Join the holiday celebrations with the Frederick community! Find all the events and activities in our guide. From Frederick regulars to holiday explorers, this guide highlights the season's best events and activities.
Popular events include the enchanting US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains, where visitors can marvel at stunning botanical displays adorned with festive decorations. The Downtown Holiday Market features a vibrant array of local artisans and food vendors, perfect for finding unique gifts and seasonal treats. And the City Center Tree Lighting is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it marks the official start of the holiday season in downtown Frederick. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Frederick
- US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains (Washington D.C.)
- Downtown Holiday Market (Washington D.C.)
- National Harbor Tree Light Show (National Harbor)
- City Center Tree Lighting (Washington D.C.)
- German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor (Baltimore)
- Gaylord National Hotel Show (National Harbor)
- Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair (Silver Spring)
- 32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting (Bel Air)
- Christmas in Middleburg (Middleburg)
- Old Town Alexandria Scottish Parade (Alexandria)
See these and even more events listed below!
Frederick Holiday Light Displays
City Center Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Dazzling 75-foot tree with live music and festive activities.
Description:
Join CityCenterDC for their 10th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, featuring a joyful music performance by The Revels, balloon artists, face painters, and holiday treats. NBC4's Eun Yang will host the official tree lighting ceremony and countdown. Enjoy the dazzling 75-foot tree, visit the two resident 25-foot reindeer, and capture the holiday spirit with a photo under the Palmer Alley Dream Closet art installation.
Where: Washington D.C. | More Info: City Center Tree Lighting
National Harbor Tree Light Show
What to Expect:
Spectacular RGB tree light show with holiday music.
Description:
The National Harbor Tree Light Show features a 60-foot RGB tree that comes to life nightly with a breathtaking light show dancing alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: National Harbor Tree Light Show
Frederick Holiday Markets and Shopping
Downtown Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Diverse local vendors and community activations.
Description:
The DowntownDC Holiday Market is a vibrant holiday market in the Penn Quarter-Chinatown neighborhood, celebrating its 20th anniversary. It features upgraded vendor kiosks, a diverse array of artisans, captivating community activations, and a delectable food and beverage lineup. The market is open daily from November 22 to December 23, 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m., at F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets NW.
Where: Washington D.C. | More Info: Downtown Holiday Market
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor
What to Expect:
Authentic German Christmas Market with a wide selection of mulled wine and European cuisine.
Description:
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor features over 60 vendors offering unique gifts and authentic European cuisine, including German mulled wine and traditional dishes like Bratwurst and Schnitzel.
Where: Baltimore | More Info: German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and local artisans.
Description:
The Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair at Veterans Plaza offers a festive celebration featuring seasonal artisans, delicious treats, and joyful spirit. Explore a merry marketplace filled with handcrafted treasures from local artisans, savor delightful food and desserts from various vendors, and immerse yourself in festive melodies of Christmas music.
Where: Silver Spring | More Info: Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair
Lucketts Old General Store and Grounds
What to Expect:
Holiday decor showcase with unique murals and photo vignettes.
Description:
Lucketts Old General Store and Grounds transform into a holiday destination each November, featuring beautifully decorated rooms curated by an award-winning design team. The event includes unique holiday murals, photo vignettes, and a variety of gorgeous holiday decor for sale. Visitors can relax by a crackling campfire with glass wine from Vanish Brewery.
Where: Leesburg | More Info: Lucketts Old General Store and Grounds
Maryland Christmas Show
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with top artists and craftsmen.
Description:
The Maryland Christmas Show is a premier holiday event in Frederick City, featuring seven buildings with fine artisans and merchants offering a wide range of holiday items, including fine art, pottery, furniture, jewelry, clothing, wreaths, garlands, toys, and Christmas ornaments.
Where: Frederick | More Info: Maryland Christmas Show
Thurmont Christmas Market Craft & Vendor Show
What to Expect:
Benefiting local ambulance company with diverse craft vendors.
Description:
The Thurmont Christmas Market Craft & Vendor Show is a festive event featuring over 60 craft vendors and a variety of food options, all benefiting the Thurmont Ambulance Company. Visitors can explore a wide range of handmade crafts and seasonal items while enjoying the community atmosphere.
Where: Thurmont | More Info: Thurmont Christmas Market Craft & Vendor Show
Frosty Friday
What to Expect:
All-day shopping and live holiday music with special deals and giveaways.
Description:
Frosty Friday in Downtown Frederick offers all-day shopping, live holiday music, and special deals. Enjoy free parking and downtown-wide giveaways, including a Snowflake Tree.
