December 2009 Harford's December calendar is over flowing with holiday spirit! Parades are marching, choirs are singing, and decorated homes have opened their doors for you! Our malls and Main Streets have made local shopping easy and fun with late hours and Santa sittings. Taking home a locally grown tree is as memorable as ever from one of our 7 tree farms. Watch Wini's holiday video message from Christopher's Train Garden at Broom's Bloom Dairy. Happy Holidays! December 1st to December 31st Christopher's Train Garden at Broom's Bloom Dairy Tues.-Thurs. 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, Fri. & Sat.-11:00 am - 9:00 pm, Sun.-Noon - 8:00pm. Location: Broom's Bloom Dairy, 1700 S. Fountain Green Rd., Bel Air. Train garden displayed in memory of Christopher Cooper by his family and friends. One section is dedicated to Bel Air's Main Street. Activities for children, Santa Claus on weekends. Donations accepted. 410-399-COWS. farmer@bbdairy.com. www.bbdairy.com December 1st Holiday Tree Lighting & Visit from Santa Claus Get in the Christmas spirit! Visit the Edgewood Farmers Market Pole Barn from 6-8 pm for a visit from Santa Claus, light snacks and beverages, entertainment and caroling. Free; 410.679.2997     December 3rd-5th The Nutcracker Ring in the season with a holiday classic and take a magical journey with Clara to the Lane of the Sweets at The Amoss Center at Harford Community College. Magnificent scenery, gorgeous costumes, and exquisite dancing. Thurs. 7 pm, Fri. & Sat. 8 pm Youth matinees on Sat. at 3 pm and Sun. at 1 & 4 pm. $8-$15; 443.412.2211; www.harford.edu/Cultural     December 4th Havre de Grace First Friday: A Downtown Christmas Enjoy an outdoor festival, live music in the streets, stores and galleries open late, specials and discounts in restaurants and stores, and free activities for the kids in Havre de Grace (5-9 pm). Santa will be arriving on a fire truck! 410-939-1811 www.mainstreethdg.com     December 5th-6th Christmas Open House at Steppingstone Museum Come out and enjoy the historic farmhouse decorated for the holidays; cookies & cider served in the kitchen; music in the parlor; country store open for holiday shopping. Noon-4 pm; free; 410.939.2299; www.steppingstonemuseum.org     December 5th Aberdeen Christmas Street Parade Enjoy this holiday parade held on West Bel Air Avenue in Aberdeen! 3 pm; free; 410.272.1600; www.aberdeen-md.org     December 5th Celebration of Christmas Past - Fiore Wine Dinner Join us for our annual Christmas Dinner from 6-9:30 pm. Music will be provided by local favorite music teachers, Chalk Dust. Enjoy a full course dinner with inclusive wine pairings. Food, wine and service included in price. $65; 410.879.4007; www.fiorewinery.com     December 5th A Merry Cello Christmas! Enjoy this spirited performance at Bel Air High School at 7:30 pm. Vivaldi-Conceto for Two Cellos & Orchestra in G Minor. Premiere: Spirituals for Christmas. Premiere-A Christmas Sing-a-Long arranged by Sheldon Bair. www.ssorchestra.org     December 5th, 11th-13th A Hometown Christmas An original holiday production in a variety show format hosted by The Crooner and the Comic. Held at the Bel Air Armory. Dec. 5th: 2-8 pm, Dec. 11th-13th: 8 pm; Adults: $20, Children: $17; 1.888.810.8550; www.belairarmorytheatre.com     December 5th Handel's Messiah Enjoy this full chorus with orchestra and soloists at St. Matthews Lutheran Church. 7:45 pm; Adults: $20, Seniors: $15, Students: $10; 410.836.2773     December 6th Bel Air Christmas Celebration Ring in the season in Bel Air! Courtland Street concert held from 2:45-3:30 pm. Holiday procession down Main Street 3:30 pm. Bonfire lighting, holiday caroling, seasonal music and more. Refreshments and tree lighting in Shamrock Park 4-5 pm. Free; 410.893.4439; www.belairmd.org/calendar     December 6th AMC Holiday House Tour & Boutique Tour decorated homes across Harford County to benefit AMC Cancer Research and Johns Hopkins. Shop the Gift Boutique at Liriodendron Mansion in Bel Air for antiques, jewelry, holiday greens and other specialties of the season for sale. 11 am-5 pm; $20 pre-sale; 410.836.2061     December 6th Bel Air Community Chorus Holiday Concert Take in sacred and secular holiday songs at Bel Air United Methodist