 2, head to Kennedyville in Kent County for the Rivers to Canal Wineries Holiday Sip & Shop. Hosted by Crow Vineyards from Kent County, as well as Broken Spoke Vineyards and Chateau Bu-De from Cecil County, the vino-fueled fete is a great place to both taste new local wines and pick up a few bottles of your favorites for top-notch stocking stuffers.

If your vibe is more Etsy than Amazon, make way to Talbot County on December 7-9 to check out St. Michaels’ Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, hosted by the town’s year-round Christmas store, for an old-school holiday bazaar. Browse original paintings, handmade jewelry and toys, one-of-a-kind decorations, and homemade jams and pies, all made by local artisans. Some of the proceeds go to a good cause, so don’t be afraid commit to the Season of Giving by grabbing a few extra collectors’ ornaments.

For more shopping, some favorite local gift stores include Twigs & Teacups in Chestertown, Piazza Italian Market in Easton, Bay Country Antiques in Cambridge, and Gilbert’s Provisions in Berlin.

Deck The Halls

Let’s be honest: nobody wants a sad, dried-out Charlie Brown Christmas tree or a plastic wreath. Channel your inner Clark Griswold on a search for the freshest you-cut-it tree or sweetly scented garlands at some of the shore’s best farms and outdoor festivities.

Throughout December, Blue Heron Tree Farm in Centreville provides all the necessary equipment—from saws to wagons—for wandering through grassy rows of conifers on this 12-acre property in Queen Anne’s County. Pick up fresh greens or a tree stand while warming up with a hot cocoa in the onsite barn before heading back to Baltimore.

For folks tracking farther south, Cawley Family Farm in Denton has plenty of gorgeous spruces, pines, and firs to choose from, including lots of freshly harvested, pre-cut specimens in their barn. This Caroline County farm also offers custom wreaths made to order onsite, so call in advance to pick your perfect trimmings—just don’t forget the oyster shells!

Looking for a more natural approach to holiday greenery? Check out the Holiday Wreath Sale & Open House at Adkins Arboretum on December 1, where handmade decorations crafted from the Arboretum’s forests and gardens are available only once a year. Don’t miss the event’s pop-up art and pottery shop by local artists Irene and Paul Aspell, followed by a walk through the Arboretum’s winter landscapes to the Wildlife Tree, an evergreen decked with birdseed pinecones to sustain local feathered friends through the long winter.

Island of Misfit Toys

Sometimes you need a break from all the holiday pomp and circumstance. There’s only so many fruitcakes you can reasonably eat, after all. Break away from the ordinary with a few refreshingly unconventional approaches to the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

On the evening of December 7, visit Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery in Vienna for Ugly Christmas Sweater Karaoke. Undoubtedly, the worse the sweater and the singing, the better the evening, so order a couple glasses of wine and commit to some seriously terrible renditions of “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” all in good (bad) fun.

Meanwhile, on December 14, you can mount up in Salisbury for the Bike Party: Holiday Lights Tour. This monthly cycle social will take a unique two-hour route to check out the Wicomico County town’s best light displays. Riders are encouraged to make their own spectacle by festooning themselves and their wheels in lights, garlands, bows, wrapping paper, ugly sweaters, menorahs, dreidels, and Seinfeld Festivus Poles, undoubtedly leaving a sea of amused onlookers in their wake.

Diving Into 2019

The lower Eastern Shore has long been defined by its abundant marshes, and in celebration, the lowly swamp-loving muskrat has been elevated to darling status in Dorchester and Somerset counties. No surprise, then, that the muskrat makes an appearance during the holiday season—and this time, not on a dinner plate.

On the last night of the month, head down to Princess Anne for perhaps the most tongue-in-cheek New Year’s Eve send-off on the entire Eastern Shore: The Midnight Muskrat Dive, kicking off at 9 p.m. In this wonderfully weird free event, a muskrat dressed for the occasion in a top hat and cape is hoisted to the top of a zip line for the stroke of midnight while the townspeople celebrate the end of 2018 with music, oysters, and Smith Island cake. Then, with great fanfare, “Marshall Muskrat” flies like a rat out of hell over their heads and down the street. Suddenly, it’s 2019—in the most eccentric, Eastern Shore way ever.

See also: Rock Hall’s Rockfish Drop, Easton’s Crab Drop, Cambridge’s Boat Drop, as well as a classic Ball Drop in both Berlin and Salisbury.

