Celebrate the holiday season with the City of Gaithersburg. From visits with Santa and holiday concerts to cooking classes and a dazzling drive through Winter Lights Festival, there’s plenty of festive fun for all ages. For more information, explore the Holiday Festivities calendar on the City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Santa’s Holiday Tour of Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg becomes the North Pole when Santa welcomes your visit at three unique locations. Bring your own camera to capture the memories. There are limited time slots at each location. Registration is required at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/recxpress. Tickets are non-refundable. Sponsored by The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center.

Cupcakes n’ Kris Kringle at Kentlands Mansion

Saturday December 3

9 a.m. – Noon
$30 resident / $35 nonresident per household (Maximum of 6)

Get your Santa letters ready! Come to Kentlands Mansion for a visit with the man himself - real beard, real belly & real jolly. Enjoy our cupcake and hot chocolate bar, then snap some photos with Kris Kringle in front of the fireplace. Sensory-friendly time slots are available. Walk-ins on the day are based on availability. Purchase tickets here.

All Aboard with Santa at the Community Museum

Sunday, December 4

3:30 - 6:30 p.m. 

$30 resident / $35 nonresident per household (Maximum of 6)

Train enthusiasts will enjoy this railroad-themed visit with Santa. Get in the holiday spirit while listening to Christmas carols as you enjoy hot chocolate and cookies around the fire pit. There will be holiday themed crafts for kids, and Santa will be chatting with and greeting everyone from inside the cab of a 1918 steam locomotive. A quiet train car will be available for those who need a break from all the festivities. Photo location requires stepping up onto a platform. Call the Museum at 301-258-6160 about accommodations before making an online reservation. Purchase tickets here.

Santa & Mrs. Claus at Casey Community Center

Saturday, December 10

9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sensory friendly timeslots available

$20 per household (Maximum of 6)

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, make festive crafts, drink hot cocoa by the fireplace, and more as we celebrate the holidays. Timeslots include time to craft and enjoy holiday refreshments and a special visit with Santa. This is the perfect opportunity to take some great pictures of your little ones with the big man himself. Registration is for a specific timeslot and per household with a maximum of six people permitted in your party. Purchase tickets here.

More festive activities and programs include:

S’more Lights

Friday, November 18 and Sunday, November 20, 6 to 9 p.m.

Seneca Creek State Park

$12 per person; children ages 3 and under are free

Begin your adventure with family and friends as you roast marshmallows over a campfire and make delicious s’mores in a beautiful woodland setting. At your leisure, take a stroll through a wonderland of sparkling trees, illuminated arches and animated vignettes. Take selfies with Santa while enjoying hot beverages and collect a holiday craft to take home. Advance online purchase is strongly recommended. Purchase tickets here.

Jewelry Series: Snowflake Ornaments (Full)

Sunday, November 20, 2 to 4 p.m.

Arts Barn

$26 resident/$30 nonresident

Using wire forms and beads, learn to make fun and festive holiday snowflakes. The students will make three double-snowflake ornaments. This is an easy beginner class, suitable for all ages. No previous beading experience is necessary. $25 supply fee due to the instructor at the workshop. This program is full. Waiting list available here.

Leashes & Lights

Monday, November 21

6 - 9 p.m.

Seneca Creek State Park

$15 per person (free for kids 5 & under)

Presented by the Montgomery County Humane Society in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg. Pre-registration required. Reserve your timeslot here.

Storytime Station: Feasting Around the World

Tuesday, November 22, 11 a.m.

Gaithersburg Community Museum

Free

Feasting Around the World with guest readers from the Gaithersburg Library. This program is recommended for ages 2 to 6. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration is required, please call 301-258-6160 or e-mail the museum to reserve a spot. 

Holiday Art Exhibition with Artists on Market

presented by the Gaithersburg Artist Collective

Friday, November 25 – Sunday, January 8

Arts Barn Gallery

Artist Reception: Saturday, November 26, 4 – 6 p.m.

Meet the Makers Event: Saturday, December 10, Noon – 5 p.m. (workshop, demos & extended exhibit inventory)

A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Stories

Featuring David Tyson

Weekends November 25 – December 9

Arts Barn

$22, $20 Student ages 15 – 21, $15 Youth ages 14 and under

Borrowing heavily from Charles Dickens’ classic, this fast-paced one-man show has Mr. Tyson playing a variety of characters and takes you throughout England without ever having to leave your seats. In addition, he performs a modern retelling of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” & other seasonal tales. Recommended for ages 9 and older. Purchase tickets online here.

A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail

In partnership with Sandy Spring Theatre Group

Weekends November 25 – December 11

Arts Barn

$15

A very special Friend-and-Relation tells Christopher Robin a story of a Christmas Eve very long ago (about last year) when Eeyore, the old gray donkey who lives by himself in the thistle corner of Hundred-Acre Wood, was absolutely miserable. It seems that he lost his tail and Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet got all of their friends to organize a search. Its theme, which concerns caring, sharing and the importance of cultivating friends, makes this a very special and enchanting musical suitable for any occasion. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Purchase tickets online here.

