Arlington, Baltimore and DC-area Simon centers spread holiday cheer with seasonal celebrations throughout November and Decemb

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is almost here, and Arlington, Baltimore and D.C.-area Simon shopping centers have a host of holiday happenings perfect for the whole family! All November and December long, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Hagerstown Premium Outlets, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Queenstown Premium Outlets and St. Charles Towne Center help shoppers get into the holiday spirit with festive activities and special entertainment.

‘Tis the season for photos with Santa, caroling by local musical groups, giving back to the community and so much more, and these centers are offering a ways to celebrate, shop and save with loved ones.

Fashion Centre at Pentagon City: 1100 S Hayes St. / 703-415-2401 / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

· Photos with Santa: through December 24 – Come by the Santa Photo Experience on the Ground Level near Nordstrom, to capture the spirit of the holidays in a photo with Santa – perfect for holiday cards to send to friends and family! Checkwww.simon.com/fashioncentreatpentagoncity for Santa’s day-to-day schedules and photo package pricing.

o Pet Photo Night: December 6 – Pets love Santa too! Families are invited to bring in their furry friends (cats and dogs only) to have their holiday photos taken with Santa from 7 – 9 p.m. on Ground Level of Nordstrom Court. All pets must be leashed or in a carrier, and pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. For more information, please visit bit.ly/1ECVzyp.

· The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program: through December 15 –Fashion Centre at Pentagon City partners with The Salvation Army for their annual Angel Tree program, which provides new clothing and toys for children of families in need. It’s simple – shoppers can select an Angel Card from the Angel Tree, located at the Santa Set on the Ground Level near Nordstrom, and return their unwrapped gift with the Angel Card to the Mall Office, located on Metro Level. The Mall Office will receive gifts Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, please visitwww.simon.com/fashioncentreatpentagoncity.

· Holiday Photo Booth: November 29, December 5, 12 & 19 – Families and friends are invited to celebrate the season with Fashion Centre at Pentagon City’s holiday photo booth. Open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on the Ground Level between The Art of Shaving and Belmont Jewelers, guests can have a jolly-good time taking pictures with loved ones and sharing festive memories.

· Holiday Gift Wrap: December 18 - 24 – This season, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is offering shoppers a convenient way to wrap purchases before heading home! Guests are invited to stop by the gift-wrapping service station on the Ground Level near Nordstrom to have their presents festively wrapped for the holidays!

Hagerstown Premium Outlets: 495 Premium Outlets Boulevard / 301-790-0300 / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

· Washington County Agriculture Holiday Craft Fair – November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13 &19-20 – Located in the former LL Bean store front in Suite 875, local crafters, farmers and producers will have a market open to shoppers, just in time for the holidays! Guests can expect to find an array of hand-crafted and locally produced items including meats, cheeses, wines, candles, soaps and more. Take home something special this holiday season and visit the market at Hagerstown Premium Outlets!

· The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program: December 1 - 16 – Hagerstown Premium Outlets partners with the Salvation Army for their annual Angel Tree program, which provides new clothing and toys for children of families in need. This holiday season, shoppers can stop by the Angel Tree, located in the Food Court, to select an Angel Card and donate a gift to a child in need. For more information, please visit www.salvationarmytreeusa.org.

· Shots for Tots: December 5 – Hagerstown Premium Outlets is teaming up with Toys for Tots and Nike this holiday season to spread Christmas cheer to those in need! Families and friends are invited to come out to the Playground Area on Saturday, December 5 from 12 – 4 p.m. to shoot some hoops and enjoy an afternoon of festive cheer! An afternoon complete with activities, games and more, guests are encouraged to show off their basketball skills for a chance to win prizes!

· Holiday Gift Wrapping for Charity: December 12, 19, & 20 – With a donation, shoppers have the option to have their presents gift wrapped with decorative paper, ribbons and bows. All proceeds will go to a local charity.

• Ice Princess Photos: December 12 & 19 – Make it an enchanted holiday! Guests are invited to spend time with their favorite fairytale characters on Saturday, December 12 and December 19 from 1 – 6 p.m. in the Food Court. Photos, provided by Flash with a Flair, will be available for purchase. Children are encouraged to dress up!
• Holiday Entertainment: November 26 – 27 & December 5, 12, 13, 17, 19- Revel in the magic of the holiday season with live entertainment and festive fun at Hagerstown Premium Outlets! Special guests and performers include DJ Miles Morales, Paradise Events Strolling Character, United Community Connect and Martinsburg Middle School. For a complete schedule, visit www.premiumoutlets.com/hagerstown

Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets: 241 Fort Evans Road NE / 703-737-3071 / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

· Strolling Christmas Characters: December 5, 12 & 19 – Two of Christmas’ classic icons, Rudolph and Santa, will stroll the mall on Saturday, December 5, 12 and 19 from 1 – 3 p.m. Guests are invited to take photos and spend time with the holiday’s favorite duo as they make their way through the center. Capture the magic of the season with a photo keepsake that is perfect to share with family and friends!