Where: Frederick | More Info: Frosty Friday
Frederick Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Gaylord National Hotel Show
What to Expect:
Interactive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
Description:
Gaylord National Resort presents ICE featuring "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a spectacular holiday event with larger-than-life ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and awe-inspiring tunnels.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: Gaylord National Hotel Show
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
What to Expect:
Featuring a renowned soprano soloist and high school choirs.
Description:
The Germantown Symphony Orchestra's annual Germantown Holiday Concert features native Memphian soprano soloist Tanisha Ward, with choruses from Houston and Germantown High Schools joining the orchestra. This event brings joy to the community by celebrating the holiday season with family.
Where: Germantown | More Info: CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Frederick Other Holiday Activities
US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains
What to Expect:
Model trains showcasing pollinators in plant-based scenes.
Description:
The US Botanic Gardens' holiday display features model trains running through pollinator scenes made from plant parts, thousands of poinsettias, and DC landmarks crafted from plants inside the Conservatory.
Where: Washington D.C. | More Info: US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains
32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday celebration with community participation.
Description:
The 32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is a cherished community event featuring festive floats, live music, and a tree-lighting ceremony.
Where: Bel Air | More Info: 32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
Old Town Alexandria Scottish Parade
What to Expect:
Traditional Scottish culture and heritage parade.
Description:
The Old Town Alexandria Scottish Parade is a festive celebration featuring over 100 marching units, including Scottish clans, bagpipe bands, and Scottish dancers. The parade begins at St. Asaph and Wilkes Streets and concludes at Market Square, showcasing the city's rich Scottish heritage.
Where: Alexandria | More Info: Old Town Alexandria Scottish Parade
Christmas in Middleburg
What to Expect:
Mile-long Christmas parade with foxhunt riders and hounds.
Description:
Christmas in Middleburg is a family-friendly event featuring activities like Breakfast with Santa, the Middleburg Hunt Review, a mile-long Christmas parade, and progressive food and wine tastings. The event celebrates the holiday spirit with tree lighting, caroling, and shopping in the charming town of Middleburg.
Where: Middleburg | More Info: Christmas in Middleburg
Launch Day – Sailing Through the Winter Solstice
What to Expect:
Interactive light display with voting for favorite boats.
Description:
The Sailing Through the Winter Solstice display features beautifully designed boats illuminated at night, with visitors encouraged to vote for their favorite boat to support local charities.
Where: Frederick | More Info: Launch Day – Sailing Through the Winter Solstice
Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks
What to Expect:
Guided outdoor exploration with a focus on nature and creativity.
Description:
Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks offer a unique, child-led exploration of nature, fostering creativity and curiosity through open-ended play.
Where: Various | More Info: Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Montgomery Village (20 miles)
- Gaithersburg (22 miles)
- Leesburg (22 miles)
- Hagerstown (23 miles)
- North Potomac (24 miles)
- Eldersburg (25 miles)
- Olney (26 miles)
- Ashburn (26 miles)
- Rockville (27 miles)
- Sterling (28 miles)
- Aspen Hill (29 miles)
- Potomac (29 miles)
- North Bethesda (30 miles)
- Herndon (31 miles)
- Reston (31 miles)
- Reisterstown (31 miles)
- Wheaton (32 miles)
- Columbia (33 miles)
- Randallstown (33 miles)
- Scaggsville (33 miles)
- Owings Mills (34 miles)
- Fairland (34 miles)
- Oak Hill (34 miles)
- Ellicott City (34 miles)
- Bethesda (34 miles)
- South Riding (34 miles)
- Milford Mill (35 miles)
- McLean (35 miles)
- Silver Spring (36 miles)
- Chantilly (36 miles)
- Ilchester (36 miles)
- Pikesville (37 miles)
- Woodlawn (37 miles)
- Lochearn (37 miles)
- Laurel (37 miles)
- Oakton (37 miles)
- Catonsville (38 miles)
- South Laurel (38 miles)
- Chillum (38 miles)
- Chambersburg (39 miles)
- Gwynn Oak (39 miles)
- West Elkridge (39 miles)
- College Park (39 miles)
- Arbutus (40 miles)
- Fairfax (40 miles)
- Centreville (40 miles)
- Hanover (40 miles)
- West Falls Church (40 miles)
- Greenbelt (40 miles)
- Arlington (40 miles)
- Washington (41 miles)
- Cockeysville (41 miles)
- Hunt Valley (41 miles)
- Baileys Crossroads (42 miles)
- Annandale (42 miles)
- Severn (43 miles)
- Landover (43 miles)
- Towson (43 miles)
- Winchester (43 miles)
- Baltimore (44 miles)
- Burke (44 miles)
- Lincolnia (44 miles)
- Odenton (44 miles)
- Springfield (45 miles)