INDOOR PLAYGROUND IDEAS
Date: OPEN DAILY
Time: ALL DAY
Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGH OUT SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Details: SEE INDOOR PLAY GUIDE LINK
Event Type: INDOOR PLAY
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: VARIES
Registration: Drop-In
MOPS MEET UP
***THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY TO IT’S FULLEST CAPACITY***
Date: 2nd Friday of Month
(October 12, 2018 canceled due to 2hour school delay)
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Waldorf First Baptist
Details: MOPS Moms of Preschoolers Monthly meeting
SANTAS WONDERLAND- BASS PRO SHOP
Date: November 17, 2018- December 24, 2018
Time: All Day
Location: Bass Pro Shop- Arundel Mills Mall
Details: Have your photo taken with Santa and get a FREE 4×6 print-off, participate in FREE activities such as crafts, toy testing, writing letters to Santa and more.
Event Type: Holiday Family
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: FREE
Little Jumpers
Date : Most M/W/F (Always check Pump It Up site first)
Time : 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Pump It Up Waldorf
Details : This special open jump is for our guests aged 1-6 years old only. If you’re worried about older kids running around the smaller ones, this is the perfect time for your little jumpers. Our designated toddler area is for 1yrs-3yrs only. 2 yrs-6yrs are allowed to jump on the inflatables. Daycares are more than welcome to participate in Little Jumpers. We ask that if you are going to bring more than 5 participants that you call ahead to let us know.
Cost: $5.00 per child
Information: https://www.pumpitupparty.com/waldorf-md/calendar/
***ALWAYS CHECK THE SCHEDULE OR CALL FIRST TO MAKE SURE LITTLE JUMPERS IS STILL ON THE CALENDAR. ***
DROP IN FREE PLAY
Date: TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Description: Come join Unique Gym for their drop in free play. Lots of fun for your little ones including, obstacle courses, foam pit, trampoline time. These are just some of the activities your child will enjoy. Parent participation is required during floor activities. No registration required to participate in the fun.
Location: Unique Sports Academy
Event Type: Parent/Child
Age Group(s): 2-5
Registration: Not Required
Cost: $5 for one hour/ $10 for two hours per child.
More Information: www.uniquesportsacademy.com
TOTSICLES
Date: FRIDAY’S ONGOING (Call first on holiday’s to double check the schedule)
Time: 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM ( FIRST SESSION IS SEPT 28TH)
Description: A half-hour of self-paced orientation to movement on ice, followed by a cup of hot cocoa and a story read aloud in our warm lobby. Stickers for all after storytime! Children may wear skates or shoes for snow and ice (no smooth-sole or open-toe shoes). Adults wear shoes for snow and ice.
Location: Capital Club House
Event Type: Parent/Child
Age Group(s): 2-5
Registration: Not Required
Cost: $10 (2018 Price Change)
More Information: https://www.charlescountyparks.com
CHRISTMAS DOLLS AND TRAINS EXHIBIT AT ST CLEMENTS
Date: December 1-January 1 (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) *Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas*
Place: St. Clements Island Museum, 38370 Point Breeze Road, Coltons Point, MD
Price: $3 Adults/ $1.50 Children 6 – 18, FREE Children 5 and under.
Information: Exhibits will feature special doll collections from the Black-eyed Susan and Southern Maryland Doll Clubs. Dolls will be arranged to depict Christmas scenes and vignettes of Chesapeake coastal living in the early 20th century.
