Get into the Christmas spirit with a trip through the magical and unique train garden designed especially for Bel Air! The garden features a lighted Christmas train, ice skaters, and plenty of town and countryside scenes that are sure to delight people of every age! Admission is free. The train garden will be open starting the Friday after Thanksgiving during the following hours:
November 29 @ 5-9pm
November 30 @ 2-9pm
December 6 @ 5-9pm
December 7 @ 2-9pm
December 8 @ 4-9pm
December 13 @ 5-9pm
December 14 @ 2-9pm
Special thanks to volunteer and town resident, Joe Bragg, and his team of volunteers for bringing this amazing display to life for our community.
Visit our Winter Wonderland Market featuring dozens of artisans who will have unique gift items for everyone on your list! 2-9pm at the Bel Air Armory, 37 N. Main Street, Bel Air, MD. FREE admission.
The Bel Air Christkindl Markt
at Independent Brewing Co.
418 N. Main Street
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
December 7th, 2024
3-8pm
Join us for the inaugural Christkindl Holiday Village at Independent Brewing Co. Come for a huge variety of ales and ciders, settle into a warm and inviting atmosphere while enjoying over 65 local artists and small businesses offering a plethora of must-have gifts, plus food and drink, carolers, and much more, including a few surprises!
Let us know if you’re coming and/or interested!!! It helps the vendors prepare for you. We can’t wait to see you!
Please follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: @belairchristkindlmarkt
Facebook: Bel Air Christkindl Markt
The singers present a festive holiday concert featuring Telemann’s Magnificat in C Major, Montiverdi’s Beatus Vir, several beautiful carols, and a composition by Richard Maltz, a member of the HCS bass section.
Find the perfect gift at their silent auction, held before and after the program.
Experience the town of Bel Air’s Winter Wonderland activities and celebrate the holiday season with the library! We will have crafts, refreshments, and music, as well as special items to check out through our Traveling Library van. Supported by the Bel Air Friends of HCPL.
Saturday, December 7 at the Bel Air Branch of the Harford County Public Library
4-9 pm
Holiday After-Hours Open House – Harford County Public Library
This holiday season, visit downtown Bel Air and enjoy its festive Winter Wonderland! Take in beautiful light displays on Main Street, visit with Santa, plus enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, funnel cakes, hot chocolate and live music.
Downtown will be shining bright with special light displays at the Frederick Ward Armory Park, the Harford County Sheriff’s building and at the Harford County Courthouse. Lights will be on every evening from 5-11pm starting November 30, 2024 and through January 6, 2025. Extended store hours and special events will occur each Saturday November 30 – December 14 from 5-9 pm.
Horse drawn carriage rides will be available each Saturday, November 30 – December 14 from the Bel Air Armory. In person reservations are required, space is limited and rides are available on a first come-first served basis. Enjoy shopping in our downtown stores or grab dinner with your family while you wait!
See the list of other special attractions with their dates and times under the Winter Wonderland tab on this website!
Main St. & Fulford Ave., Bel Air MD 21014
Join us for a unique Christmas adventure. Learn about Christmas in days gone by while wandering through Bel Air’s Winter Wonderland with docent Julie Brasch at the Society’s second annual Candlelight Christmas Tour.
Tours begin on Friday, November 29, and run every Friday and Saturday until December 30. The Christmas Candlelight Tour will meander along Main Street with our tour guide sharing the stories of the many holiday traditions that have developed over time and some unique stories about local traditions
Participants will meet for the one-and-a-half-hour tour at Main Street and Fulford Avenue in Bel Air at 6 pm. Free parking is available at the Hays House Museum parking lot at 324 Kenmore Avenue.
Come a bit early, and visit the Hays House Museum, where we will welcome guests between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. Enjoy the chance to view the beautiful holiday decorations provided by the Evergreen Garden Club and the Society’s African American Experience exhibit. While there, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or cider.
