Spot St. Nick as he visits with kids around Maryland, updating his Naughty and Nice List,
before his long Christmas Eve journey.
Santa Sits at Marley Station 
Thurs. Nov. 15 thru Dec. 24–Take a seat on Santa’s lap and reveal your holiday hopes to the jolly one. Get a few ideas for your wish list at Santa’s secret shop. Be there to greet Santa when the sleigh drops him off Nov. 15 at 7pm and get an early present. Santa’s gift shop opens weekends, starting Nov. 19 thru the holidays, where little elves can pick up pre-wrapped presents at $10 or under. 11am-9pm M-F; 10am-9pm Sa; Noon-6pm Su @ Marley Station Mall, off Rt. 2, Glen Burnie: 410-760-8900.
St. Nick at St. Paul’s
Sat. Nov. 17–Santa stops by this annual craft bazaar to inspect the Maryland branch of his workshop and meet with children, listening to Christmas wishes and posing for pictures. 10am-5pm; @ St. Paul’s Episcopal, Church St., Prince Frederick: 410-535-2897.
Kris Kringle Visits Charm City
Sat. Nov. 17–Santa sleighs over Pratt St. when he arrives in Baltimore. Part of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santa settles at Harborplace Amphitheatre after the festivities to greet children. 11am-3pm from Pratt St. to Harborplace Amphitheater, Baltimore: 410-752-8632.
Breakfast with Santa at Festival of Trees
Fri. Nov. 23 thru Nov. 25–Ages 3 to 8 join St. Nick in an indoor Christmas forest. Over 70 trees illuminate the room as part of Calvert Hospice’s Festival of Trees. On Saturday, break bread with Santa at a special breakfast or lunch. Breakfast 9am; lunch 11:30am @ Huntingtown High, Rt. 2-4, Huntingtown. $6; rsvp: 410-535-0892.
Santa Sits at Homestead
Sat. Nov. 24 thru Dec. 16–Kids sit with Kris Kringle every weekend at Homestead Gardens. The jolly one listens to wish lists and checks them twice while parents peruse seasonal greenery. 10am-4pm Sa; noon-4pm Su @ Homestead Gardens, Rts. 214 & 424, Davidsonville. free: 800-300-5631; www.homesteadgardens.com.
Board the Kringle Kaboose in Old Bowie
Sun. Nov. 25–Celebrate Trainspotting day — the busiest day of the year for train travel — when St. Nick joins in the trainspotting at the Bowie Railroad Museum. Sit on Santa’s knee and explore the old-time train station, decorated for their special guest’s arrival. 10am-4pm @ the Train Station, 8614 Chestnut Ave., Bowie. free: 301-809-3089.
Santa Tours Annapolis
Sun. Nov. 25–Father Christmas says ho-ho-ho to Annapolis when he tours the town in a fire truck. 3pm @ Annapolis See 8 Days a Week for this year’s route. free: 410-263-7996.
Santa Trucks to Crofton
Mon. Nov. 26–Sirens sound as St. Nick arrives in Crofton. Giving Rudolph and the team a break, the Arundel Fire department drives Santa to the evening festivities. Come early and sing your favorite holiday tune with outdoor carolers. Kids compete for an early present in a holiday coloring contest and sit on the jolly one’s knee to confirm their Christmas wishes. Inside, Pocket Change strums through a set of seasonal favorites while revelers sip hot cocoa. Sponsored by Crofton Civic Association and The Crofton Country Club. 6:30pm caroling; 7pm Santa arrives @ Crofton Country Club. free festivities; donations asked for Santa pictures: 410-721-2301.
Write out Your Wish List
Sat. Dec. 1 thru Dec. 14–Write up your holiday hopes, or explain to Santa why you should move from the naughty to the nice category. Santa sends his elves to collect his correspondence at special locations throughout Maryland. All letters must have a name and address, so Santa can write back. 8:30am-9:30pm @ Northeast Community Center, Chesapeake Beach. 410-257-2554.
Sint Niklaas Visits Riversdale House 
Sat. Dec. 1–Meet Santa Claus before the red suit, reindeers and stomach that shakes like a bowl full of jelly. Kids visit with Sint Niklaas, who brought presents to Flemish boys and girls every December. Make a craft with the senior version of Santa, and share cookies and hot cocoa. Kids also visit a special shopping area, where they can purchase holiday gifts that fit into their budgets. 2:30pm @ Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. $6/child; $2/adults; rsvp: 301-864-0420.
