Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area

Holiday Traditions Tour of the William Paca House
2025-12-05 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-12 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-13 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street , Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Experience the joy of the holiday season with a festive tour of the William Paca House! Gather your family and friends and begin the holiday season amidst the charming decorations of our historic mansion.
You’ll be guided through the home of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence by your knowledgeable docent on a one-hour candlelit tour. Enjoy the elegant decorations while you learn about 18th century Annapolis and Maryland holiday traditions and how the Paca household prepared for their guests. The historic home is ready to greet you with music, garlands, a sweet treat, and a take-home recipe!
Cost: $15 General Admission; $12 for HA Members, HA Volunteers, and Military; $7 Children (3-17)
Advance registration recommended, space is limited. This tour requires ascending several flights of stairs.

Jay Fleming Holiday Party
2025-12-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street , Annapolis, MD, United States
Tickets are now available for Jay Fleming’s 11th Annual Holiday Party! Tickets are $25 for general admission and $50 for VIP. Space is limited to 300 guests.

100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the Annapolis Maritime Museum to support their education and outreach programs!

Admission includes the following:

Wild caught Chesapeake Bay oysters on the half shell sponsored by Von Paris Moving & Harris Seafood Co.
Grilled oysters by Orchard Point Oyster Co
Blue catfish from chef Matthew Lego of LEO Annapoli
Dark and Stormy Rum drinks from Lyon Rum
Kegs of incredible beer from Forward Brewing
Light fare and appetizers
VIP ticket holders will get early admission at 5:30pm and a signed copy of Jay’s 2026 calendar!

Holiday Candlelight Stroll, Watermark Tours in Annapolis
2025-12-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Watermark Office, 188 Main Street, Annapolis, 21401, United States
Holiday Candlelight Stroll
7:00pm-8:30pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $28/Adult $15/Child 3-11 years

for more dates and information visit https://watermarkjourney.com/events/annapolis-harbor-usna-cruise/

Watermark Tours in Annapolis
2025-12-06 | MD
Colonial Annapolis & Maryland State House Walking Tour (+USNA option)
10:00am-11:30am
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $20/Adult; $12/Child
o Add on USNA (+45 min and +$4/person)
o $25/Adult $10/Child
Jolly Express Cruise
45-minute, 12:00pm -6:00pm, every hour on the hour
o Prince George Street Dock at City Dock
o $28/Adult $15/Child 11 and under
Historic Maryland State House Tour
1:30pm-2:45pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $18/Adult $9/Child
Special Historic Holiday Tour
3:00pm-4:45pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $30/Adult $16/Child 3-11 years
• Holiday Candlelight Stroll-7:00pm-8:30pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $28/Adult $15/Child 3-11 years
Scandalous Annapolis
7:30pm-9:00pm
o Departs from Market House Park
o $22/Adult 21 and over

for more dates and information visit https://watermarkjourney.com/events/annapolis-harbor-usna-cruise/

Towards a More Perfect Union: Deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation
2025-12-06 14:00 - 15:00 | MD
Towards a More Perfect Union: A Series on the U.S. Constitution hosted in SERC’s Woodlawn History Center
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation as a contract that defined the relationship existing between the sovereign States. This presentation explores the practical aspects of that contract, informed by principles, but in the end unwieldly and inadequate to the needs of the war and to overcoming obstacles confronting the New Republic.

Event Series Info:
In anticipation of America’s 250th anniversary, we invite you to a continuing series of talks hosted by SERC archaeologist Jim Gibb, examining our country’s often bumpy road towards freedom and self-determination. From October 2025 through March 2026, explore the evolution of the U.S. Constitution, in a sequel to the “Road To Independence” series from spring 2025. The new series will highlight the deficiencies of the initial Articles of Confederation, the refinement of such ideas as the “sovereignty of the people,” and the development of our nation’s “owners’ manual,” the document that instructs government as to its role in American society and the U.S. Constitution’s constraints on government.

Magnificent Marsh Mammals
2025-12-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Rd, Lothian, MD, United States
What mammals inhabit our fascinating marshes at Jug Bay? Find out, and perhaps see some in person on an evening hike through the woods and along the edge of the marsh. Join Chuck Hatcher, Jug Bay’s resident expert on otters, for a 1-3 mile walk. Look and listen for signs of activity while Chuck shares interesting facts about these magnificent marsh mammals. All ages able to walk 1-3 miles. Bring a flash light. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Fee $5 per person. No refunds for participant cancellation or no shows.
Register at https://jugbay.org/inspire_events/magnificent-marsh-mammals-31/
For questions call 410-222-8006 or email jugbay@aacounty.org.