BUSCH GARDENS CHRISTMAS TOWN
Date: November 17, 2018 -January 5, 2019 (WEEKENDS ONLY UNTIL DEC 9)
Place: Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA
Price: Cost of Admission to park/ FREE to Season Pass Holders
Information: Christmas shines brightest at Busch Gardens Christmas Town in Williamsburg, Virginia. The world’s most beautiful theme park is aglow with over 8 million Christmas lights, making it the largest Christmas light display in North America. Enjoy kid-friendly, thrill rides, merry entertainment and dining options. Stay warm with a mug of the park’s signature peppermint fudge hot chocolate, meet Santa Claus in the North Pole and capture an unforgettable memory with a Christmas photo. Most of all, enjoy this most wonderful time of year with friends and family. CHRISTMAS TOWN PLAYFUL PARENT GUIDE
LEISURE (CHILDREN’S) POOL HOURS
Weekend Hours: Saturday 12:00pm – 9:00pm, Sunday 8:00am – 8:00pm
Weekly hours: Monday – Friday 12:00pm – 9:00pm, Saturday 12:00pm – 9:00pm, Sunday 8:00am – 8:00pm
Location: Edward T Hall Aquatic Center, Prince Frederick, MD
Details: Enjoy this special children’s pool that features a zero depth entry up to 3 feet depth heated pool with slides, climbing features, and water drop buckets.
**Leisure pool will close from 4:00pm – 7:00pm for swim lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays**
Website: http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?nid=397
Playful Parent Guide:https://theplayfulparent.org/2017/01/22/edward-t-hall-aquatic-center-our-little-trip-to-paradise/
WINTERFEST- KINGS DOMINION
Date: November 2018- January 1, 2019 (Friday, Sat, Sun)
Place: 13710 Central Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD
Price: Park Admission
Information: This dazzling, winter spectacular will make your holiday shine with more than a million glittering lights, holiday entertainment, delicious seasonal treats, visits with Santa and theme park rides! PLAYFUL PARENT GUIDE
MCFAMILY FUN NIGHT
Date: Every Friday
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Waldorf, 11025 Mall Circle, Waldorf, MD 20603
Details: McDonalds hosts a great kids night every Friday Night. Most of the kids night are themed for the holidays or to go with the kids meal offered that month. (Check your mobile App for deals! Most Friday’s there are amazing diner specials.)
Event Type: Kids Night
Age Group: All Ages
Information: HAPPY MEAL MENU LINK
41TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT THE MORMON TEMPLE
Date: November 29, 2018 – January 1, 2019
Place: Washington, D.C., Temple, 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, Maryland
Price: Free
Information: The Festival of Lights is one of the D.C. area’s great community traditions. Beginning December 1st, the Festival features free performances nightly in the comfortable, state-of-the-art theater located in the Visitors’ Center. A different performing artist or group is showcased each night, including bell ensembles, choirs, orchestras, and more! Each performance is presented twice nightly.
ZOO LIGHTS
Date: November 23, 2018 to January 1 (except Dec. 24, 25 and 31) 5-9 PM
Place: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC
Price: Free admission
Information: Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights a part of their annual holiday tradition. A free event, ZooLights includes live music performances, tasty winter treats, and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland complete with a dazzling light show set to music!
WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT WATKINS REGIONAL PARK
Date: November 23, 2018-January 1, 2019 (5-9:30 pm)
Place: Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Price: Tickets range from $5 per car or van to $30 per bus, see website for details.
Information: Join in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Watkins Park’s Winter Festival of Lights by driving thru a spectacular holiday display of more than one million lights and one of the tallest tree displays in Maryland. Participants are encouraged to bring a canned or nonperishable good to be donated to a local food bank.
FLAT IRON FARM CHRISTMAS
Date: Thanksgiving – December 23, 2018 *Closed Christmas*
Place: 45850 Flat Iron Farm, Great Mills, MD
Price: FREE
Information: Enjoy a drive-through lights display that the whole family will enjoy. The lights display is free, additional cost for pictures with Santa and pony rides. OPENING For the 2018 Christmas Season On Thanksgiving Night at 5pm.! Santa 6 pm Fri.&Sat nights until
12-14 then Every night thru Dec.23RD
WHOVILLE (BASE ACCESS ONLY)
Date: CANCELED
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: NRC Solomons Club 9
Details: Get into the Holiday spirit with a walk through WhoVille. We are partnering with CYP to bring WhoVille to life over the course of two fun filled nights. The Grinch, Cindy Loo Who and Mayor of WhoVille will be there to take pictures with everyone!
