Frederick County's Holiday Market Season Opens at the Vineyards, a Week Before Downtown

Frederick County's holiday shopping season starts this Saturday, November 7, in two vineyards at opposite ends of the county. Black Ankle Vineyards in Mount Airy and Links Bridge Vineyards in Thurmont both open vendor markets that morning. Downtown Frederick's official kickoff, Frederick at Night, comes six days later on November 13.

This order shapes the whole month. Black Ankle's bazaar runs only two weekends. The biggest indoor show of the season changes some of its vendors between its first and second weekends. December 5 ends up holding three separate town celebrations. If you have a gift list, the order of events matters more than any single event.

The Calendar, Weekend by Weekend

November 7 and 8: Two Vineyards Go First

Black Ankle Vineyards' Holiday Bazaar is in its fifth year and runs the first two weekends of November, November 7–8 and 14–15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The vineyard calls it a curated market of local artisans, makers and small businesses selling handmade and locally sourced gifts, with Black Ankle wines poured alongside. This year's listing also says "some excellent bakers" are joining. Once November 15 ends, the bazaar is over for the season, so you have four days to catch it. Details on all four dates are on Black Ankle's events page.

The Thurmont market is a single day. A Very Merry Vine & Vendor Market runs Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Links Bridge Vineyards on Old Links Bridge Road. Dysfunctional Housewives hosts it with the vineyard, and the listing promises local artists and artisans, wine, live music and food. "Your holiday season starts here!" the listing says, and on the county calendar that's accurate. Admission is free.

Both markets are open from 11 a.m. on Saturday, and Links Bridge stays open an hour later. Mount Airy and Thurmont sit at different corners of the county, so if you want to see both on the same day, plan for the drive.

Sunday, November 8, has a different tone in the south county. The City of Brunswick holds its free Veterans Day parade listed at 1 E. Potomac St. The opening ceremony is at 1 p.m., and the parade steps off at 2 p.m. This year's event also recognizes America's 250th anniversary. Black Ankle's bazaar is open that afternoon too, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November 13 to 15: Downtown Joins While Black Ankle Wraps Up

The Downtown Frederick Partnership starts its holiday season with Frederick at Night on Friday, November 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Partnership promises tree lights, late-night shopping and seasonal bites. Maryland Double Decker tours run through downtown the same night and again on December 8. The Downtown Frederick Light Walk runs from November through February, with light installations around Carroll Creek and Everedy Square & Shab Row.

The next morning, a church hall downtown holds its own market. The Calvary United Methodist Church Holiday Bazaar runs Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 131 W. 2nd St. Admission is free. The Partnership's listing includes handmade gifts, artisan crafts, a silent auction, a White Elephant room, a bake sale, lunch, seasonal music, kids' crafts and photos with Santa.

That makes November 14 the first day both halves of the season run at once. Calvary's bazaar opens at 9 a.m. Black Ankle opens its last weekend at 11 a.m. A morning downtown and an afternoon at the vineyard fit in one Saturday without the hours overlapping much. Black Ankle closes for the season on Sunday, November 15.

The Fairgrounds Show Splits Around Thanksgiving

The largest event on the calendar runs across two weekends, with Thanksgiving in between. The Maryland Christmas Show is in its 42nd season at the Great Frederick Fair grounds, 797 E. Patrick St. Its first weekend is November 20–22 and its second is November 27–29. Visit Frederick describes it as a local, family-owned show filling seven heated buildings with crafters and artisans selling:

• clothing, textiles and jewelry
• glass, pottery and clay
• painting, prints, printmaking, photography and mixed media
• wood and apothecary goods
• specialty food and beverages

The planning detail is in the show's own description. "It is important to note that not all exhibitors participate in both weekends," the Visit Frederick listing says. If a vendor you liked last year matters to you, find out which weekend they're booked before you buy tickets. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 10 and under, plus $2 for parking.

The Thurmont Christmas Market Craft & Vendor Show runs the same weekend as the show's first half. It's November 21–22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 13716 Strafford Dr. in Thurmont. Admission is free, with food trucks and Santa on the listing, and proceeds benefit the Thurmont Community Ambulance Co. Shoppers in the north county can stay close to home that weekend, and the money goes to a local emergency service.

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, this year. The next day, the Maryland Christmas Show opens its second weekend, and downtown Frederick holds Frosty Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Partnership lists local shopping, live holiday music and carolers, free photos with Santa, marshmallow roasting, $5 cocktails and free parking all around downtown. The fairgrounds charge $2 to park and downtown parking is free, which is easy to plan around if you're doing both in one day.

December 5 Is the Crowded Saturday

The busiest day of the season comes in early December. Three different communities hold holiday events on Saturday, December 5, and their hours line up in sequence.

1. Brunswick Hometown Holidays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The City of Brunswick's free event on Main Street includes a holiday vendor market with gifts, handmade crafts, seasonal treats and local businesses, plus a parade, Santa Train rides, a petting zoo, food vendors and the city tree lighting. The Visit Frederick listing has the hours, and the city's event page has the full program.
2. December Saturdays in downtown Frederick, all day. The Partnership's first December Saturday brings live music, carolers, fire pits and marshmallow roasting, with free parking all weekend. It repeats on December 12 and 19.
3. Christmas in the Valley, from 4 p.m. Main Street Middletown and the Town of Middletown host this free evening at 31 W. Main St. The listing includes carolers, children's crafts, cocoa and cider, a tree lighting and Santa. Downtown businesses stay open, and organizers collect unwrapped toys for local children.

Brunswick starts at 11 a.m. and Middletown at 4 p.m., so one family could see Brunswick's Santa Train in the early afternoon and still make Middletown's tree lighting that evening. If you're going to Middletown, bring an unwrapped toy. After December 5, downtown Frederick holds most of what's left on the calendar, including Love Local on Tuesday, December 8. It's a weeknight shopping event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that the Partnership describes as designed with locals in mind and as a way to skip the weekend crowds.

Hours and vendor lineups can change once the season starts, so check each organizer's page before you head out, especially for the two-weekend events.

If you're putting together your family's November around these markets and want local recommendations for the rest of the season, the Anthony Friedman Team is happy to share what we know about Frederick County. Contact Us anytime.