December 2019 Ocean City, Maryland
Events Calendar

Winterfest of Lights

November 21, 2019 - December 31, 2019

See how Ocean City, MD, sparkles this winter and visit the Winterfest of Lights! You'll find more than one million holiday lights and hundreds of animated light displays throughout Northside Park. Relax and sip hot chocolate in the heated Winterfest Village pavilion, take a photo with Santa, and board the Winterfest Express to tour fairy tale themed exhibits. The one-mile journey takes you through 58 acres of lights and features a 50-foot Christmas tree.

Admission to board the train is only $5 for guests 12 years and older and FREE for children 11 years and younger. So grab your family and friends, and don't miss this award-winning holiday event!

For more information, call 800-626-2326 or 410-250-0125.

Hours:

Sunday to Thursday 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Friday & Saturday 5:30pm to 10:30pm

Holiday Shoppers Fair

November 29, 2019 - December 1, 2019

Unique merchandise as well as handmade products, nautical, candles, photography, florals, jewelry, ceramics. Great gifts & household items. Children's activities & face painting.

Over 150 Vendors! Hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Free parking, food court, non-shoppers lounge, door prizes. For more information, contact Melanie at 410-723-8605 or email mcollins@oceancitymd.gov.

Admission $3, Under 13, FREE

• Friday and Saturday: 10AM to 5PM
• Sunday: 10AM to 3PM

Life-Saving Museum Holiday Open House

December 1, 2019

On Sunday, December 1st, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will be hosting its Annual Holiday Open House from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Families and friends can tour the museum with FREE admission, meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and visit author Bunk Mann who will be signing his newest book Ghosts in the Surf.

Bunk Mann will be making an appearance from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm for a book signing of his newly released Ghosts in the Surf. This pictorial history of Ocean City provides interviews and photographs from the summer of 1945 to the spring of 2019. Ghosts in the Surf, and Bunk’s first book Vanishing Ocean City, will be available for purchase during our Holiday Open House. The museum store will offer special sales on a wide variety of books, art, jewelry and other locally made products. This year Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the museum from 12:30-2:30 pm and will be giving out coloring books to all who stop for a visit!

The Life-Saving Station Museum is once again participating in the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s “The Shore Gives More” Giving Tuesday campaign. During our Holiday Open House, you will have the opportunity to give to this campaign! The money raised will directly fund our free summer programs allowing the museum to enhance the interactive and educational tools used for each program.

Enjoy the museum free of charge, shop local for your holiday gifts, meet a local author, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, and give back to your favorite museum by participating in the Giving Tuesday campaign!

For more information visit our website www.ocmuseum.org or check out our Facebook Event Page for updates about the Holiday Open House.

Pizza Party with Santa

December 3, 2019

Pre-Registration Required, 5:30PM - 7:30PM

Children are invited to join Santa for a pizza party! Aside from eating delicious pizza, activities include arts & crafts, cookie decorating, visits with Santa, and rides through the spectacular Winterfest of Lights.

• OC Residents: $8.00
• Non - Residents: $10.00
• Adults wishing to ride Winterfest with their group: $4.00

Contact Denise Ortega - Dortega@oceancitymd.gov

Red Doors Christmas Cabaret

December 4, 2019

Hosted at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center

Showtime/6pm & Doors/5:30pm

Tickets $10 (Will go on sale October 1, 2019)

Holiday Artisan Fair

December 6-7, 2019

• Friday - 5pm to 7pm
• Saturday - 11am to 4pm

Join us for this special showcase by local artisans in time for the holidays! Browse through a variety of unique, handmade items including jewelry, glass, ceramics, and more.

Enjoy live music, refreshments, kids' crafts, and book signings with local artists and authors.

Hosted at the OC Center for the Arts.

First Friday Opening Reception for December Exhibits

December 6, 2019

Meet the artists, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and see the new exhibits featuring a variety of local artists. Open to the public. Free Admission.

5PM - 7PM at the OC Center for the Arts on 94th Street.