Santa Breakfasts at Deale
Sat. Dec. 1–Join St. Nick for a hearty breakfast, followed by a trip through the Holiday Craft Fair. Pick out a gift for mom, dad, family and friends that fits into an elf’s budget. 9am-noon @ Deale Elementary, 759 Masons Beach Rd., Deale. free; rsvp: 410-222-1695.
North Pole at North Beach
Sat. Dec. 1–Santa comes to North Beach, welcomed by a noon parade of children to speak of wish lists, sip cider, decorate the Beach community tree and flip the switch to see if the lights work. Later, kids roast marshmallows over a Yule log and carol by the warm glow. Sponsored by the North Beach Garden Club with the parade new this year from the Beach Business Group. noon-3pm @ North Beach waterfront: 301-855-6681.
Breakfast with Santa & Talent Machine
Sat. Dec. 1, 8, 15 & 22–Kids join Talent Machine’s Soundstage Kids for an interactive performance at Santa’s Breakfast party. While grazing on a breakfast buffet, children join in a holiday skit complete with singing and dancing. After the performance, sit down with Kris Kringle and discuss your holiday hopes and plans. Make reservations early for this popular event. Doors open 8:30am @ Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, 100 Main St., Annapolis. $10.95; rsvp: 410-956-0512; www.talentmachine.com.
Santa Cruise
Sat. Dec. 1 thru Dec. 23–Deck the decks of the Bay Lady or Lady Baltimore during a two-hour cruise around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Santa cruises with young sailors for brunch and a holiday sing-along. Sit on Santa’s knee and whisper your seafaring seasonal wishes. 9:30am boarding; 10am-noon cruise SaSu @ Harbor Cruise Ltd., 301 Light St., Baltimore. $19.90/adult; $16.90/kid ages 3-12: 410-727-3113; www.harborcruises.com.
Share a Slice with Santa
Thurs. Dec. 6–Ages 1 to 10 have a pizza party with St. Nick, who listens to Christmas requests and poses for pictures. Bring your own camera for a candid snap of Father Christmas, or pay a small fee and pose for a professional portrait. Later, kids create a holiday craft for a special someone on their gift list. 6-7:30pm @ Southern Community Center, 20 Appeal Ln., Lusby. $6; rsvp: 410-586-1101.
Snail Mail Santa
Deadline: Fri. Dec. 7–Write out a list and check it twice before sending it off to Santa. Drop your letter at one of Santa’s Maryland mail stations; be include your name and return address so Mr. Claus can write you back. Drop your letters off or mail to: Southern Community Center, 20 Appeal Ln., Lusby, MD 20657: 410-586-1101.
Start Your Day with Santa Claus
Sat. Dec. 8–Santa helps kids squirt syrup over a stack of pancakes for an early Christmas breakfast. The Patuxent High School Band Boosters serve up the fluffy stacks of flapjacks while Santa poses for pictures, listens to holiday hopes and helps crafty kids with an art project. 8am-11am @ Patuxent High School cafeteria, 12485 Rousby Hall Rd., Lusby. $5 w/discounts: 410-535-7806; www.patuxentband.org.
Santa Takes a Trail
Sat. Dec. 8–Pick a spot along the B&A Trail to greet Santa and his helpers as he tours A.A. County. The merry group takes a horse-drawn carriage through the trails, stopping to pass out candy canes and collect canned goods for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Santa rides the trail from 10:30am-3pm; making candy and collection stops at the
following locations: 10:30am behind Arnold Station; 11:15am @ Browse & Buy at Jones Station Rd.; 11:45am @ Hatton and Regester Green at Evergreen Rd.; 12:15pm @ Robinson Rd. & the trail; 12:45pm @ Earleigh Heights Ranger Station; 1:45pm behind Jumpers Shopping Center; 2:15pm behind Harundale Shopping Center; 2:45pm @ Saw Mill Creek Park. free: 410-222-6244.
Santa Shops Locally
Sat. Dec. 8–Santa and the Friday Four Bell choir visit the Christmas Market at Anne Arundel County’s Farmers’ Market. As kids sit on Santa’s knee, parents listen to carols, shop for winter produce and browse the arrays of fresh garlands made on site. 8am-noon @ Riva Road & Harry S. Truman Pkwy., Annapolis: Brenda @ 410-349-0317.