DECEMBER 14 & 15
5-8 p.m. | NRC Solomons Club 9
*Open to all with base access.
For more details visit: www.navymwrsolomons.com/
Event Type: Holiday
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: FREE
Event Link
LIGHTS ON THE BAY
Date: November 17, 2018 – January 1, 2019 (5pm – 10pm) *Including holidays*
Place: Sandy Point State Park
Price: $15 Per Car
Information: Head to Sandy Point State Park from November 19th to January 1st. Not only will you see Christmas lights, but 3D glasses are available to make your experience even more amazing.
PUBLIC SKATE NIGHT
SANTA RUN -HUGHESVILLE VFD
Date: November 30, 2018 – December 16, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: See Flier
Details:
Santa wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Parents are reminded that it will be dark outside and difficult for Santa and his helpers to see everyone clearly. Please hold the children tight until the fire trucks stop moving. Santa also wants to tell everyone that he cannot get to every street because of the size of the fire trucks. Santa’s elves have tried to identify streets that Santa can turn around on. Santa and his elve’s will arrive with a parade of fire trucks and ambulances at the locations listed above between the hours of 6:00pm and 8:30pm on Friday and 5:30pm to 8:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
NOTE: Santa runs will be cancelled due to weather and emergencies without notice. Santa will attempt to re-schedule cancelled routes, but will be busy preparing for Christmas! Please continue to check this schedule for any changes!! If you live on a new street, it will most likely be covered in the day that covers streets around you.
Event Type: Santa Fire Truck Run
Age Group: All AGes
Cost: FREE
FIRE TRUCK SANTA RUN- MECHANICSVILLE
Date: December 1-21, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Streets around Mechanicsville
Details: See flier for printable schedule
The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad will be bringing Santa Claus into your Neighborhood through the dates of December 1 to December 21. Santa will be riding on the biggest and brightest Fire Engine we have. An Ambulance will occasionally lead, playing Christmas songs on their PA system.
Santa Runs will begin between 5:30 – 6:30 PM and may last up until 9:00 PM. We ask that if you live in a small court or cul-de-sac, please come to the road that intersects your street when you hear music and sirens. Our crews will cover as many streets within the subdivisions as possible.
Please check the following schedule to see if Santa Claus will be available in your subdivision. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover every street and road in our first due area.
If you have any questions, please contact Station 2 at (301) 884-4709 or click here to e-mail us. On behalf of the Officers and Members of the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, we thank you for your support and wish everyone a very Safe and Merry
Event Type: Santa Sighting
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: FREE
BULL RUN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Date: November 21, 2018 -January 6, 2019 *Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas*
Place: 7700 Bull Run Dr, Centreville, VA 20121
Price: $20-$25 Depending on what night you go.
Information: Every year from Thanksgiving until just after New Year’s Day, you can experience the Bull Run Festival of Lights, 2.5 miles illuminated by holiday light displays. Drive the festival route from the comfort of your car; turn out your headlights and just follow the magical glow. After viewing the lights, bring your family and friends to the holiday village to enjoy rides, refreshments, and of course, photos with Santa Claus (holiday village open select nights). The festival happens annually at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Virginia. Monday – Thursday 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday – Sunday and Holidays 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Holidays include November 23, December 24, 25, 31, and January 1).
FREE PERFORMANCES EVERYDAY- KENNEDY CENTER
Date: Monday – Friday
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Kennedy Center- Millenium Stage
Details: See link for schedule of performances. Different musicians, actors, singers and dances each night.
Event Type: Performance/Concert
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: FREE
Registration: No Ticket RequiredMILLENIUM STAGE EVENT LINK
WINTERS FEST
Date: December 14, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Details: Higdon families come see Santa at our Winter Festival We will be sending out forms in the Thursday to pre purchase food and/or crafts. We will be having a silent auction for classroom decorated trees, wreaths and baskets. Lots of fun and a good cheer with your Higdon families.