Winter Lights Festival

Advance purchase required!

November 25 – December 31 (closed December 25)

Sunday – Thursday, 6 – 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 6 – 10 p.m.

December 24 and 31: 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Monday – Thursday, $15 per car, Friday – Sunday, $25 per car

The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night. Advance online ticket purchase is required; tickets will not be available at the admission booth. Purchase tickets online here.

Holiday Photo Sessions at Kentlands Mansion (Sold Out)

Sunday, November 27

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Kentlands Mansion

$175 per session

Kentlands Mansion invites families to participate in mini holiday photo sessions with Olive & Mint Photography. The beautifully decorated historic Kentlands Mansion provides the perfect backdrop for your family holiday portrait. Each session includes 15 minutes with photographer, high resolution downloads, online gallery and print release. Call 301-258-6425 to reserve your time slot. Reservations for this event fill up quickly. For more information please e-mail Kentlands Mansion.

Community Tree Trim

Thursday, December 1 – Monday, December 19

Kentlands Mansion

Free

Spread holiday cheer in the City by adding an ornament to the Kentlands Mansion Community Tree. The Tree will go up at Kentlands Mansion during the month of December. This event is open to all ages and students can earn SSL credits. One handmade ornament equals one SSL hour with a maximum of two ornaments. Ornament supplies can be purchased on your own, or select supplies can be picked up from Kentlands Mansion. Ornaments for SSL credits can be dropped off December 1 through 19.

Let’s Cook@Casey – Italian Holiday Desserts

Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. - Noon

Casey Community Center

Celebrate the holidays by creating Italian inspired desserts for your family. Channel the essence of Northern Italy with Chef Instructor Carolyn Crow as she teaches you how to make great desserts that are perfect for serving guests or giving away as gifts this holiday. Recipes may include Traditional Tiramisu and Biscotti. Register online here.

Tasty Books – Hanukkah Bear

Saturday, December 3, 10:30 a.m.

Casey Community Center

What do you do when a hungry bear wakes from hibernation? Feed him latkes! That is what Bubba Brayna does, as she does not see very well, and mistakes a bear for her rabbi. Together Bubba Brayna and the bear light the menorah, play the dreidel game, and celebrate Hanukkah in "Hanukkah Bear" by Eric A. Kimmel. Recommended for preschool-aged children (ages 2 - 8). Adult supervision required. Individual tickets need to be purchased for each child and adult. Register online here.

Jingle Jubilee & Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 3, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Free

City Hall Concert Pavilion

Celebrate diverse and vibrant holiday traditions at Gaithersburg’s Jingle Jubilee. Enjoy an evening of music, dance and song. The grand finale is the 96^th Lighting of the City’s Holiday Tree.  

Storytime at the Arts Barn (Full)

The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen

Friday, December 9, 1 p.m.

Arts Barn

This program is full. Waiting list available here.

Resident Artist Series: Holiday Jewelry Design

Saturday, December 10, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Arts Barn

Join Arts Barn Resident Artist Maritza Suarez-Valenti to learn how to create beautiful holiday jewelry designs. Add some extra dazzle to your winter holidays! $25 material fee due to instructor at the workshop. Register online here.

Jazz Concert: A Jolley Christmas with Nate and Noble Jolley, Jr.

Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.

Arts Barn

$30/$20 Youth (18 and under)

Warm your hearts and celebrate the season with Nate and Noble. Twin brothers Nate and Noble Jolley, Jr. are known on the D.C. jazz scene as an almost inseparable pair. The two grew up together in the District, then went to college at Baltimore’s Peabody Institute, and now they are one of the most in-demand acts on the local scene and beyond. Purchase tickets online here.

Gaithersburg Chorus Winter Concert

“I Sing Because I’m Happy”

Tuesday, December 13 at Church of the Ascension

Friday, December 16 at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, December 20 at the Arts Barn

7:30 p.m.

Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

The Gaithersburg Chorus will perform three holiday concerts as it celebrates its 35^th anniversary. Join Music Director Melodia Mae Rinaldi, and Accompanist Guzal Isametdinova in a program of hope and remembrance. The concert features new holiday songs, and selections from old favorites.

Just for Families: Father Christmas Holiday Visit

Friday, December 16, 7 p.m.

Virtual Event

Presented by the Arts Barn, join Father Christmas and the elves online for their annual visit to Gaithersburg. They will be reading a favorite holiday story and maybe getting into a little mischief on the official Arts Barn Facebook Page @ArtsOnTheGreen.

Milo the Magnificent

Presented by Alex and Olmsted Puppetry

Saturday, December 17, 1 & 3 p.m.

Arts Barn

$10, $3 youth ages 10 and under

Milo the Magnificent is a highly engaging puppet show about an aspiring magician. This wordless comedy, inspired by turn of the century vaudeville entertainers, is as highly physical as it is charming. Using stunningly innovative puppetry, Milo presents a variety of magic tricks which don’t always go as planned. Suitable for all ages. Purchase tickets here.

Drop-In Activity: The Three Big Holidays

Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Community Museum

Free

Stop by the museum to make crafts and learn about three major winter holidays: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas.