Maryland Uncovered

The Christmas Village allows visitors to experience a traditional European Christmas market. The German Christmas Village is back at the Inner Harbor for the 2025 holiday season. Each year, West Shore Park on Light Street is transformed into a traditional German market complete with authentic ornaments and décor, festive holiday foods, a lively biergarten, and a 30-foot wooden carousel. The market will be open weekends and select weekdays through Christmas Eve. Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment and take a ride on the Ferris wheel and carousel. One of the biggest draws at the Christmas Village is the food . Traditional German favorites like Wiener Schnitzel, hot pretzels, and bratwurst are available at the food court promenade and at booths throughout the market. You can also try Raclette Stube—sandwiches topped with hot, melted Swiss cheese—or enjoy a cone of Belgian fries with your choice of dipping sauces. New for 2025 is the Kebab’s Grill, featuring beef and chicken kebabs ...

 The brand is celebrating a return to its roots with a Baltimore Ravens Commemorative tin giveaway. Courtesy Old Bay The next time you pick up a container of OLD BAY at the grocery store, you'll notice something different about the packaging. McCormick & Company, the manufacturer of the popular seafood spice has announced it will return to using tin instead of plastic. The company began transitioning to plastic in the late 1980s, so if you still have one in your cabinet, it's probably a good idea to throw it out. To celebrate the return to tin, OLD BAY will be giving away a special commemorative prize package inspired by the Baltimore Ravens. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 14, 2025, just visit McCormick.com and enter to win.  The new tins will be available in stores in December and the design, ingredients and taste will be the same OLD BAY that we know and love.  "OLD BAY is more than a seasoning. It's a symbol of heritage, flavor, and Baltimore pride," Giovanna Di...

Live Christmas trees don’t have to come from the lot. Make your holiday grander and more earth-friendly with a tree from the farm. If cutting down a Christmas tree has you conjuring up visions of the Griswolds trekking through the forest and crashing into a snow bank, not to worry. Maryland tree farmers have got you covered. All you have to do is visit a farm, pick our your favorite and cut it down. The tree farm will shake it, bale it, and help you attach it to your car, avoiding certain disaster. Here are four Maryland tree farms where you can find the perfect holiday tree while supporting local farmers.  Gaver Farm Gaver Farm is a one-stop shop for all your Christmas green needs! Cut your own trees range from $65 to $80 and includes varieties like Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir and Scotch Pine. Step inside the wreath shop and you’ll find decorated wreaths, centerpieces, swags and window boughs. Gaver also has a farmers market and bakery serving up hot, fresh donuts, pies a...

Sho Nuf Turkey Farm is taking orders for Thanksgiving. If you’re a long-time resident of Howard County, you probably know all about Sho Nuf Turkey Farm in Fulton. You may have even stopped by during Thanksgiving week to pick up a fresh, locally raised turkey for your holiday table. Much of the farm’s original land is now part of Maple Lawn, the master-planned community filled with townhomes, condos, and single-family homes. The remaining farmland is also slated for future development—but for now, Marylanders can still enjoy the tradition of bringing home a Sho Nuf turkey for their holiday meals. Each season, the farm produces about 20,000 turkeys. In late summer, you can usually see the birds roaming freely in the fields. This year, however, all of the turkeys are being kept indoors due to the threat of avian flu. A portion of the flock will be sold wholesale to local markets, while the rest will be available for purchase directly from the farm. Sho Nuf turkeys are free-range raised a...

As the government shutdown becomes the longest in history, reality is beginning to hit the employees caught in the crossfire. It's also impacting pets. Over 500,000 people work for the federal government in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C.. On Friday, Oct.24, 2025 a significant number of government employees in the region did not get a paycheck. Many of the people affected may not be able to pay all of their bills. But it’s not just mortgages, groceries and utilities families are struggling with, many of these employees also have furry family members that need food too. Thankfully, some generous organizations around the region are “ponying up” to help these families feed their pets. If you are one of the unlucky government employees who have been furloughed or are working without pay, these organizations around the DMV would like to help you out.  Maryland Baltimore Humane Society The Baltimore Humane Society’s Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank is located in Reisterstown, Maryland and provides...

