Baltimore Christmas Market: The Complete Guide
While most people would not consider Baltimore, Maryland to be the best Christmas destination, this city does know how to do it right complete with twinkling lights, Christmas trees galore, and tinsel everywhere. Finding a Christmas market in Baltimore is not all that difficult, they seem to pop up everywhere from November through New Year’s.
Baltimore Christmas market fun awaits you and the entire family. Some markets have plenty of activities for the kids while others have more grown-up activities. Shopping is, of course, the absolute center of attention at any Baltimore Christmas market. Bustling markets keep the city in a festive mood throughout the holiday season.
Landing at Baltimore Washington Airport and can't wait to see the Christmas markets? Drop your oversized bags at a Baltimore luggage locker before making the holiday markets rounds. Remember to bring some empty shopping bags with you to stow all the amazing deals you will score while shopping at these amazing Christmas markets.
Christmas Village in Baltimore
Head to Inner Harbor and West Shore Park for fun and excitement in the Christmas Village, an indoor and outdoor Christmas market that mimics the traditional German Christmas markets, especially Christkindl Market in Nuremberg, Germany.
The outdoor part of the Baltimore Christmas Village circles the Walter Sondheim Fountain and extends along the Inner Harbor Promenade with adorable German wooden huts for the vendors. The indoor part of the Christmas village is inside a heated festival tent with more vendors, an event stage, and a food court.
The Christmas village runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve with vendors of every shape and size selling amazing gifts in adorable wooden booths. You can find traditional European sweets, drinks, and foods as well as a lot of international handicrafts such as ornaments and jewelry. It is one of the best Christmas markets in Baltimore.
What to do near Christmas Village Baltimore
Once you have fully explored the Christmas Village, head over and take a tour of the USS Constellation and the USS Torsk. Baltimore Visitors Center is within walking distance of the Inner Harbor and is a wealth of information. For those into science, check out the Maryland Science Center, or if you are interested in what goes on under the sea, the National Aquarium is a short distance from the Inner Harbor Promenade.
Christkindlmarkt
Modeled after the famous Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany, this Christkindlmarkt can be found on East Lexington Street in Baltimore at the Zion Church. This market is usually held the last weekend of November. Many of the vendors offer products that have been imported from Germany including candies, crafts, clothing, Christmas decorations, and packaged foods.
You will want to check out the food vendors offering traditional German foods such as bratwurst, German goulash soup, and sweets. Order an authentic German beer and then buy a bottle or two of gluhwein, or hot spiced or mulled wine.
What to do near Christkindlmarkt
Head over to the Christmas Village at Inner Harbor after you have seen all you want to at Christkindlmarkt. Take a stroll along the Inner Harbor Promenade. The National Aquarium is also within walking distance. The Ripley’s Odditorium in Baltimore is less than a mile from the market and is such a fantastic place to poke around on a lazy weekend.
MICA Art Market
The Maryland Institute College of Art holds the MICA Art Market on West Mt Royal Ave at the institute. Over 200 students, faculty, and alumni host this market and it is a fabulous place to find unique gift ideas that have been created by local artists and students.
Items available for purchase include prints, ceramics, paintings, clothing, jewelry, and so much more. It is a wonderful way to support local artists and find gifts for those on your list that are hard to shop for. Food and drink are available at the art market so you can spend most of the day doing some holiday shopping.
What to do near MICA Art Market
For anyone who has played Monopoly, the B&O Railroad is one of the iconic properties listed on the board. You can hit the B&O Railroad Museum and see what this railroad is all about. Then take a stroll to Fell’s Point, the “Net of Pirates” as the British Navy called Baltimore during the Revolutionary War. Art lovers will find Walter’s Art Museum an interesting little place to spend an hour or so.
Saint Demetrios Philoptochos’ Annual Christmas Bazaar
This Christmas bazaar and craft fair is rolled up into one neat little holiday market hosted by the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. The Christmas decorations will instantly put you in the holiday spirit and the charming wares being sold make some of the best gifts for friends and loved ones.
Mrs. Claus even makes an appearance for the little ones to have a photo taken and she offers pastries and traditional Greek treats for the entire family to enjoy. You do not have to be Greek to fully appreciate this adorable market located on Cub Hill Road in Parkville, just minutes from downtown Baltimore.
What to do near Saint Demetrios Philoptochos’ Annual Christmas Bazaar
Monster Mini Golf is just a short distance from Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and is the perfect place to unwind after spending a few hours at the bazaar and craft fair. Weber’s Cider Mill Farm and Willow Grove Nature Education Center are also nearby and the perfect place to learn more about the area and the natural resources of Maryland.
The Best Baltimore Holiday Markets
Grab some hot chocolate and make your way through some of the best Baltimore Christmas markets where you will hear live music, meet local artisans, and hopefully find the perfect gift for loved ones. Baked goods galore and gourmet food are some of the biggest draws aside from decorative items.
Most of the Christmas markets in Baltimore are free to attend so spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday in December shopping, eating, and hanging out with friends while finishing your holiday shopping.
