While the kids are jumping into leaf piles and you’re making sure everyone has their Halloween costumes ready, winter break can sneak up on you. Before you know it, you’re snowed in with the kids, wishing you had gotten in just one more hayride and stressing about where to take the kids to see Santa. But never fear, we have everything you need for your holiday checklist right here.
- Visit a u-pick farm like Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont or Glade Link Farms in Keymar in October to gather fresh blackberries or pumpkins to make pies for Thanksgiving Day.
- This November, get your Thanksgiving turkeys locally from a Maryland farm. Hillside Turkey Farms in Thurmont and Sho Nuf Turkeys in Fulton both allow you to order your turkeys for pickup in advance.
- A tradition on Thanksgiving Day is the turkey trot — a community 5K. Get up early for the Sheppard Pratt Turkey Trot in Baker Park or Hagerstown Community College Turkey Trot.
- Check for local stores that have Black Friday deals the day after Thanksgiving like NUVO Salon & Spa at Westview Promenade and Hagerstown Premium Outlets.
- November is the perfect time to pick out your Christmas tree at farms including Gaver Farm in Mt. Airy and Dreamland Christmas Tree Farm in Middletown.
- In December, sing along to your own family favorites or catch a local performance of Christmas music like Carols by Candlelight 9 in Downtown Frederick.
- March into winter and welcome Santa with the Kris Kringle Procession on 11 in Downtown Frederick & Baker Park.
- Take your picture with Santa at the Francis Scott Key Mall any day from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24
- Give back by participating in the Toys for Tots toy drive in Frederick
- Get into the Christmas spirit and visit a lights show like Sailing through the Winter Solstice at Carroll Creek Linear Park.
- Get into the holiday spirt with shows such as “The Crater Sisters’ Christmas Special” at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.
- Go ice skating at SKATE Frederick or the Ice Skating Pond in Pinecliff Park.
- Climb aboard a Holiday train like the Christmas Lights Train or the Santa Train at Walkersville Southern Railroad & Museum Fridays through Sundays Starting Nov. 27 and continuing until Christmas day.
- New Year, New Me, New Hike: Head to one of the Maryland state parks like Cunnigham Falls State Park or Sideling Hill Creek State Park 1 to explore the different trails and receive an ”I Hiked” sticker.
