Bring your brown bag lunch and learn about northern saw-whet owls, some of the most elusive owls in North America! Northern saw-whet owls are known for their cat-like faces and high-pitched calls. They're also small, barely half a foot long, and the males may weigh only as much as an American robin. Biologist Melissa Acuti will talk about the biology and migrations of these fascinating birds, and discuss Project Owlnet, a citizen science project she helped run this autumn to band the owls and and track their migrations. Project Owlnet...

Lights, garland, action! Historic downtown Annapolis shops throw open their doors in a glorified block party that’s open to all. Enjoy outside musical performances as well as food and refreshments at many stores as you stroll along Main Street, Maryland Avenue, Inner West Street, and State Circle in search of that perfect gift. To enhance the experience, the first block of Main Street will be closed to traffic for the first time this year. Sponsored by the Downtown Annapolis Partnership.

The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman kicks off for the 10thtime on Dec. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, featuring a matchup between representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference. Organized by the DC Bowl Committee, the Military Bowl serves as a premier regional event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its inception in 2008, the Bowl has donated more than $700,000 to the USO and provided more than 30,000 complimentary tickets for troops and...

All are welcome to participate in a family celebration of African values. Learn the meaning behind each of the seven days. Beat out a rhythm in the drum circle. Take part in Ananse tales.  Crafts too! In partnership with the Kunta Kinte  Festival.  11 am.  Free with admission.

Get a head start on saying good-bye to 2017 and heralding in the new year. CCM is open 10 am to 3 pm with crafts to help you celebrate: crowns, noisemakers, and Chinese yo-yos! Free with admission.

Family activities fill the day and music and dancing fills the night at this annual celebration welcoming the New Year. For the second year, kid’s activities are expected to take place on the ball fields behind Maryland Hall and Bates Middle School. Participants are invited to park at Park Place garage and take City of Annapolis-provided shuttles to and from the new location. Activities will include face painting, an obstacle course, moon bounce, and music performed by kids’ rock bands. The first round of festivities wraps up with on-site fireworks...

This presentation by John Siemon will cover the uses for maps in researching family history, plus many places to find detailed maps that show where your ancestors lived. His talk will include some online demonstrations and how to put them in your family history documents. John Siemon has been on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Genealogical Society since 2008, and is currently President of the Society. He has been researching his family history since 1997. His special interests are maps, the Civil War, and Baltimore history and genealogy.

Élan Ensemble is going to perform in the historic Ballroom for Twelfth Night. $40 per person/$35 Members

Join Historic London Town and Gardens to chat with amazing vendors from the area and learn more about hosting your wedding here. What better way to kick off the New Year?!

Scope of Presentation Jack will discuss the steamboats which took people and freight to and from Bay area communities in all kinds of weather every day. Another class of steamer that looked like the passenger and freight boats was dedicated solely to pleasure. Pleasure vessels carried thousands of people during the summer months to Bay area resorts like Tolchester Beach, Betterton, Bay Shore Park, Bay Ridge, Chesapeake Beach, Marshall Hall, and Colonial Beach. Presenter Jack Shaum is a retired print and broadcast journalist who had a nearly 30-year career as a news...