Annual Odenton Christmas Tree Lighting and Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus
2025-12-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Odenton Heritage Bank Building, 1400 Odenton Rd, Odenton, MD, 21113
Join us for our Annual Odenton Christmas Tree Lighting!
Come celebrate the season with us on Saturday, December 6th, from 5:00–7:00PM at the Odenton MARC Station, located at 1402 Odenton Road (west side of the tracks, in front of the OHS old Bank Building). Parking is free.
We’ll have refreshments, music, and plenty of holiday cheer! Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a grand entrance on an Odenton Volunteer Fire Company fire truck around 5:30PM, and will be available for photos with children after the tree lighting.
Bring your family, visit with Santa, and enjoy a festive evening with your neighbors!
The event is sponsored by the Odenton Heritage Society, the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company & the Greater Odenton Improvement Association.
Please join us for this annual Odenton community holiday tradition!

Watermark Tours in Annapolis
2025-12-07 | MD
Colonial Annapolis & Maryland State House Walking Tour (+USNA option)
10:00am-11:30am
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $20/Adult; $12/Child
o Add on USNA (+45 min and +$4/person)
Jolly Express Cruise
45-minute, 12:00pm -6:00pm, every hour on the hour
o Prince George Street Dock at City Dock
o $28/Adult $15/Child 11 and under
Historic Maryland State House Tour
1:30pm-2:45pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $18/Adult $9/Child
Special Historic Holiday Tour
3:00pm-4:45pm
o Departs from Watermark office – 188 Main Street
o $30/Adult $16/Child 3-11 years

for more dates and information visit https://watermarkjourney.com/events/annapolis-harbor-usna-cruise/

Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy & the Nutcracker Prince
2025-12-07 12:30 - 14:30 | Captain Avery Museum, 1418 E West Shady Side Road, Shady Side, MD, 20764, United States
Children get a front row seat to this delightful holiday performance from the National Ballet Institute for the Arts Company. Guests will enjoy tea, cocoa, and assortment of holiday treats and suites.

Odenton Heritage Society December 2025 Open House
2025-12-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Odenton Heritage Historical Center, 1367 Odenton Road, Odenton, Maryland, 21113
On Sunday, December 7, the Odenton Heritage Society will commemorate Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor with a special display, “On Their Minds and In Their Hearts: Christmas in World War II.”
During the war, the holiday season became a time to remember American servicemen and women overseas and those who gave their lives in the line of duty. The holidays also brought adjustments due to wartime rationing of food, tires, and gasoline. Featuring personal recollections of the “Day of Infamy,” letters and gifts sent to soldiers overseas, and Odenton’s role in mobilizing soldiers in trains and buses, the display examines sacrifice, resilience, and optimism on the home front and one town’s determination to help win the war.Desserts based on wartime recipes will be available to sample.
Admission and guided tours of the OHS museum with costumed docents are free.
Event page: https://www.odentonheritage.org/event/ohs-december-2025-open-house/

Holiday Tea & Trivia at the Rising Sun Inn
2025-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Historic Rising Sun Inn, 1090 General’s Highway, Crownsville, MD, 21032, United States
Start are your holiday season out with a bit of tea. Grab your favorite person and a reserve your spot at the historic Rising Sun Inn
Get ready to sip some festive tea and test your knowledge with holiday-themed trivia – it’s going down at the Rising Sun Inn! Join us for a Holiday-Inspired Afternoon Tea at The Rising Sun Inn!
Enjoy a festive afternoon complete with our holiday afternoon tea menu.

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: The Rising Sun Inn

Festive Attire Encouraged: Feel free to wear your favorite ugly Christmas sweater or dress up for the occasion!
Holiday Trivia: Test your seasonal knowledge for a chance to win a prize.

Tickets & Registration

$43 per person
$75 for two people

Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tea-and-trivia-holiday-edition and pay no fees when you uncheck the donation to Zeffy box.

Refund Policy: NO REFUNDS will be issued after December 3rd at 5:00 PM.
Questions: Please email us at ContactUs@RisingSunInn.org or call/text 410.865.9136.

