Christmas, Hanukkah Events Across Howard County: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — There is no shortage of things to do in Columbia to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree and menorah lightings across Howard County include:

• Dec. 3 Tree, Bridge Lightings Usher In The Holidays In Howard County
• Symphony Of Lights Turns Merriweather Post Pavilion Into Wonderland
• Tree Lighting Ushers In Ice Rink Opening For The Holidays In HoCo
• Hanukkah Celebrations Across Howard County Start Dec. 18
• Tree Lighting, 44th Annual Midnight Madness Kicks Off Friday In OEC

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally. Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Here are other holiday events designed to help usher in the season:

• Breakfast With Santa Dec. 3, Dec. 10 In Howard County
• Holiday Maker-Mart, Open House Offers Handmade Works From Artists