Tour groups are limited to 20 people, and pre-registration is required. Tickets will not be available on-site. Tours are weather- dependent. Tour directors will make any decision to cancel a tour due to weather conditions two hours prior to the event.
Register now: $20 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under.
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E358615&id=25
48th Season in 2024-2025: Awaken to the SSO’s 48th Season!
The SSO’s Holiday Concert includes many favorite SSO audience pieces plus the shenanigans our audiences have come to love. There will be audience participation, of course, plus Steel Pandemic, a local steel drum band, will join the Orchestra and play some fun Christmas music!
Leroy Anderson – A Christmas Festival
Daniel Dorff – Pachelbel’s Christmas
arr. Brian Folus – A Taste of Chanukah
Sheldon Bair – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Katie Stout, soprano
arr. Sheldon Bair – Christmas Sing Along
arr. Mark Hellem – Still, Still, Still
arr. Sheldon Bair – The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
featuring steel drum ensemble Steel Pandemic
arr. Doris Reinhardt and Sheldon Bair – A Steel Pan Christmas
featuring steel drum ensemble Steel Pandemic
arr. Jesse Ayers – Caribbean Joy (Joy to the World for steel pans and orchestra)
April and Welles Still – The Wooden Soldier World Premiere
arr. Sheldon Bair – The Twelve Days of Christmas
The lobby opens at 6 pm for patrons to enjoy concessions from Coffee Coffee and local artist and author vendors.
A pre-concert discussion will be held at 7 pm.
While we welcome children at our concerts, we kindly ask that children who cannot remain silent be escorted to the lobby as a courtesy to the other patrons and performers.
We appreciate your support of the orchestra, but please stay home if you are ill for the protection of the community.
Ticket Information:
- PRICING: Lowest ticket prices online before the day of the concert!
Online sales (with small service fee) end the evening before the concert.
Concert-night sales will be $5 more at the door, up to capacity limit. - SEATING: is general admission. Accessible seats are reserved in the auditorium and are available on a first-come first-served basis.
- PRINT AT HOME TICKETS: may be shown digitally on a phone or printed. We will not collect the ticket from you.
- CHILDREN 10 YEARS & UNDER: Tickets are free, but their tickets should be reserved for capacity/attendance limits.
This performance is supported by the Harford County Government, as well as with grants from the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and MSAC through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board.
48th Season in 2024-2025: Awaken to the SSO’s 48th Season!
The SSO’s Holiday Concert includes many favorite SSO audience pieces plus the shenanigans our audiences have come to love. There will be audience participation, of course, plus Steel Pandemic, a local steel drum band, will join the Orchestra and play some fun Christmas music!
Leroy Anderson – A Christmas Festival
Daniel Dorff – Pachelbel’s Christmas
arr. Brian Folus – A Taste of Chanukah
Sheldon Bair – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Katie Stout, soprano
arr. Sheldon Bair – Christmas Sing Along
arr. Mark Hellem – Still, Still, Still
arr. Sheldon Bair – The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
featuring steel drum ensemble Steel Pandemic
arr. Doris Reinhardt and Sheldon Bair – A Steel Pan Christmas
featuring steel drum ensemble Steel Pandemic
arr. Jesse Ayers – Caribbean Joy (Joy to the World for steel pans and orchestra)
April and Welles Still – The Wooden Soldier World Premiere
arr. Sheldon Bair – The Twelve Days of Christmas
The lobby opens at 6 pm for patrons to enjoy concessions from Coffee Coffee and local artist and author vendors.
A pre-concert discussion will be held at 7 pm.
While we welcome children at our concerts, we kindly ask that children who cannot remain silent be escorted to the lobby as a courtesy to the other patrons and performers.
We appreciate your support of the orchestra, but please stay home if you are ill for the protection of the community.
Ticket Information:
- PRICING: Lowest ticket prices online before the day of the concert!
Online sales (with small service fee) end the evening before the concert.