Church from 7-9 pm. All ages are welcome. Free; 410.877.7314; www.eteamz.com/belairrec/index.cfm?subsite=4568653     December 6th A Christmas Carol: A Unique One-Man Performance Sit back and enjoy the magic of this tale as Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and a host of others are brought to life. Held at the Havre de Grace Activity Center at 1 pm. Sponsored by HdG Arts Commission and HdG Recreation Committee; Free; 410.939.2100     December 10th Night of a Thousand Dreams Come out to Rockfield Manor from 5-9 pm for shopping, wine tasting by Bel Air Liquors, refreshments and a fundraiser for Casey Cares Foundation. $10; 443.568.0064; www.caseycaresfoundation.org     December 11th-13th Christmas Open House at Ladew The Manor House is festively decorated by volunteers and garden clubs in honor of the holiday season. Greens, arrangements and gifts will be for sale. Lunch will be available in the café. 11 am-4 pm; Members: free, Adults: $10, Senior/Student: $8, Kids: $2; 410.557.9570; www.ladewgardens.com     December 11th-20th Holiday Model Train Show & Villages: Liriodendron Mansion Members of the Harford Modular Railroad Group fill the downstairs rooms with a model train layout that will run in one continuous display through the main rooms. Upstairs rooms feature a train shop, hands-on train set up for kids and 3 rooms of villages. Free candy canes and hot apple cider. Adults: $5, Under 10 & Over 60: $2.50; 410.838.3942; www.liriondendron.com     December 12th-13th Christmas Boutique Enjoy the historical setting for traditional holiday shopping at the Susquehanna Lockhouse Museum. One-of-a-kind items, fresh greens and more. Sat.-9 am to 1 pm, Sun.-Noon to 8 pm; Free; 410.939.5780; www.lockhousemuseum.org     December 13th Christmas Tea Fundraiser for Chesapeake Conservancy Held at the Vandiver Inn in Havre de Grace. Call for more details. 410.939.4078; www.skipjackmarthalewis.org     December 13th 37th Annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Havre de Grace Tour historic homes and buildings in downtown Havre de Grace from noon-8 pm. This is the BEST holiday activity in Havre de Grace! Tickets sold at HdG Visitor Center, 450 Pennington Avenue. 410.939.5780; www.lockhousemuseum.org     December 13th Maritime Christmas Come out of the cold and celebrate Christmas in maritime style! There will be an elegant wine and chocolate tasting party at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum from 10 am-8 pm. Enjoy music, food and demonstrations while doing some holiday shopping in our museum store with 15% discount on all items! 410.939.4800; www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org     December 13th Bel Air Community Band Holiday Concert Come enjoy a variety of contemporary and traditional band and wind ensemble music appropriate to the holiday season. Held at Bel Air High School at 3 pm. Free; www.harford.edu/cultural     December 19th-20th Harford Ballet Presents The Nutcracker & Gala Tea Party See the Harford Ballet, the county's first and only professional ballet company team up with the Aegis Empty Stocking Fund in a cherished holiday favorite. Children in the audience will have a chance to go onstage to experience the magic up close! A Gala Tea Party will follow each performance for guests to meet the characters and enjoy refreshments and fresh brewed tea. Held at Aberdeen High School. Dec. 19th: 1 pm & 6 pm. Dec. 20th: 1 pm; $17-$23 for performance, $5 for tea party; 410.877.0777; www.harfordballetcompany.org     December 27th Havre de Grace Historic Church Tour Enjoy this self-guided tour of the 19th & 20th century churches of Havre de Grace. Beautiful stained glass windows, Christmas decorations & Nativity scenes. 2-4 pm; free; 410.939.2464     December 31st to January 1st New Year's Eve Duck Drop and Fireworks Susquehanna Hose Company presents the Annual New Year's Eve Duck Drop and Fireworks to ring in the New Year! Celebrate with family and friends! Havre de Grace Middle School/HdG Activity Center; Close to Midnight; free; 410-939-2100     County Executive David R. Craig Harford County Office of Tourism 220 South Main Street / Bel Air, Maryland 21014 Visitor Info: 1.888.544.Go95 (4695) Office: 410.638.3327 / Fax: 410.879.8043 info@harfordmd.com