The Land Remembers: Piscataway Stories of Continuity
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 | MD
Join Anjela Barnes (Piscataway), Executive Director of the Accokeek Foundation, as she shares the story of Piscataway Park as a living cultural landscape and a place of ancestral connection. This presentation traces the park’s preservation journey from early land trust efforts in the 1950s to its designation as the first national park established to “preserve historic vistas.” Speaking on behalf of the Accokeek Foundation, Barnes will highlight the deep history of the Piscataway people, their ancestral capital of Moyaon, and the ongoing journey of cultural resilience and restoration. Through stories of land, foodways, and identity, she will share how the Accokeek Foundation is working in partnership with Indigenous communities to honor heritage, steward the land, and envision a future of healing, kinship, and resilience. Learn more about the Accokeek Foundation’s work and plan your visit at www.accokeek.org.

Anjela Barnes is Executive Director of the Accokeek Foundation, located at Piscataway Park, where she proudly stewards and preserves the traditional homelands of the Piscataway people. Barnes’s journey with the Foundation began in 2009, where she initially contributed her expertise to managing marketing and development campaigns. Over the years, she ascended to the role of Vice President of Operations in 2018, demonstrating her commitment and leadership within the organization. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland (2004). Driven by a profound passion for community engagement and environmental advocacy, Anjela’s professional interests lie at the intersection of food systems, health, disease, and environmental change. She advocates for a community-centered approach to address these complex issues, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity in her endeavors.

Lunch & Learn: The Land Remembers: Piscataway Stories of Continuity
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:30 | MD
Join Anjela Barnes (Piscataway), Executive Director of the Accokeek Foundation, as she shares the story of Piscataway Park as a living cultural landscape and a place of ancestral connection. This presentation traces the park’s preservation journey from early land trust efforts in the 1950s to its designation as the first national park established to “preserve historic vistas.” Barnes will speak on behalf of the Accokeek Foundation, highlighting the deep history of the Piscataway people, their ancestral capital of Moyaon, and the ongoing journey of cultural resilience and restoration. Through stories of land, foodways, and identity, she will share how the Accokeek Foundation is working in partnership with Indigenous communities to honor heritage, steward the land, and envision a future of healing, kinship, and resilience. Learn more about the Accokeek Foundation’s work and plan your visit at www.accokeek.org.
Anjela Barnes is Executive Director of the Accokeek Foundation, located at Piscataway Park, where she proudly stewards and preserves the traditional homelands of the Piscataway people. Barnes’sjourney with the Foundation began in 2009, where she initially contributed her expertise to managing marketing and development campaigns. Over the years, she ascended to the role of Vice President of Operations in 2018, demonstrating her commitment and leadership within the organization. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland (2004). Driven by a profound passion for community engagement and environmental advocacy, Anjela’s professional interests lie at the intersection of food systems, health, disease, and environmental change. She advocates for a community-centered approach to address these complex issues, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity in her endeavors.

Hammond-Harwood House Holiday Open House
2025-12-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Hammond-Harwood House, 19 Maryland Ave, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Cruising Annapolis during Midnight Madness? Stop by Hammond-Harwood House for a free visit to see the historic rooms decorated for the season, listen to period music and enjoy mulled cider.
Hammond-Harwood House, now 251 years old, has hosted many holiday celebrations. From the earliest family who lived here beginning in 1806, traditions have been built following American styles through the years. This year garden clubs in the Annapolis/Baltimore area have decorated the rooms in elegant and classical ways, harkening back to the earliest times.

Lantern Tours
2025-12-12 15:30 - 17:30 | Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, United States
Step back in time and experience the warmth and wonder of the holiday season at Holidays at London Town! As the sun sets, explore the historic William Brown House by the glow of candlelight and lights illuminating our historic area for an enchanting evening tour, bringing history to life. This special 45-minute candlelight program is included with admission. There are two tour times to choose from: 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

Colonial Cocktails: Yuletide
2025-12-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, United States
Toast the Yuletide season with some chocolate port, alongside an array of this year’s greatest hits from our monthly Colonial Cocktails program. Enjoy special access to our 18th-century brick tavern as you learn a little bit about what Christmas was like for all London Town citizens. 21+ and pre-registration is required.
Register for tickets by clicking here

Colonial Cocktails: Yuletide
2025-12-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, United States
Toast the Yuletide season with some chocolate port, alongside an array of this year’s greatest hits from our monthly Colonial Cocktails program. Enjoy special access to our 18th-century brick tavern as you learn a little bit about what Christmas was like for all London Town citizens. 21+ and pre-registration is required.

Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
2025-12-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, 84 Franklin St, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
A Day of Unity, Culture, & Celebration: Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Presents Its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Dec. 13 in Annapolis
Performances by the Performing Arts Center for African Cultures, Cuisine by Swahilli Village, and Black-owned vendors market anchor BDTM’s Kwanzaa celebration
Annapolis, MD – The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum invites the public to join us for our unified and joyous Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis, MD.
Join in immersive cultural experiences, performances, and collective storytelling that invite reflection on Black heritage, resilience, and joy. Experience live performances based in African diasporic traditions, Afrocentric cuisine, interactive art-making, and a Black-owned vendors marketplace with one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothes, books, and thoughtful Holiday gifts. This vibrant all-day celebration of art, music, food, storytelling, and community embodies the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba), and Faith (Imani).

Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
2025-12-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, 84 Franklin St, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Celebrate Kwanzaa in unity and joy at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration! This vibrant festival of art, music, food, storytelling, and community honors the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) and reflects on Black heritage, resilience, and joy.
Experience powerful discussions, move to the rhythm of live performances rooted in African diasporic traditions, and savor Afrocentric cuisine that connects us to ancestral flavors. Explore the Black-owned vendors market, discover meaningful holiday gifts, and contribute to our Memory Session, preserving stories that will inspire generations to come.
Let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future—together.
Register here: https://bit.ly/2025KwanzaaCelebration

Lantern Tours
2025-12-13 15:30 - 17:30 | MD

Encore! Colonial Cocktails: Yuletide
2025-12-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, United States
Because our first event was sold out, we created another Yuletide event for you! Toast the Yuletide season with some chocolate port, alongside an array of this year’s greatest hits from our monthly Colonial Cocktails program. Enjoy special access to our 18th-century brick tavern as you learn a little bit about what Christmas was like for all London Town citizens. 21+ and pre-registration is required.

Make-your-Own Series: Holiday Floral Centerpiece Arrangement
2025-12-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Historic Rising Sun Inn, 1090 General’s Highway, Crownsville, MD, 21032, United States
Start your holiday season by designing a beautiful, fresh centerpiece that will last through the season.
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Historic Rising Sun Inn
Address: 1090 General’s Highway, Crownsville, MD
🌲 About the Workshop

Design: Create a beautiful, long-lasting centerpiece using a fresh evergreen base.

Instructor: All materials and professional instruction are provided by Shelly Baker, owner of Shelly’s Blossom Shop.

💰 Pricing & RegistrationPrice: $65.00 per centerpiece.

Additional Centerpieces: If you wish to make more than one centerpiece, advanced ordering is necessary.
No time to make your own? We’ll make one for you to pick up! Pick up by 5pm on December 14th!

Register:

Online Registration: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/make-your-own-holiday-centerpiece (uncheck the donate to Zeffy box and pay NO fees)

NO REFUNDS will be issued after December 10th.

Reading of "A Christmas Carol"
2025-12-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-12-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road , Edgewater, MD, 21037 , United States
Please join SERC for the third annual reading of “A Christmas Carol”- in the atmospheric front parlor of the decorated historic Woodlawn house. The reading is done by local actors who volunteer their time for this no-cost event. The reading will be held 6-7:30 pm on both 12/15 & 12/16 to accomodate as many guests as possible. Woodlawn will open at 5pm to allow viewing of the exhibit.
Woodlawn is the oldest building in the Smithsonian’s collection and is still in the original landscape context!
Light refreshments (cider and cookies) will be served.
***If full, please contact dunhamc@si.edu if you would like to be added to the wait list.
****Please cancel your sign-up here on SignUp Genius ASAP if you can no longer attend, due to strong demand for seats.
This free event is open to the general public, staff & volunteers. (A max of 4 seats per family, please).

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime – Fall Series – “Happy All-idays” by Cindy Jin
2025-12-16 10:00 - 11:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street , Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.
“Happy All-idays” by Cindy Jin
Discover how various families honor the winter season. “Happy All-idays” beautifully conveys the essence of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and beyond!
The time has come
to send holiday cheer
to family and friends
far and near.
We all celebrate the season
in our own special way.
Let’s look at how families
prepare for each holiday!
Join us in celebrating the holiday season with song, dance, and a unique holiday craft!
Advance registration required, space is limited
