Sandy Point Lights, Yuletide Festival Celebrate Holidays In Maryland

MARYLAND — The holiday season is in full swing. Marylanders can celebrate by visiting Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis. There is also a yuletide festival on the Eastern Shore and a horse open house in southern Maryland. Two birding events are additionally planned at local parks.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"Lights on the Bay

The Lights on the Bay display is a scenic drive along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park, with more than 60 spectacular animated and stationary displays illuminating the roadway. The proceeds from this wonderful holiday light show benefit the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. $20 per car, with $5 for 3-D glasses. Nov. 21 to Jan. 2; 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily. More information."

"Yuletide Festival and Holiday Marketplace

Get into the holiday spirit at Mount Harmon’s re-imagined open- air yuletide decorations and greens sale, open-air artisan marketplace and holiday gift shopping, hearth cooking demonstrations, and self-guided open-air yuletide walking tours of beautifully-decorated historic buildings and grounds, featuring the carriage house visitor center, serpentine-walled boxwood garden, colonial outbuildings, and manor house grand outside entrances. There will be a food court with beverages and food available to augment the holiday festivities. Admission: $10, children 12 and under are free. Dec. 4 and 5, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm; Mount Harmon Plantation, Earleville, MD. More information and tickets."

"Holiday Horse Open House

You are invited to the Greenwell Foundation’s holiday horse open house. Visit the horses decked in their holiday finest. And don’t forget your camera to take photos of family members with a “holiday” horse. You can make a day of it by visiting Anabelle, the Greenwell pig, and spend some time with the goats. Pony rides are available for $5, and you can purchase lunch to enjoy while you warm up around the fire pit. Dec. 4, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Greenwell Foundation, Hollywood, MD. More information."

"Jug Bay Bird Walk

Join an avid Jug Bay birder to learn skills for identifying birds by sight and sound. Novice and experienced birders are welcome on this 2-3 mile walk to explore the forests and wetlands in search of the 250+ species of birds that call Jug Bay home, or migrate through. Bring a spotting scope and binoculars if you have them. Ages 12 and older. Free with $6 per vehicle park entrance fee. Dec. 4, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD. More information and registration."

"Winter Birding

Explore Leight Park on a cool winter morning in search of our feathered friends. Discover what species are in the park and bring your own binoculars (or borrow ours) to get a closer look. Registration required. Ages 6 to adult, under 13 with adult. $5 per person. Dec. 4, 10:00 am to 11:00 am; Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Abingdon, MD. More information and registration."

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