Prescriptions for Boosting Holiday Spirit
I used to dream of begin a doctor, though that dream faded as I fainted at the thought of blood. I’m better suited for prescribing help for the spirit. From my fully annotated Seasons Bounty, I offer my prescriptions for boosting your holiday spirit.
Light up the Darkness
By day, deck your house and grounds in light. By night, tour Chesapeake Country to enjoy the brilliance of our neighbors and neighborhoods, from Solomons to Baltimore’s 34th Street, including Illuminated Historic London Town every Friday from 6 to 8pm. You’ve got all month to see the grand illuminations at Sandy Point State Park, Watkins Nature Center and Annmarie Gardens. But for parades of illuminated boats you’ve got to seize the night. In Solomons, that’s this Saturday, December 5, at 6:15pm. In Annapolis, see the Eastport Yacht Club Parade of Lights Saturday, December 12 from 6 to 8pm.
Walk or Run in Winter’s Wonderland
Run the Jingle Bell 5K for Arthritis and Kids Rudolf Romp this Saturday at Holiday Inn, Solomons, with registration starting at 7am: jbr.org.
Balmy weather will be better for the Santa Speedo Run & Salvation Army Toy Drive Saturday, December 19 in Annapolis: SantaSpeedoRunAnnapolis.com.
Rock Around the Christmas Tree
Make choosing — even cutting — and decorating your tree a family affair. Visit festive trees far and wide, from forests of decorated trees at Homestead and Greenstreet Gardens to the Annapolis Tree at City Dock, the Bayfront North Beach Tree to Washington’s sparkling giants, the National Christmas Tree and the Capitol Christmas Tree.
Or Gather Round the Menorah
Chanukah begins December 6, when you can help light the Menorah at Westfield Annapolis Mall. On Thursday, December 10, cruise with a menorah on your car to Annapolis City Dock and celebrate with the Chabad of Anne Arundel County: 443-321-9859, chabadannearundel.org.
Hear the Ancient Yuletide Carol
Music raises the spirits and enchants the season. You can hear it in many forms, from grand to Celtic to carols to rock. This weekend is your chance to hear the Naval Academy’s grand Messiah and Maggie Sansone’s Celtic Christmas Concert at Christ Church, West River. Check Seasons Bounty and 8 Days a Week for many other musical choices, including ones where you can raise your voice in song.
See a Christmas Show
Why do we love A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life? Read this week’s story The Spirit of Christmas to find out why — and where you can see them. The Nutcracker sets a different mood, involving us in a dream of fantastical extravagance. See it danced by the Ballet Theater of Maryland this weekend in Bowie and the next two weekends in Annapolis. Also this weekend see a comic Nutcracker at Chesapeake Arts Center, and hear Duke Ellington’s wonderful jazz Nutcracker suite at Anne Arundel Community College.
Be in North Beach at noon this Saturday to see another kind of Christmas show: the Pat Carpenter Beaches Holiday Parade, led by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Gather for refreshments at a yule log bonfire on the beach.
Make Shopping a Pleasure
With decorations, entertainment, refreshments and illuminations, local holiday shopping can feel like going to a party. Thursdays December 3 and 10 bring Midnight Madness to Annapolis, with 11th Hour December 17. Solomons is decked out for its 31st annual Christmas Walk this weekend. Calvert County Antique Festival has dealers from Solomons to the Beaches opening their doors. And the shops of Southern Anne Arundel County, from Friendship to Galesville, make shopping an adventure (see page 33 in Seasons Bounty).
Do Good Works
Sharing is the best medicine for inducing the holiday spirit. Find your ways to share in Kathy Knotts’ feature story ’Tis the Season to Give.
Sandra Olivetti Martin
Editor and publisher; [email protected]