Santa On Deale Circle
Sat. Dec. 8–Santa sits at Century 21/H.T. Brown Realty for an afternoon of Christmas cheer. Get a free picture with Father Christmas; go for door prizes and share cookies and punch with the jolly one. Noon-4pm @ the roundabout, Deale. Free: 301-261-5200.
Breakfast with Santa
Sat. Dec. 8–Santa sits with breakfasting kids. Polaroid pictures taken free; or bring a camera. 9am-11am @ Centenary United Methodist Church, Shady Side. free: 410-867-2048.
St. Nick Visits Harbour Center
Sat. Dec. 8 & 15–Kris Kringle halts his horse-drawn carriage in the Harbour Center to greet children and pose for photos. Later, he helps little elves make a holiday craft. 10am-1pm @ Annapolis Harbour Center. Pictures w/Santa $5: 410-266-5857.
Breakfast with Santa
Sat. Dec. 8 & 15–Kids and Santa share the most important meal of the day, a hearty breakfast. When Santa returns to his workshop, kids sit down for a morning movie at Regal Cinema. 9am @ Rocky Run Restaurant, Marley Station Mall, Glen Burnie. $6; rsvp: 410-760-8900.
Reel in Santa Claus
Sun. Dec. 9–Santa joins little ones at the Rod ’n’ Reel buffet for brunch and conversations about Christmas presents. Sit on St. Nick’s lap for a picture. Later, explore Santa’s Maryland workshop, where elves show you how to make a holiday craft. Buffet 8am-1pm; Santa 9-noon @ Rod ’n’ Reel, Chesapeake Beach. $13.95 age 5-10; $8.95 age 4 & under; rsvp: 410-257-2735; www.rodnreelinc.com.
Reindeer Roundup
Tues. Dec. 11–Ages 3 to 5 meet with a red-nosed reindeer as he guides the way through gift making, teaches the tots reindeer games and lights up the room with Christmas-themed snacks. 10:30-11:30am @ Northeast Community Center, Chesapeake Beach. $3; rsvp by Dec. 6: 410-257-2554.
Santa Supper
Wed. Dec. 12–Share dinner with Santa at this cheery meal featuring festive desserts and door prizes. Bring a camera for a quick Santa photo, and make sure you tell the jolly one just what you want for Christmas. 6:30-8pm @ Northeast Community Center, Chesapeake Beach. $5; rsvp by Dec. 7: 410-257-2554.
Santa Sleighs thru West Annapolis
Wed. Dec. 12–Mr. Claus gives Rudolph and the team a break today, touring West Annapolis in a horse-drawn carriage as part of Holiday Madness in West Annapolis (5pm). Santa poses for photos and listens to Christmas wishes. Take a break from shopping to join in a merry round of caroling as the sleigh makes its way through town. 5:30pm Santa arrives; 10am-10pm Holiday Madness @ Tara’s Gifts and all over West Annapolis: 410-295-5157.
Santa on the Square
Sat. Dec. 15–Christmas couple Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children to hear last-minute holiday hopes and explanations for naughty behavior. For a photo with the Claus Family, bring your own camera. 11am-1pm @ town square, Leonardtown, in St. Mary’s County: 301-475-9791.
Brunch with Santa
Sat. Dec. 15–Share a light brunch with Santa as he builds up his strength for his yearly rounds. 10am @ Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Edgewater. $3/adult; $2/age 4 to 12: 410-956-2883.
Kringle Cruises Chelsea Beach
Sat. Dec. 15–Santa trades a red-nosed reindeer for fire-engine red today as he tours the Chelsea Beach community, passing out candy canes to little ones. No set route; listen for the sirens. noon-2pm throughout Chelsea Beach, off Magothy Bridge Rd., Pasadena: 410-255-4455.
Santa Sails to Shady Side
Tues. Dec. 18–Santa cruises up to Discovery Village in a 42-foot oyster boat to spend the day with festive families and take last-minute Christmas requests. 12:30pm @ Discovery Village, Shady Side: 410-867-2100.
Magical Mall Meetings
Thru Mon. Dec. 24–Both nice and naughty children sit on Santa’s knee to submit their wish lists. Take home a photo package to remember the visit. Santa sits with children until 6pm on Christmas Eve, leaving to start his holiday voyage. 10am-9pm M-Sa; 11am-6pm Su; Dec. 24 10am-6pm @ Center Court, Westfield Shopping Town Center, Annapolis. Photos $30-10: 410-266-5432.
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