· Holiday Gift Wrapping for Charity: December 12-13 & December 19- 23 – Benefitting the Simon Youth Foundation and local groups such as the Boy Scout Crew 91 and Leesburg Kiwanis Club, shoppers will be able to have their holiday purchases gift wrapped with a donation.

· Last Minute VIP Shopping Event: December 17 - 20 – Leesburg Premium Outlets is offering shoppers a special holiday treat this season! Beginning Thursday, December 17 – Sunday, December 20, shoppers can take advantage of the Last Minute VIP Shopping Event and receive deals and discounts on holiday purchases. The deadline to apply for this event is December 3. For more information, visit www.premiumoutlets.com/vip.

Queenstown Premium Outlets: 441 Outlet Center Drive / 410-827-8699 / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

· Adopt-A-Bear: through December 1– ‘Tis the season of giving! This holiday season, guests can spread Christmas joy by selecting a bear tag from the Christmas tree, located at Guest Services. Each tag holds the wish list of a child in need and purchased gifts can be dropped by Guest Services for delivery. Give something extra this year and make a spirit bright with Queenstown Premium Outlets!

· Strolling Santa: November 28 & December 5, 19 – Stroll the sidewalks with the man in red this holiday season! Families and friends are invited to visit with Santa from 12 – 4 p.m. on November 28, December 5 and December 19 to take photos and spread jolly cheer! Visit www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/queenstown.

· Harmony on the Bay Carolers – November 28 – Performing the sounds of the season this holiday, the Harmony on the Bay Carolers will at Queenstown Premium Outlets from 1 – 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 28. Spread holiday cheer this year with friends and family while singing along to classic holiday carols!

St. Charles Towne Center: 11110 Mall Circle / 301-870-6997 / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

· Photos with Santa: November 6-December 24 – Come by the Lower Level in front of Sears to capture the spirit of the holidays in a photo with Santa – perfect for keepsakes to share with friends and family! Please use the mall Center entrance near Ruby Tuesday. For more information about the Santa Photo Expereince or to pre-register for photos, please visit simon.noerrsanta.com. For Santa’s day-to-day schedules, please check on.fb.me/1zNalTj.

o Pet Photo Night: December 13 – Pets love Santa too! Families are invited to bring in their furry friends (cats and dogs only) to have their holiday photos taken with Santa from 6 – 8p.m. on Ground Level of Sear’s Court. All pets must be leashed or in a carrier, and pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. To reserve a FREE Pet Photo Night session, please register at bit.ly/21enwsI. For more information, please visit bit.ly/1NbBBB4.

o Caring Santa: December 6 – Caring Santa is a private event designed for children and young adults with special needs and their families to have an opportunity to visit Santa and have their photos taken. St. Charles Towne Center has made necessary adjustments to the environment to support the sensory, physical and other developmental needs of children of all abilities for this special event. The event will be held during private mall hours on the Lower Level in front of Sears from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. In order to provide a calmer sensory-friendly environment, families are asked to enter the Center using the Ruby Tuesday entrance. To reserve a FREE Caring Santa session, please register at bit.ly/1zksghc.

• Christmas Tree is back: Back by popular demand, the beloved 15-ft tree has returned to St. Charles Towne Center for the holiday shopping season! Located in the Center Court, the holiday tree offers festive photo opportunities and serves as a cheerful focal point for special celebrations and holiday memories! Shoppers are encouraged to upload photos in front of the tree to their social media pages with #SpreadLove and #FoundatSimon.

• Gift Wrap Station: November 27 – December 24 - Various community charities will provide shoppers with holiday gift wrap services at the Macy’s Home Store wing on the Lower Level of the mall in front of H&M Kids.

· Spread Love Photo Booth: November 28 & December 5, 12 &19 – Families and friends are invited to celebrate the season with St. Charles at Towne Center’s Spread Love Photo Booth. Located in the by Guest Services and Starbucks, guests can have a festive time capturing special holiday moments with loved ones and sharing cheerful memories.

· Simon Kidgits Club Ho-Ho-Ho-Holiday Event: December 19 – Families are invited to join St. Charles Towne Center in celebrating the season at its Kidgits Ho-Ho-Ho-Holiday Event from 1 – 3 p.m. in the Kidgits Play Area on the Lower Level in front of JCPenney! Children can enjoy holiday crafts, family-friendly activities, cookie decorating, face-painting, festive giveaways and more to make the season extra merry! There may even be a surprise appearance from a very special visitor (hint: he wears a red suit!). This event is FREE for Simon Kidgits Club Members; $5 for nonmembers includes an entire year of fun activities. For more information, please visit on.fb.me/1zNduCL.

• Sounds of the season: December 5, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 – Shoppers can enjoy special musical performances by Singer Alex Young, Israel Total Life Ministries Band, Ramalingam Productions Performing Arts Studio and New Hope Church of God Choir in the Macy’s Home Store court, by Old Navy. For a full schedule of performances, visit simon.com/mall/st-charles-towne-center.

To learn more about holiday happenings at Simon shopping centers, visit www.simon.com.