The leaves have already started to turn, but we still have a month before the colors peak. Brookside Gardens As temperatures cool and fall begins to set in, we begin to anticipate the turning of the leaves. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact time the colors will be at their peak, but the folks at Smoky Mountains National Park have made it easier. The park has created a map of the United States that uses scientific data to predict the change of the leaves by region. The leaves in Maryland are expected to be at their peak around Oct.19, 2019. So grab your camera and head to these great locations in Maryland to enjoy the leaves and snap a few pictures. Brookside Gardens Located in Wheaton, this 50-acre park is popular for daily walks consists of several different gardens. The main area features large trees, walking paths and a Japanese tea house. The park has numerous flower beds filled with seasonal buds and terrace with a gazebo for weddings and events. Brookside Gardens is open dawn to ...

 It’s officially spooky season! Here are some local haunted attractions where you can get your fright on! Courtesy Gundula Vogel If your favorite thing to do in October is to visit haunted houses, you’re in the right place. Among the dry cornstalks and dark forests of Maryland are some of the scariest haunted attractions in the nation. Most  haunted venues have instituted timed-entry ticketing, so check the website before you visit. Grab your coat, a few friends and prepare to be thoroughly terrified. Station 7 Terror Trail The Station 7 Terror Trail in Gambrills has two different options, a super scary version for adults and a family-friendly one for the little ones. The path through the woods features monsters, ghostly displays and tons of creepy lighting. Tickets are $25 for the terror trail and $8 for the Boo Haunt Loop. The Station 7 Terror Trail is open Friday and Saturday nights through November 1, 2025. Legends of the Fog Located in Harford County, Legends of the Fog i...

This Rockville art center is a haven for artists, hobbyists and the curious. Courtesy VisArts, Facebook VisArts is a art studio and gallery located in the heart of Rockville. Founded in 1987 as a resource for artists, VisArts now serves both professionals and hobbyists. Its multi-level building houses art galleries, classrooms, labs and event space. Single and series classes are offered for children and adults in a variety of disciplines, including paint, pottery, glass, jewelry, mixed media, drawing and photography. VisArts provides an outlet for creativity and a respite from the hectic workday. Classes The curriculum of classes at VisArts is large and appeals to first-timers, experienced artists and people who just want to have fun. Try out the pottery wheel in an introductory class, create your own watercolor painting or make an original fused glass piece. VisArts even has paint and wine classes, perfect for a girls night out. The center has classes for kids, families and offers day...

Fall is in full swing in Maryland and it’s time to get out and enjoy some tasty fall treats. A favorite featured at many of the local farms is apple cider donuts. Apple cider is added to the batter, and the baked or fried donuts are then dipped in cinnamon sugar. Here are four places in Maryland where you can pick up some apple cider donuts for your clan. Gaver Farm Gaver Farm is a one stop for fall fun and apple cider everything. Get fresh hot donuts on the weekends or pick them up in the bakery during the week. You can also get fresh picked apples and apple cider slushies! Gaver Farm also hosts a fall festival complete with hayrides, corn maze, a petting zoo and small carnival rides. Admission to the festival is $9 on weekdays and $13.50 on the weekends, kids under two are free. Heyser Farms Located in Silver Spring, Heyser Farms is centrally located for people in Howard and Montgomery counties. Fresh donuts are only made on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Bring the kids for...

Tickets are on sale for the 2025 holiday season! The popular Montgomery County park becomes a holiday lights wonderland every year. Brookside Gardens is a 50-acre park located in Wheaton, Maryland. The park has over ten themed gardens, all connected by walking paths. The park is open year-round and is filled with hundreds of varieties of flowers, trees and plants. During the winter holidays, the park transforms into the Garden of Lights , a winter wonderland boasting more than a million LED lights. The display dates back to 1997 and it is one of the most popular holiday attractions in the region.   The Garden of Lights Kids of all ages will enjoy this walking tour through Brookside Gardens. Each garden area is decorated with sprays of lights highlighting the trees and structures. The fountains of the Aquatic Garden sparkle with life-like colors, LED animals and flowers greet you throughout the park and the playhouses of the Children’s Garden are decorated like gingerbread houses. V...