Jim Pollock treats the Miracle on 34th Street tradition like a series of date nights.

Every evening from Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s Day for the past 29 years, he has come home from work, washed up, and opened his home and heart to the hordes of people who visit the 700 block of 34th Street in Hampden to see the “most outrageous Christmas lights” in Maryland.

Known on the block for his 10-foot-tall tree made out of 104 hubcaps, he also welcomes about 1,200 visitors per night into the makeshift gallery in his living room to view work by local artists.

“This tradition is about finding a moment of peace and togetherness in all of this chaos,” says Pollock. “We do this for the city that we love.”

Star Fighters

December 11, 2016
Lloyd Street

“How many people know who Benny Leonard was?” Mike Silver asks the crowd gathered at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. “Benny Leonard was the most famous Jewish person in America in the 1920s. Not Albert Einstein. Not Justice Louis Brandeis.”

Leonard, explains Silver, author of Stars in the Ring: Jewish Champions in the Golden Age of Boxing, fought his way out of Manhattan’s East Side ghetto to become one of the great boxers of all time during the Roaring ’20s, holding the lightweight title for nearly seven years. “He quit to take care of his sick mother. How Jewish is that?”

In his book, Silver chronicles 29 Jewish world champion boxers and more than 160 contenders from the 1890s-1950s, including a half-dozen Baltimore brawlers—welterweights Jacob “Jack” Portney and Benny Goldstein, flyweight Benny Schwartz, middleweight Sylvan Bass, and lightweights Charley Gomer and Isadore “Izzy” Rainess. Silver also gives a shout-out to legendary trainer Heine Blaustein. “Baltimore was a great fight town,” Silver says.

It wasn’t unusual in those days, Silver continues, for Jewish boxers to change their name. Not because of anti-Semitism, but family (read: mother’s) disapproval of the sport. Leonard was really Leiner, for example. Often, Jewish fighters switched ethnic identities altogether, killing two birds with one stone by trying to appeal to the sport’s huge Irish fan base.

“My uncle was Baltimore welterweight Patsy Lewis—that’s pretty Irish. His real name was Julius Rosenbloom,” volunteers Jerry Russ, 81, who went to the fights with his father at the old Baltimore Coliseum. Carlin’s Park was another popular venue.

At a time when boxing and baseball were the country’s biggest draws, fighting wasn’t just a means to make money for working-class immigrants—a four-round bout could pull in the same pay as a week in a sweatshop—it was also a means of assimilation and pride for Jews.

“Einstein, brilliant scientist, but who understands the theory of relativity? Brandeis, brilliant justice, but how many people read Supreme Court decisions?” Silver asks. “A punch in the nose? That, everybody understands.”

Beer Run

December 3, 2016
North Belnord Avenue

Former University of Maryland, Baltimore County cross country star Eric Shuler won this morning’s 5K through Patterson Park in convincing fashion, posting a time of 16:39—more than two minutes faster than his closest rival. But now the real competition is underway as more than 400 runners quench their thirst in the schoolyard behind Patterson Park Public Charter School. Here, 21 home-brewers are chatting about hops and recipes, pitting their kitchen, basement, and garage-brewed ales against one another while vying for today’s biggest title: Best Homebrew.

The Patterson Park 5K, Fun Run, and Homebrew Tasting—this is the beer-making competition’s third year—supports the school’s effort to send students to Spanish-speaking countries where they can practice the language they’ve been studying.

Most of the beer makers acknowledge their brewing evolved pretty quickly from hobby to near-obsession. “I liked to drink beer, that’s how I got started,” laughs (the aptly named) Stephen Porr, who eventually opened The Grain Bill, a family-run, home-brew supply store in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. “It went downhill from there.”

In the end, Darren Stimpfle, a surgical physician’s assistant by profession, sweeps both the Crowd Favorite and Brewer’s Choice awards with his dry-hopped, golden sour ale with apricot. Stimpfle, who spends eight hours each Friday brewing at home, is developing a business plan to sell his beer commercially. “I’m the runner and he’s the brewer and I support him—I really do,” says his wife, Shannon Gibbons, who took third place in the 5K’s 30-34 age group. “We went to Belgium on vacation and visited the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels three times. Naturally, I wanted to go to Paris and we did,” she adds with wry cheerfulness. “For two days.”

