Christmas Village Returns To Baltimore's Inner Harbor For 2016 Holiday Season

Baltimore, MD -- Christmas Village in Baltimore will again transform West Shore Park (501 Light Street) into a traditional, indoor and outdoor German Christmas Market, open between Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 and Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2016. The Inner Harbor is invited to enjoy Holiday sights and sounds with thousands of twinkling lights, two Christmas Trees, live music at the main indoor stage presented by Condor, entertainment, children’s activities and more than 50 vendors. Shop for high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot chocolate while enjoying the great variety of European food and drinks. New additions for the season will include photos with Santa Claus, arts and crafts classes, kidsFriday programming and other surprises to be announced.

The outdoor area is always free of admission. Admission for the heated festival tent is free opening weekend, and then charged on the remaining weekends, starting with a $1 special on December 3 and 4, 2016. For all other weekends, it is $5 for adults, $3 for children 3-18 and free for toddlers under 3. Spread holiday cheer by following @bmorechristmas on Twitter, Snapchat and  Instagram, liking Christmas Village in Baltimore on Facebook, and visiting www.baltimore-christmas.com. The new website also will feature Weekend discount coupons available for download.

Now in its fourth season, Christmas Village in Baltimore has grown into one of the region’s most unique and charming Holiday attractions. Authentic wooden huts, a huge heated tent, two Christmas trees and festive decorations will pop-up on West Shore Park, located in between the Maryland Science Center and the Baltimore Visitor Center. It’s the most wonderful time of year on the Baltimore Waterfront, as Christmas Village is located just steps away from popular holiday attractions like the PANDORA Ice Rink (Inner Harbor Amphitheater), and other popular Waterfront Holiday Happenings.

More than 50 international and local merchants are already busy preparing high-quality and lovingly crafted gifts. Famous German vendor Käthe Wohlfahrt will return with thousands of ornaments, genuine German Schwibbogen and pyramids, advent calendars and limited edition holiday decorations. With toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, home goods, artwork and more, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.

Follow the smell of gingerbread and Schnitzel to a full menu of European food, sweets and drinks, including mouthwatering German Bratwurst served on a roll (Brötchen). Look for a huge food variety this year, including different sorts of gingerbread. On top of the great shopping and dining experiences, visitors will enjoy the glorious Christmas Tree in West Shore Park, live entertainment at our Christmas Village Stage presented by Condor, themed days and weekends and other surprises to be announced.

Visitors can have a seat in the Hofbrau Beer Garden, located inside the heated tent, and enjoy the German delicacies offered by our vendors, such as Bratwurst, Pretzls, Lebkuchen (gingerbread), mulled wine or a good German Hofbrau beer from Munich. A further special themed area, our alpine "The Alm", will enrich the outdoor area. Designed after the cozy ski huts in the Bavarian Alps, this additional food court will serve Schnitzel, Baked Cheese on a stick, Potato Salad and Potato Latke.

New Holiday surprises for the 2016 season will include:

• For the fist time ever, Santa’s Place will welcome visitors for holiday pictures with Santa at Christmas Village. Santa will be in attendance every day the market is open from November 24 – December 24, 2016.
• Painting classes will be held on Thursday evenings at the Hofbrau Beer Garden Area inside the tent. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance.
• Kids Friday entertainment program will include an improved Kids Corner area as well as further entertainment for the little ones.
• The vendor list will include the crowds’ favorite vendors from past season as well as exciting new vendors, which will make the 2016 version of Christmas Village the one with the broadest gift variety ever.
• The 2016 version of the events collectors mug will feature a visual of the Christmas Village tent.
• Christmas Village opening ceremony will move to a Saturday this year, on Saturday, November 26, 2016.

Christmas Village will be officially opened within the opening ceremony with the original Christkind from Nuremberg/Germany on Saturday, November 26, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Highlights of the day include the Christkind prologue, the lighting ceremony of the events outdoor Christmas Tree, as well as a Meet and Greet Event with the Christkind. Families and friends are invited to come and sing-a-long to holiday selections by local choirs and other entertainers. The remaining weekends will bring back crowd pulling events such as the German American Weekend, a Charity Weekend and more. Check the schedule of events for more info.

Final vendor lists, food and drink menus, themed weekends, special event details and special promotions will be released in mid-November. For more information, follow @bmorechristmas on Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, liking Christmas Village in Baltimore on Facebook, and visiting www.baltimore-christmas.com.

Dates:
First Day: Nov 24th
Opening Event: Nov 26th
Last Day: Dec 24th
Closed: Nov 29th, Dec 6th and 13th (first 3 Tuesdays)

Hours:
Sunday through Thursday, 11:00am to 7:00pm
Friday through Saturday, 11:00am to 8:00pm
Thanksgiving Day, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Christmas Eve, 11:00am to 5:00pm

Location:
501 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 (West Side of the famous Inner Harbor in Baltimore)