Downtown Annapolis Transformed Into Christmas Town

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The holiday season is here, and it's an important one for local businesses. Annapolis is ready. Decorations are up, and stores are excited for safe and festive shopping.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This week's guest contribution comes from the Downtown Annapolis Partnership. Here's what Executive Director Erik Evans wrote about the holidays in the city:

"Downtown Annapolis has been transformed into a holiday Christmas town. The traditional garland, lights, wreaths, and bows line storefronts, restaurants, and street lights. The light canopies on both Maryland Avenue and West Street is aglow along with many of the trees around City Dock and Church Circle. Dozens of storefront windows are gorgeous. And the ever-popular Snowflake Alley is back which always has someone in it taking selfies. New this year are family-sized domes for outdoor dining at Reynolds Tavern and holiday-themed tents at Federal House, McGarvey’s, Tsunami and others for when you get hungry. Plus additional lighted trees along the street throughout downtown Annapolis.

Annapolis has three Christmas trees for you to visit, one tree is next to the Annapolis Market House, the 20-foot Christmas tree surrounded by lighted reindeer celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Naval Academy with its custom decorations, rope garland, and covers (hats) from the Midshipman, the Alumni House has a huge tree decorated in large blue and gold lights, and there is a traditionally decorated tree at Park Place. Even some downtown residents have gotten into the spirit, especially in the Presidents Hill Community located off West Street. This Sunday the final piece of the holiday decorations will be put in place when the Chabad of Anne Arundel County lights the Menorah around 5:45 pm at the City Dock.

During a year that has been tough on many you can visit downtown Annapolis in the evenings and your spirits will be lifted as you feel the holiday cheer. Get outdoors safely, put on a mask, take an evening stroll to check out all the holiday decorations, snap some selfies, check out the beautiful storefront windows, and grab a hot chocolate. The restaurants with just 25% capacity have plenty of social distancing when you get hungry and the 90 small boutiques and stores have great gifts. There is no crowding inside stores this year, including during the Thursday evening Midnight Madness shopping nights. Some stores have even added additional evening hours for shopping other nights, curbside pickup, and shopping by appointment this month. There are also free parking options every day during the holidays.

Of course, all these decorations would not happen without the help and support of the community. The Downtown Annapolis Partnership, the Annapolis Arts District and others start planning and fundraising early in the year to transform downtown Annapolis for the holidays. This year major support came from the City of Annapolis, Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, BGE, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Diehl’s Produce, Eye on Annapolis, What’s Up? Magazine, Sean O’Neill, RBC Wealth Management and Visit Annapolis to help with the decorations and holiday marketing support. This year’s decorating crews came mostly from Garden Girls Landscaping, Sean Williams Landscaping and the Annapolis Jaycees.

It takes a lot of elves to turn downtown Annapolis into a holiday winter wonderland and this year they did a particularly great job.

To learn more about the Downtown Annapolis Partnership, Midnight Madness, or to shop locally online including gift cards visit www.DowntownAnnapolisPartnership.org

Erik Evans
Executive Director
Downtown Annapolis Partnership"

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