Christmas Stories

December 17, 2016
Eastern Avenue

“The year after my grandmother died I went looking for the spirit of Christmas on Eastern Avenue,” Rafael Alvarez says, reciting the first sentence from his 1999 book, Hometown Boy, at the 10th Annual Highlandtown Literary Extravaganza at the Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Library.

“Eastern Avenue,” Alvarez, an occasional contributor to Baltimore, explains, “was where you bought your first communion clothes before the Eastpoint Mall. It was where you shopped for everything.”

Alvarez launched his holiday storytelling, music, deviled egg, and pizelle festival after returning from Hollywood, where he wrote for TV following a stint penning episodes of The Wire. The crowd over the years has been a mix of friends, family, musicians, writers—including Afaa Michael Weaver, a former Procter and Gamble factory worker who has become one of the country’s foremost poets—and Highlandtowners who come to hear “real Baltimore” tales. Before intermission, Alvarez asks audience members to share their own Christmas stories, which mostly yields sagas of sibling rivalry and poor decisions.

David Ettlin, a retired Baltimore Sun editor, jokes his parents never bothered with a Christmas tree during the holidays while he was growing up. “We’re Jewish,” Ettlin deadpans. Determined to get a tree after marrying a Methodist, but not wanting to shell out big bucks, Ettlin hatched a plan with his wife—against the advice of their teenage daughter—to sneak into the woods together and cut down a live pine.

“All of a sudden, there’s a patch of mud and Bonnie does a flip and fractures her wrist horribly,” Ettlin continues. At the emergency room, he learns there will be a $50 copay for the orthopedic surgeon and then an additional $10 for a generic painkiller, or $35 for the brand name. “I feel guilty and go with the brand name,” Ettlin says. “But what I’m thinking is, ‘I’m out $85 and still don’t have a damn tree.’”

MERRY MUSIC

NOV. 26: TUBA CHRISTMAS
At this musical celebration, watch a symphony of more than 80 regional tuba and euphonium players take the stage to perform classic four-part Christmas carols. Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick, 301-600-2828

NOV. 26: WEINBERG WINTERFEST
Sing along to familiar Christmas carols with live accompaniment by a Wurlitzer organ at this event to benefit the Community Action Agency of Frederick. Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick, 301-600-2828

NOV. 30-DEC. 14: MERRIMENT & MELODIES
On Wednesday evenings, enjoy live holiday music under the stars, with treats, wine, and shopping events around Harbor East. Participating vendors located along Aliceanna St.

TWINKLING TRADITIONS

NOV. 17-JAN. 1: WINTERFEST OF LIGHTS
This award-winning festival returns to Ocean City with more than one million sparkling lights spanning more than 50 blocks. 200 124th St., Ocean City, 410-250-0125

NOV. 20-JAN. 8: SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS
This year’s festival is bigger and brighter than ever before with refurbished displays, a laser light show, an outdoor skating rink, and 3D holiday video. Symphony Woods, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia.

NOV. 26- DEC. 31: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
With warm beverages in hand, stroll around Hampden’s annual holiday spectacle—lauded by the likes of Nightline and The Travel Channel—to check out fan-favorite hubcap Christmas trees, Santa displays, illuminated Natty Boh logos, and glowing crab sculptures. 700 Block of 34th St., Free, 5-11 p.m.

FAMILY FUN

Through JAN. 2: RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
The 1964 Claymation classic comes to life on the big screen in 4-D with special effects. National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St, 410-576-3800

Through JAN. 16: PANDORA ICE RINK
Lace up your skates and practice your axels in the heart of the Inner Harbor this season. Special holiday events planned at the rink include late-night skates, visits from Santa, and a benefit for Special Olympics Maryland on January 5. Harborplace Amphitheater, Inner Harbor, Times vary, $9-10.

