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Even with pandemic, Christmas
festivals & concerts go on
Sarah Muir
MSMU Class of 2018
(12/1) This holiday season seems like a necessary jolt of cheer after a year of cancellations and isolations. While we are still keeping safe by staying apart, communities have gotten into the rhythm of providing much-needed diversions while also protecting visitors and locals alike. However, with recent case spikes, not all events will go on as planned.
Cancellations include the Gettysburg Choral Society's yearly Christmas concert and the Emmitsburg Community Choir's annual Christmas concert.
Historically Mount Saint Mary's University has been an excellent source for Christmas performances, whether they be student plays or recitals. Unfortunately, the Mount has no plans for any campus events since the student body has left the campus for the remainder of the winter season.
The Gettysburg College's Majestic Theater has canceled all remaining classic films scheduled as part of the Celebrating 95 Years of Majestic Movies Series. This action is on the heels of the Pennsylvania Department of Health restrictions this past month in preparation for the holiday season. However, the Majestic will still offer the "majestically" delicious popcorn on the First Friday in December from 5 - 7 p.m.
Now that we got the bad news out of the way – lets look at what is happening!
In Gettysburg the Ben Jones Brass Christmas Carol Benefit Concert will take place December 4th on Lincoln Square from 6 - 7 p.m. The event is free, festive, and fun. Proceeds will benefit the Adams County Children's Advocacy Center. This organization seeks to meet the needs of children and families in the community by providing a "community based, child focused, center that facilitates a compassionate, multidisciplinary approach to the prevention, identification, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse."
Music Gettysburg! is presenting "A Christmas Offering." It will be a virtual performance of instrumental and vocal talents that will be sure to inspire the holiday spirit! A viewing will be available on the Music Gettysburg's website, www.musicgettysburg.org, starting December 13.
Camp Eder's 10th Annual Christmas Tree Festival will be taking place December 11 - 12, along with the annual giving drive. This year is particularly hard for families, so please bring any amount of the following items for local families in need: small bags of rice, oatmeal, applesauce, and cereals. All donations will go to Fairfield families in need via Fairfield Mennonite Church Food Pantry.
The event will have activities such as a tree-decorating contest. Everyone is invited to join, and voting will occur during the Festival. The Festival is an excellent opportunity to get involved with Camp Eder and our surrounding community. Trees are limited, so you will want to sign up soon on the website. The assignment of trees is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.campeder.org.
And the submissions are in for the Adams County Arts Council's 11th Annual Gingerbread Celebration! The virtual competition will contain cash prizes for the best gingerbread house architect. The event will be held online at www.adamsarts.org on December 4 - 6. The Adams County Arts Council invites the public to view the delicious houses online and select the winners by voting with dollars for their favorite gingerbread creations.
'Christmas in Thurmont' will be starting its eighteenth year with a few changes. The traditional map stamping great opportunity for visitors and locals to find new shops. Originally stamps were due into the town office by Christmas. However, this year, the last day for stamping will be December 9, and completed stamped maps must be turned into the Town Office by December 9 at 4 p.m.
'Christmas in Thurmont' was, from its inception, an avenue to encourage a spirit of community and giving and to also promote support for local businesses. The map stamping is for adults, and we ask that you consider donating a monetary contribution, gift certificates, or merchandise for prizes for our Christmas in Thurmont map stamping. After December 9, the ladies at the town office will draw the completed map entries for these prizes.
Santa is considered an essential worker worldwide, and his work on Christmas Eve will not be hindered. However, to keep everyone at the North Pole safe before the big night, Santa will be doing Zoom visits! On Saturday afternoon, December 5, you can talk to Santa from his home office at the North Pole. Reservation with Santa can be made by calling his satellite office located at the Thurmont town office 301-271-7313.
Santa has also teamed up with the Gettysburg Community Theatre for another chance to speak with him. While the theatre has no further performances for the remaining 2020 season, they provide an opportunity to have a Zoom chat with the Jolly Old Elf. Tickets are $10, and they have limited availability, but you can purchase a slot at www.gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org.
The Frederick County Society of Model Train Engineers will also sponsor Thurmont's 3rd Annual Holiday Train Display. This year's display will be available for viewing at the Thurmont Plaza Shopping Center.
Way Off Broadway's holiday includes A Christmas Special Christmas Show, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Musical (November 28 - December 27), and the theatre's 19th Annual Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus) (December 24).
The Weinberg Center for the Arts is welcoming a virtual holiday concert, "Comfort & Joy at Home," with Jim Brickman on December 6, at 4 p.m.
Through December 15 is the Operation Sparkle Scavenger Hunt in downtown Frederick. Each year more than two hundred independently-owned businesses are all decked out for the holidays… but the Frederick Partnership wonders if you can spot the sparkling lights hidden throughout downtown? Count the number of blue and silver light bursts hiding in shop and restaurant windows for your chance to win a $50 Downtown Frederick Gift Card!
The Walkersville Southern Railroad has their annual Santa Train every weekend from December 5-20. Trains depart from 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Walkersville. For Ticket information, call: 301-898-0899 or visit their website: www.wsrr.org/ws. Rides last one and half hours with free hot chocolate and Uncle Ralph's cookies served in the museum after the ride. A Santa will also be available.
Over in Waynesboro, there is plenty to do to kick that Christmas cabin fever to the curb while also staying safe. That Holiday Feeling Decoration Trail is all set up to delight tourists and locals from December 4 to December 20 in downtown Waynesboro to see the buildings in their holiday finery, a map of the brightest spots downtown is available online.
Stable Craft Brewing Company, on Madrid Rd, is offering private holiday wagon rides on December 12 starting at 1 p.m. reservations are required, and the carriages seat up to 14 person groups. To make a reservation call: 540-490 –2609.
At the Old Invista parking lot on Short St, there is a Reverse Christmas Parade. Admission is free, and the drive-thru parade is a fun time for the whole family. Spectators are invited to drive past the parked floats from 1 to 4 p.m.
While hopes are high that normalcy is on the horizon, this year's holiday events will look different, but perhaps in the glow of tree lights and the sight of our neighbors, we can still make it merry and bright.
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