The Oak Ridge Boys' Christmas Celebration Tour

December 7, 2019

Showtime 8PM / Doors Open at 7:30PM at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center

Tickets: $65 & $55

For almost thirty years, Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys have been a part of their fans' holiday seasons with their annual Christmas tour. The Grammy Award-winning group will play their Shine The Light On Christmas show, Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Ocean City Maryland Performing Arts Center.

A mixture of traditional and contemporary songs—including religious, romantic and fun holiday tunes—makes up the set list, which includes songs from the Oaks’ seven bestselling Christmas CDs. A highlight of the evening is the much-loved ‘rocking chair’ segment where each BOY rocks by the fireplace and shares personal thoughts about Christmas.

Oaks’ lead singer, Duane Allen, says, “Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the positive things about the season.... the joy, happiness, giving, sharing, time with family, and gifts. The beautiful lights and decorations. Christmas music. Special food. And most of all the true meaning, which, of course, is celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Every year I look forward to taking our Christmas tour all over the USA. I hope everyone will come out this year and celebrate Christmas with The Oak Ridge Boys.”

Every time The Oak Ridge Boys step before an audience, they bring over four decades of charted singles and 50 years of tradition to bear on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. They have one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. Their string of hits includes the pop chart-topper “Elvira,” as well as “Bobbie Sue,” “Dream On,” “Thank God For Kids,” “American Made,” “I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes,” “Fancy Free,” “Gonna Take A Lot Of River” and many others.

Don’t miss The Oak Ridge Boys, Saturday, December 7, 2019.

Click Here for tickets or visit the Convention Center box office.

Cheer and Dance Extreme

December 7, 2019

Hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center

Cheer and Dance Extreme is an independent event producer of cheer and dance competitions and special events.

For more information, contact Ann at ann@cheeranddanceextreme.com

OC Christmas Parade

December 7, 2019

Tis the Season! The 37th Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade marches along Coastal Hwy. on Saturday, December 7, 2019.

The holiday parade starts at 11AM on Old Landing Rd. and marches northbound in the southbound lanes of Coastal Hwy. to the judges' stand at 120th St.

The event will feature more than 50 units, including high school bands, horses, antique cars, colorful holiday floats, and more.

Professional judges will review bands and other units in nine categories, with trophies being awarded inside the Carousel Hotel following the parade. The awards presentation is part of a post-parade reception hosted by the Carousel Hotel, bringing additional family fun for participants and patrons alike. Festivities at the hotel will begin immediately after the parade conclusion and will include half-priced ice skating, a DJ playing continuous holiday music and fee photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. In addition, complementary winter refreshments will be available.

To participate in the Ocean City Christmas Parade, which is coordinated by the Town of Ocean City, registrants should contact the Special Events Dept. at 410-250-0125. There is no charge to participate. For those wishing to view the parade, plenty of seating will be available along the west side of the half-mile parade route, including the Food Lion parking lot and judging area.

Spectators will not be permitted to watch the parade from the median area of Coastal Hwy. Motorists are reminded that traffic pattern changes will begin approximately 8am and traffic congestion and delays should be expected. Also, due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic, everyone is reminded to Walk Smart by using crosswalks and crossing with the traffic control signal.

For more information, contact Brenda Moore at 410-250-0125 or bmoore@oceancitymd.gov.

Mid-Atlantic Symphony "Holiday Joy: A Salute to the Music of the Big Band Orchestras"

December 8, 2019

Ring in the Season with a festive selection of Holiday music highlighting music from the big band orchestras. Our Holiday concert will feature celebrated bass-baritone Kevin Short, as well as several of his students from the prestigious University of Maryland Opera Studio. This year, in addition to the usual holiday season classics, we will also play great orchestrations from jazz to pop to put you in the holiday spirit!

3pm @ the Ocean City Performing Arts Center / Doors Open @ 2:30pm

Tickets $50

Winterfest of Lights Jingle Bell 5K Run

December 8, 2019

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Sunday Evening 5K Run thru Ocean City's Winterfest of Lights Show! Race start is 5:00pm on December 8, 2019 at Northside Park. Long Sleeve Race shirt, hot chocolate, cookies, and a ride thru the lights on the Winterfest Express after the race. This is the 5th year for this race and it keeps gaining popularity. Come out and start your Christmas cheer off the right way!!

Fees

• 5K for Adults: $32
• 5K ages 12 and under: $25

Packet Pickup and Post Race Party moved to a New location:
Abbey Burger Bistro
12601 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, MD

Packet Pickup Time and Day of Registration: 3:45pm-4:40pm

American Cancer Society Holiday Wrappings Luncheon & Fashion Show

December 10, 2019

Fashion Show and luncheon with auction to benefit The American Cancer Society's programs, research, and education at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

Friends will enjoy one of the area’s premier events by fighting cancer with fashion from more than a dozen area boutiques while enjoying a delicious warm plated lunch, humming along to live holiday music, and getting a great holiday deal through our GRAND Silent and Chinese Auctions, or perhaps a door prize.

For over a century, the American Cancer Society has fought for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. By taking what we’ve learned through research and turning it into what we do, the death rate from cancer in the US has declined steadily over the past 2 decades. As of 2015, the cancer death rate for men and women combined had fallen 26% from its peak in 1991. This decline translates to nearly 2.4 million deaths averted during this time period. Overall, more than 15.5 million cancer survivors in America will celebrate a birthday this year.

For more information about reservations, tables & packages, and sponsorship, please contact Dawne Pappas at 443-880-2310 or email dpappo@aol.com.

Brian's Christmas Songbook

December 13, 2019

Brian's Christmas Songbook - Featuring Mid-Atlantic Symphony and Melissa Alessi

Fighting Opioid Addiction

Showtime 7pm / Doors Open 6:30pm

Tickets - $10 (Available on Ticketmaster or at the Convention Center Box Office)

Comic Con

December 14, 2019

10AM - 5PM at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center

Admission Fees:

• Adults: $10 Kids 9 & Under: FREE (with paying adult)
• Get $1 OFF Admission with a non-perishable food item for Diakonia.
• Get $1 OFF Admission if in costume!
• Discounts do stack. Available at the door, cash only.

Contact James Dufendach promotions@plbcomics.com

The Nutcracker

December 15, 2019

Presented by Sussex Dance Academy

Hosted at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center

Showtime 2PM / Doors 1:30PM

Tickets:

$20 for adults, $17 for Seniors 65 and older & Students 12 and under

$17 for adults, $14 for Seniors 65 and older & Students 12 and under

Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 16th @ 10AM

*Available online with Ticketmaster or the Convention Center Box Office

Yakov Smirnoff - Happily Ever Laughter

December 28-29, 2019

Hosted at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center

Tickets: $47, $38, & $29

Yakov Smirnoff is an iconic comedian, movie star, best-selling author and most recently, he has earned a doctorate degree in Leadership from Pepperdine University. Living a life that’s as exciting as ever, Yakov has married his sweetheart, is currently touring the world doing stand-up, and even has his very own theater in Branson, Missouri. With the heart of dreamer, Yakov Smirnoff has made the impossible possible and continues to inspire others with his message that America is still “What a Country!” Keep an eye out for his brand-new podcast on ABC radio, look for him at a theater near you and stay tuned for what Dr. Yakov does next!

• Saturday, December 28, 2019 - Doors/7pm & Showtime/7:30pm
• Sunday, December 29, 2019 - Doors/4pm & Showtime/4:30pm

New Year's Eve Celebration and Fireworks

December 31, 2019

The Town of Ocean City will be hosting a New Year's Eve Fireworks Show at Northside Park to celebrate the beginning of 2020 and the 27th Annual Winterfest of Lights. The fireworks display, which will begin promptly at midnight, will be accompanied by live entertainment, warm hot chocolate, and the opportunity to ride through the Winterfest of Lights.

Hours for the Winterfest of Lights, which was recently named a prestigious Top 100 Event by American Bus Association and voted "Maryland's Finest Holiday Tradition" by Maryland Life Magazine, will be extended until midnight. This family-friendly event will allow visitors to travel through the winter paradise of lights and then listen to music by a local DJ as they wait for the countdown to midnight.

With more than one million holiday lights sparkling throughout Northside Park, the Winterfest of Lights New Year's Eve Fireworks Show will be a great way to ring in the New Year.