NOV. 24-DEC. 24: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN BALTIMORE
Enjoy German beer, European eats, and more than 50 vendors peddling handcrafted gifts at this massive outdoor market. West Shore Park, 501 Light St., Free

NOV. 25-JAN. 29: HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF TRAINS
Celebrate the grand reopening of the B&O Railroad Museum’s Ellicott City station at its annual model train display. Stop by opening weekend for a meet-and-greet with Civil War-era Santa, who will be on handing out special treats for kids. B&O Railroad Museum. 2711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City, 410-461-1945

DEC. 4: MAYOR’S 43RD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Watch this annual holiday procession make its way through North Baltimore with floats, marching bands, motorcycles, and, of course, a special appearance from Santa Claus. Parade steps off from Western High School, 4600 Falls Road, 1 p.m., Free

DEC. 10: GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP
With royal icing, gumdrops, sprinkles, and candy canes galore, this gingerbread-making get-together will be equipped with all of the essentials. Bring the family to sip hot chocolate while getting creative with the edible edifices. Whole Foods Market, 10275 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, 240-865-1827, 11 a.m., $20

GARLANDS AND GREENERY

NOV. 25-27: KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE’S FESTIVAL OF TREES
The East Coast’s largest holiday-themed festival is back with more than 700 community-crafted trees and daily live entertainment. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium.

NOV. 25-DEC. 4: FESTIVAL OF WREATHS.
The 19th annual silent auction features more than 150 uniquely decorated wreaths. The Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster

NOV. 28-JAN. 10: COUTURE TREE COMPETITION
Craft your own high-fashion tree in this second-annual competition hosted by the Lord Baltimore Hotel, where the winning designs will be on display in the lobby through January 16. Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W. Baltimore St, 410-659-3096

UGLY SWEATER SHENANIGANS

DEC. 14: UGLY SWEATER BASH
At this pre-Christmas concert featuring local soul singers Loose Ties, Jailbreak Brewing is offering $5 pints to patrons donning their ugliest, itchiest, most unsightly holiday sweaters. Jailbreak Brewing Company, 9445 Washington Blvd., Ste. F, Laurel, 443-345-969, 6-8 p.m.

DEC. 16: UGLY SWEATER PARTY
Throw on your holiday best to receive festive drink deals including $3 spiked root beers, $5 cinnamon toast shots, and $20 buckets of “cheer” at Howl at the Moon’s sweater soiree in Power Plant Live. 22 Market Place, 410-783-5111

DEC. 17: ANNUAL UGLY SWEATER PARTY
Rummage the racks at your local vintage shop to find the perfect sweater to rock at this annual bash, which will feature Sam Adams beer specials and live DJ entertainment all night long. Mother’s Grille, 1113 S. Charles St., 410-244-8686, 10 p.m.

DEC. 17: THE UGLY SWEATER RUN
A sea of sweaters embroidered with everything from Santa and snowmen to garland and gingerbread will be on display at this annual holiday run around the city. Take in the sights of downtown’s most decorated destinations on the 3.1-mile course before snapping photos with a mechanical reindeer and life-sized snow globe at the finish line. To keep the holiday cheer flowing, official post-race parties will be held at The Point in Fells, Kooper’s, and Slainte in Fells Point. Race steps off from Rash Field, 201 Key Highway, 9 a.m.

FOODIE FESTIVITIES

DEC. 5-9: SEASON’S EATINGS
Head to the Inner Harbor to sit-in on this series of holiday-inspired cooking demos led by chefs from area hotspots like Ejji Ramen, The French Kitchen, Twist, Apropoe’s, and Breaking Bread. Baltimore Visitor Center, 401 Light St., Times vary, 877-225-8466

DEC. 6: SOLSTICE SPIRITS AND HOLIDAY EGGNOG COCKTAIL WORKSHOP
Snag a seat at this class led by veteran bartender Melissa Ray to learn the ins-and-outs of eggnog, as well as craft your own Winter Solstice-themed spiced spirit with hints of cranberry and rosemary. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651, 7-9 p.m., $60-65

DEC. 7: CHEF EGG LIVE: FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES AT THE LOCAL OYSTER
Chef Erik Berlin, more fondly known as Chef Egg, and Nick Shauman of The Local Oyster are continuing their series of ocean-inspired cooking classes with this special holiday installment focusing on the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Learn tips and tricks for working with fish while sampling dishes like fried anchovies with garlic aioli, smoked salmon rillettes, broiled oysters with creamed spinach, pan-seared trout with cashews, and crab toast with champagne cream sauce. The Local Oyster, 520 Park Ave., 844-748-2537, 6:30 p.m., $30

DEC. 17 & 22: HOLIDAY COOKIES AND CANDIES COOKING CLASS
Crafting your own holiday treats might sound daunting for baking beginners, but this class tackles all of the basics. Throw on an apron to learn how to make everything from classic sugar and lace cookies to chocolate truffles and pecan pralines. Schola, 1005 N. Charles St., 443-715-7516, Times vary, $59