AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
It seemed the moment Halloween was over, Christmas decorations popped up in local stores, shops and garden centers. The area’s first holiday craft fair occurred on November 5th and, on November 6th, Homestead Gardens’ Davidsonville and Severna Park locations debuted their gorgeous decorations and beautifully lit Christmas trees for a Holiday Preview Party.
Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler
Severna Park Assistance Network’s (SPAN’s) Holiday Caring programs are already in progress with Thanksgiving meal drop-offs at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church on Monday, November 16th and Christmas Gift Collection at the church for 400+ children on Sunday, December 13th from 12 to 3 pm. (Sign-ups to sponsor a family for Christmas with gifts or a cash donation are still available at Christmas 2026 Collection – SPAN, Inc.) Christmas gift drop-off days are amazing to witness. Pre-taped grids on the floor of the church hall fill with hundreds of gifts with the overflow ending up on a room full of tables.
There are so many holiday events this year between mid-to-late-November and mid-December and nowhere are they listed in one place. As you can see, we’re listing some of them here. On Friday, November 13th, Severna Park Community Center’s Annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop will give shoppers an opportunity to browse a variety of vendors for one-of-a-kind gifts in a festive atmosphere.
This Saturday, November 14th beginning at 9 am, St. Martin’s in-the-Field Episcopal Church will hold its annual Christmas Mart as the congregation celebrates its 70th year. Long admired as a craft fair, the Christmas Mart is also a festive community tradition where holiday shoppers can buy handmade gifts, baked goods, warm food, a White Elephant sale, home decor items and more.
This year, we discovered a rather unique event called Jingle Bell Bargains Yard Sale and Holiday Vendor Market being held on November 14th at The Barn at 800 Walnut Farm Drive in Davidsonville from 9 am till 2 pm. The location is a working agricultural operation and apiary. The market features numerous vendors, food trucks, music by the Hyland Brothers, an Anne Arundel County Police Toys for Tots collection and a visit by Santa.
On November 15, from 9 am till 1 pm, the November Market at The Station at 45 Earleigh Heights Road will be held with great food, live music and 19 local vendors.
November 16th will see a Holiday Pop-Up at Historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville featuring personal stylists, furnishings, home decor, antiques, gift items and more which runs through November 28th from 11 am till 6 pm.
Fun-filled Girl’s Night Out events at Homestead Gardens Davidsonville on November 18th and Homestead Gardens Severna Park on November 19th bring out friends for a night of shopping, holiday cheer, and relaxation while kicking off the holiday season in style.
Moving on toward the end of November, we come to one of the Severna Park community’s longest running and grandest holiday traditions, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Annual Holiday Bazaar, takes place this year on November 21st from 9 am till 1 pm.
Aware that a few Holiday Bazaar traditions popular when the event began eight decades ago remain a part of the gathering, we asked Bazaar Committee Co-Chair Pam Blumenthal to give us a preview.
She began by noting that the bazaar will once again delight holiday shoppers with a wide range of handmade knitted items, quilts from the renowned Woods Quilters, and a Christmas Shop with items appropriate for holiday giving ranging from kids’ toys to jewelry, gift baskets and evergreen wreaths and centerpieces.
This year, a Pet Lover’s Station, a handcrafted items section, and shelves of books for children and adults will add to the fun. As a special treat, Children’s Ministry Director Kat Green will be reading storybooks aloud to the little ones. A much-appreciated area of the bazaar will be dedicated to clothing for children ages 2 through 10. Once more, there will be a Secret Santa Shop in the library where kids can economically shop for gifts for their parents on their own.
In holding with tradition, homemade candy and baked goods will be for sale. Santa will be on hand to visit with the youngest attendees and pose for pictures. Lastly, a light luncheon of hot dogs, vegetarian chili and pumpkin pie will be served downstairs.
Also on November 21st at 7 pm, The Friends of the Rising Sun Inn are hosting a curated three-course Holiday Colonial Tavern Dinner with a specially prepared spiced wine. The festive occasion will be held at Historic Rising Sun Inn at 1090 Generals Highway in Crownsville. For information, visit Holiday Tavern Dinner | Facebook.
This year’s Community Tree Lighting Celebration at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce headquarters at 1 Holly Avenue will be held Friday, December 4th from 5 to 6:30 pm with Santa and The Grinch in attendance. There will be entertainment from the Severna Park Elementary School Chorus, the Edge Dance Complex, the Severna Park High School Jazz Band, the Severna Park High Cheerleaders and the Bach to Rock Glee Club as well as cocoa, cider, cookies and other treats for attendees.
On December 6th The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center will present “The Nutcracker” at Severna Park High School with showings at 1 pm and at 4 pm with tickets on sale now.
Also on December 6th at 2 pm, the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus and Quartets will present “Reel Harmony For The Holidays on Stage And Screen” at Historic Baldwin Hall at 1358 Millersville Road in Millersville. In addition to a festive holiday show, there will be a boutique, food and raffles and a visit from St. Nicholas. For tickets and information, visit Chesapeake Harmony Chorus.
On Tuesday, December 8th, the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Taste & Sip Holiday Extravaganza will be held at Chartwell Golf & Country Club from 5 to 8 pm. Twenty-nine of the area’s finest food & drink purveyors will be on hand with live music, a Silent Auction and more. For information, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce Calendar.
The night will come alive at Severna Park Community Center on Friday, December 11th as the Annual Cookies & Cocoa with Santa is held from 5:30 thru 7:30 pm. Free and open to the public, the event features seasonal music and dance performances, food and beverages, and Santa who’ll offer a comfy lap and receptive ear to children’s Christmas wishes while being photographed.
Nothing’s quite as fun as Severna Park Farmer’s Market’s Christmas Market being held on Saturday morning December 12th from 8 am till noon.
Located at the Park & Ride lot on the corner of Ritchie Highway and Jones Station Road, the one-of-a-kind market has become so popular that all of the vendor spaces are filled. Each year, patrons wearing Santa Hats stroll the isles with steaming cups of coffee. Booths overflow with beautiful evergreen wreaths, trees and centerpieces and Christmas gift items from handmade soaps and candles to homemade jams and condiments and hand-knitted clothing. Farm-grown meats and produce, fresh fruits and pumpkins, homemade breads and desserts and wines and spirits will be available to grace holiday tables.
For us, a visit to the Christmas Market is a wonderful holiday tradition. There will be still more events we’re sure. But we hope this preview will help keep track of them. Meantime, other things are happening too.
E-Bikes/E-Motos Community Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 16th
We’ve learned from Bike AAA President Jon Korin, a post by organizer Larry Sells and others that, following the tragic death of 14-year-old Severna Park High School freshman Ryan Beales after striking a pickup truck while riding his E-Moto, a community meeting is being held Monday, November 16th at 6:30 pm at St. Martin’s in-the-Field to discuss a possible solution to serious safety issues E-Bikes and E-Motos appearing on Anne Arundel County highways and trails are causing. For more information, see Sells post at Larry Sells – Please join us on Monday, November 16th at 6:30pm at… | Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying holds 3 morning tai chi classes at the Severna Park Community Center, as well as a mid-day homeschool kung fu class. Evening & Saturday morning tai chi & kung fu classes are located at the Magnolia Collective, behind the Donut Shack. Go to www.JingYing.org for a list of their classes and locations. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high-quality consistent care.
