The Return of Holiday Happenings

By Meg Walburn Viviano

Welcome to CBM Bay Weekly’s Holiday Happenings Guide, where we’re thrilled to announce that this year, the holidays are happening again!

Last year’s pandemic Christmas meant that festive events in Chesapeake Country were canceled or very limited (boo!) but it also inspired people to lean into decorating their houses with over-the-top lights, inflatables and all manner of other adornments (yay!).

A few holiday traditions were able to go on as planned last year—after all, drive-thru lights displays like Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park are tailor-made for social distancing. And we’re glad to see those traditions back in 2021. In fact, Bay Weekly continues its own tradition as a proud Lights on the Bay sponsor, all in the name of the good works carried out by the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. (My little guys are already asking when we can go to Lights on the Bay—it’s been a favorite of ours since we made the drive each season from Baltimore.)

And as you’ll see in our new and improved guide, there’s a much more robust calendar of events for getting in the holiday spirit this year, including live performances and photos with Santa. At some Santa meet and greets, children will sit in a chair alongside the big guy in red, rather than on his lap. This is helpful to minimize germ spread and will also be a much better setup for those children who are terrified to be lifted into the lap of a strange, bearded man. I happen to live with two children who fall into this category.

While we’re on the subject of Santa, we at Bay Weekly thought it might be fun to hold a little contest this holiday season. Who’s the best Santa in Chesapeake Country? You know, the one with the gentle smile and the authentic snowy-white beard. Or the one with just the right manner when speaking to kids. Or the one with the biggest heart, who collects toys for the needy at Christmas. Tell us about a Santa in your community, and they could be featured in our Christmas edition! See contest details on our Facebook page (@bayweekly).

In the spirit of the holidays, we’ve also launched a new space in the paper for you to get to know the unique small businesses in our communities. Our brand-new section, Bay Business Briefs, is a place for companies to share their story. Our first business featured is Stardust Deluxe, a dream come to life for a Hollywood costumer who found herself living in Severna Park. She has taken her keen eye from the silver screen to retail in Annapolis Towne Center, where she sells one-of-a-kind apparel and other stylish pieces. Learn more about her in Bay Business Briefs in our print version only.

It’s time to put on the holiday tunes, open up the paper and see what’s happening this holiday season in Chesapeake Country. We’ve never been more pleased to tell you all about it.