Concert-night sales will be $5 more at the door, up to capacity limit. - SEATING: is general admission. Accessible seats are reserved in the auditorium and are available on a first-come first-served basis.
- PRINT AT HOME TICKETS: may be shown digitally on a phone or printed. We will not collect the ticket from you.
- CHILDREN 10 YEARS & UNDER: Tickets are free, but their tickets should be reserved for capacity/attendance limits.
This performance is supported by the Harford County Government, as well as with grants from the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and MSAC through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board.
https://www.purplepass.com/events/303457-a-holiday-of-drummers-drumming!-7%3A30-pm-dec-7th-2024
Not Allowed
No food/drink allowed in the auditorium. No photography or cell phone use during the concert. No smoking on premises.
Get Your Christmas Tree From The Bel Air Lions
Each November through mid-December, the Lions sell Christmas trees at Heavenly Waters Park across Rt. 24 from the Harford Mall. This is the Club’s primary fundraiser for all Lions programs.
Over the past 25 years, the Lions have raised well over $850,000 that has gone back to the Bel Air and Central Maryland communities across all services that Lions provide.
A Big Thank You!
A big thank you to the high school students, the Bel Air Explorers, the scouts and other volunteers for coming out to help unload the trucks!
Lot Hours
- Sat 10/16 noon – 8 pm
- Sun 10/17 2 pm – 8 pm
- Mon – Thur 4 pm – 8 pm starting Mon 10/18 (Closed Thursday 10/28)
- Fridays 2 pm – 8 pm except for 10/29 which will be 12 pm – 8 pm
- Sat – Sun 9 am – 9 pm starting 10/23
Size & Pricing
- RED Tags: 4-5′ tree $45 (quantity 25)
- YELLOW Tags: 6-7′ tree $70 (quantity 100)
- WHITE Tags: 7-8′ tree $90 (quantity 855)
- BLUE Tags: 8-9′ tree $110 (quantity 20)
Other Items Available on the Lot:
- Tree stand: $10 (quantity 48)
- Watering Elves: $5 (quantity 48)
- Tree Bags: $3 (quantity 85)
- Wreath: price varies
- Wooden Christmas Tree: $20 (quantity 24)
- No fruit this year.
Credit Cards preferred but cash or check will always be accepted.
Lot Location
Intersection of Rt. 24 and Boulton Street in Bel Air, diagonally across the intersection from Best Buy.
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The 34th annual Bel Air Christmas Parade begins at 3:30 pm on Sunday, December 8, 2024 – down Main Street at Churchville Road to Lee Street and ending at Hickory Avenue. Community bonfire and singalong in Shamrock Park with food trucks, cookies and hot chocolate at 4:15 pm and the Tree Lighting at approximately 4:45. Scheduled to appear: Stilt walkers and acrobats, local high school marching bands, costumed characters and mascots, beauty queens, dancers, floats, musical groups and even some special equestrian guests, ending with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus! Event is weather permitting. In the case of bad weather, the event will be cancelled and not rescheduled.
Following the Christmas Parade, visit the Train Garden at Mt. Ararat Lodge at 136 E. Gordon Street.
ON THE NIGHT OF THE PARADE, AFTER THE CEREMONIES IN THE PARK, MT. ARARAT LODGE WILL BE LIGHTING UP THE LODGE WITH OVER 3,000 LIGHTS AND SANTA WILL BE MAKING AN EXCITING APPEARANCE.
THE CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SIT ON SANTAS LAP AND FAMILY’S CAN TAKE THEIR OWN PHOTOS WITH HIM. EACH CHILD WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE WITH A GIFT!!!!
THE TRAIN EXPERIENCE WILL ALSO PROVIDE HOT CHOCOLATE, COOKIES AND HOT DOGS.
Participation in the Parade
If you are interested in applying to participate in the Christmas Parade, please review the 2024 Christmas Parade Application Form and Rules. Your application will be evaluated for content and presentation, including your description of your unit and its performance. Your application must be accepted in order for your unit to participate.