Event Type: Winter Festivities
Age Group:All Ages
Cost: Small Fee
Registration: Register in advanced
FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Date: Friday’s
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Locations: Henson, Hanson, Somers
Details: Come out and enjoy a wide variety of games! Dates and times subject to change. Contact the center for schedule.
Ages: 6 and up
Cost: $3 Drop -In Fee (REC PASS EVENT)
BROOKESIDE GARDENS GARDEN OF LIGHTS
Date: November 16, 2018 – January 1 *Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas*
Place: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, Maryland
Price: $25 per vehicle Sun.-Thurs.; $30 per vehicle Fri.-Sat.
Information: Walk thru this beautiful display of holiday lights that features more than a million colorful lights. Following your walk among the lights, warm up inside the Conservatory and enjoy a colorful display of holiday poinsettias, flowering plants and evergreens.
FUN WITH FROSTY- CANCELED 🙁
Date: December 14, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, La Plata, MD 20646
Details: This year we are hosting an evening event for the Holiday’s called FUN with Frosty. Please be sure to mark you calendars!!! More information to come!
Event Type: Winter Holiday/PTO Fundraiser
Age Group: Kids of All Ages
Cost: Price TBA
LA PLATA SANTA FIRE TRUCK RUNS
Date: Thanskgiving weekend through out December
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Streets throughout La Plata
Details: It’s the most wonderful time of the year when we can escort Santa through our first due response area. This is the full listing of where and when he will be visiting the La Plata area with our Volunteers. Please check our page frequently as inclement weather and emergency responses can impact the schedule. We look forward to seeing everyone as we celebrate the holiday season!
UPDATE: Areas scheduled for 11/24 will be visited on 12/16 due to inclement weather
Event Type: Holiday
Age Group: All Ages
Cost: FREE
AWARD WINNING ANNMARIE GARDENS IN LIGHTS
Date: November 30, 2018 – January 1, 2019 Nightly (6-9 PM ) *Closed 12/3, 12/4, 12/24, 12/25*Place: Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons
Price: $7 for ages 3 and over, FREE for kids 2 and under.
Information: Walk through the wooded path and enjoy lighted vignettes of famous people, places and works of art. Look for hidden treasures in the trees and green shamrocks in each vignette.
See Full Schedule for specials and entertaining events:
SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS
Date: November 22, 2018 -January 1, 2019 Wednesday thru Sunday (6 PM-10PM)
Place: Symphony Woods at Merriweather Park, Columbia, Maryland
Price: Wed.-Fri. and Sun. $20, Sat. $25 (cash only)
Information: The Symphony of Lights is a time-honored Howard County holiday tradition. This family-oriented spectacular is a dazzling display of more than 100 larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light creations, made up of more than 250,000 bulbs. Proceeds from the event benefit Howard County General Hospital. Lots of new elements this year to include: new course design, new displays, 100% LED lighting, laser show.
PTP PRESENTS A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Date: November 23- December 16, 2018
Time: Friday & Saturday Shows 7:00 PM/ Sunday 3:00 PM
Location: Port Tobacco Players Theater, La Plata MD
Details: Don’t miss this holiday classic.
Event Type:Entertainment
Age Group: All Ages (Best for school aged and older)
Cost: $
CHRISTMAS BELLS
Date/ Time:
Performances run November 30 – December 16
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8PM
Sundays at 3:30 PM
Lobby doors open 1 hour prior to the show.
Location: Newtowne Players
Details: It’s Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas, and the church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this Southern farce about squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator. Their hilarious holiday journey through a misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring joy to your world!
Tickets are now available on our website at www.newtowneplayers.org/tickets
Adults $15
Seniors/Students/Military $12
Children $10
Group rates are available, contact tickets@newtowneplayers.org
FAMILY SKATE NIGHT
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